Weekly Updates (Chelsea Taylor)

It’s hard to believe a week from today that Christmas will be over and it will almost be time for the ball to drop on 2018. Speaking of 2018, the 2018 schedule was released last week. Personally, I am super excited to see some new venues on the schedule. I haven’t been to the tracks, but our track crew who did go check out the facilities have nothing but great things to say about them. You can get the details on the new schedule HERE. 

As we start preparing for next year, the first thing you should do is confirm your national number. You can view the earned national number chart HERE. After looking at your number you can confirm it by filling out THIS FORM. It’s important that you let us know if you want to run your earned national number before December 27, so that we can reserve it for you.

Starting on December 27, you can request an unearned number if you meet the requirements. You’re eligible to fill out THIS FORM if you participated in at least six GNCC events in 2017 and anticipate competing in at least six GNCC events in 2018.

We are currently in the process of scheduling school visits for next season. The On-Track Program is suitable for elementary and middle schools, so if you live near one of our races and have any connections or schools that you think we should reach out to, please email [email protected] so we can call them.

I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and enjoys the family time… most of all, I hope Santa brings plenty of parts and gear to you!

Looking Part on 2017 Part Nine (Jared Bolton)

For several weeks this off-season, we’ve been taking a look back at each round from the 2017 season. After a brief hiatus last week to talk about the 2018 schedule and more, we’ll pick back up where we left off two weeks ago and roll into the Mountaineer Run GNCC… And what an interesting weekend it was!

The opening lap of the ATVs was a bit similar to what we had come to expect from the 2017 season. Walker Fowler jumped out front early with Brycen Neal about 20 seconds back. Third place overall on the first lap was actually held by West Virginia’s own Brent Sturdivant. While he’s an occasional competitor these days, there’s no doubt that certain rounds Brent shows up to, you can expect him to run up front for at least a portion of the race, especially if its rocky or muddy. Jarrod McClure would work his way into third place on lap two and from there on out, that was pretty much the story of the day.

It would end with Walker Fowler claiming the win over Brycen Neal and Jarrod McClure. In the XC2 Pro Am class, Hunter Hart had a strong showing and controlled the lead wire to wire while fellow New Yorkers Greg Covert and Devon Feehan battled back and forth for second and third throughout the day. When it was over, Hart would take the win ahead of Covert and Feehan.

On the bike side, many were expecting Kailub Russell to wrap up his “drive for five” and claim his fifth championship that day. However, Ryan Sipes had other ideas. Sipes would finally put together the performance he had strived for since moving over to contest the series in 2014. Even with a little mishap in the pits, he would lead every lap and claim his first-ever GNCC overall win! Kailub Russell would finish second and his championship celebration would be delayed one more round. Trevor Bollinger was in podium contention for much of the race but in the final stages, a few small errors would drop him to sixth. Ricky Russell would end up on the podium in third place with the Baylor Boys, Stu and Grant, finishing fourth and fifth respectively.

In the XC2 class, it was hometown favorite Layne Michael out front early but Josh Toth would soon find his way into the lead and hold onto it for the win. The win would be good enough for Toth to wrap up the XC2 class championship. The title is pretty impressive considering 2016 was Toth’s first full attempt at an entire GNCC season. Coastal Racing teammates Craig Delong and Layne Michael would round out the podium in second and third while Mike Witkowski and Ben Kelley rounded out the top five. In XC3, Jason Thomas would claim his sixth win of the season and wrap up his professional racing career as the first-ever XC3 class champion. Paul Whibley and Jack Edmondson came away second and third with Chris Venditti and Hunter Neuwirth rounding out the top five.

With two rounds to go, many championships were already wrapped up but some were still on the line at this point. Things continue to get interesting from here, so stay tuned as we continue to look back. 

Rappin’ With Rodney (Rodney Tomblin)

Merry Christmas! Wow, it’s Christmas already! Where has the time gone this year? It seems like only a few weeks ago we were gearing up for Big Buck and now here we are getting ready to gear up for Big Buck again. They say time flies when you’re having fun and if that is the case it explains why it feels like life is flying by for me. It has been nearly a quarter century since I announced my first race in January 1993 in Marion, Ohio and things have been full throttle every since. I can’t say I would change much but you would think I would eventually get used to it and it would be routine. Nope! That’s not the case. Each season is as exciting and lately more so than the last. I have been truly blessed from an experience standpoint.

I don’t mean to get sentimental or anything but this time of year makes it kind of tough not to be. No matter how busy you are, at some point things start to sink in a little and you find yourself reminiscing about days of old. Even though you may not have expected to be where you are, this is where the path has led you. And honestly it could have led to worse places. Where does it lead from here? I have to think to an even more challenging and exciting year of racing that lies ahead.

Last week I wrote about this past season and some of the excitement that the future seems to hold. I will say I am no fortuneteller and I have no idea what is going to happen but I do know this season is poised to be the biggest nail biter in a while, especially on the two wheel side of things.

Kailub Russell will have his hands full of competition as many riders are stepping up to try and challenge him. It will be very exciting to say the least. Even though we will expect Kailub to win most days but we also know Thad Duvall will be winning and likely Stu Baylor, Ricky Russell, Josh Strang and don’t count out Trevor Bollinger. This season will be about as epic as when Rodney Smith, Fred Andrews Scott Summers, Scott Plessinger and the boys battled through the 1990’s into the early 2000s.

The quads have a big obstacle in what seems to be an unstoppable Walker Fowler. He will have competition but the biggest question right now is who will it be? Who will become his nemesis? Will Chris Borich, his old foe rise back up like a phoenix from the ashes or will new blood splatter the podium? Time will tell the story but like any good plot to any good movie, this season is set to be a blockbuster. 

As far as what to leave you with this in this week’s contribution goes; slow down and spend time with your family. Relive memories that you have not thought about in years. Mend fences and make the best of the time you have with those you love. We only ride this big blue ball one time around so make the best of it and take advantage of every opportunity given to you. Also remember it’s not what you buy anyone this season, it’s more of what you give. Time is the most valuable thing you can give someone. Spend it wisely and on those who deserve and need it most.

Merry Christmas to you all and may God’s Mercy and Blessings be with you. Till next time, God Bless Your Heart and All Your Vital Organs.

More About Going Back to the Farm (Jared Bolton)

Last week I tipped the iceberg of history about the return of GNCC Racing to the Mathews Farm and High Point properties. When I shared the schedule graphic on my social media accounts, Walker Fowler pointed out that the history goes way back for many, many racers there. So this week I wanted to dive a little deeper and take a little longer to look at the past results. Well, I’ve been glancing for a few days and Walker was right. There’s a lot of familiar names in those results, so lets take a look at a few of the interesting points heading into 2018.

The last time GNCC Racing visited Mathews Farm was back in 2003. 2018 will mark 15 years or 16 seasons since we last visited the farm and while a lot has changed since there, there is also a lot that remains the same. Looking back at the results from that final year at Mathews Farm, there’s a lot of familiar names in the youth ranks. At that time, there was no youth ATV series as part of GNCC Racing but the Youth bikes were coming along pretty well.

Thad Duvall claimed the Mini Sr class win, while Cory Buttrick took the win in the Mini Jr class and Walker Fowler claimed the Mini 65 class win during his two-wheeled days. There are several other names that stand out as well. Current N-Fab AmPro Yamaha mechanics and former top amateur riders Corey MacDonald and Ryan Belue were also contesting that Mini Jr class back then, finishing third and fourth, respectively. Fifth place in that class would go to Andrew Boggs, who finished third place in the Junior A/B 25+ class points this past season. Kailub Russell would finish fifth place in the Mini Intermediate class that day against some other familiar competition such as Lucas Towery, Zach Dotson, and Clint Masters who are all still regular GNCC racers. Additionally, on top of Walker Fowlers 65 class win, he claimed that win against the likes of Layne Michael, Mike McGinnis, and John Yokley

When you take a look at the 10AM and 1PM races, you begin to run into a good number of familiar names who have contested the series on and off for a number of years. It’s impossible to really list everyone, but a few that stand out include our own Ryan Echols who took fifth place in the 200 C class, Shotgun Shawn Remington taking a second place in the 250 C class, Charlie Mullins claiming the 200 A class win ahead of Kyle Chaney in fourth, and our own Tommy Harris taking a solid seventh place in a competitive Senior A class. Additionally, the first-ever XC2 bike champ Justin Williamson claimed the 4-Stroke A class win.

On the ATV side, Angel Knox and Traci Pickens claimed second and third in the Women class while Mike Penland won the Utility Stock class, Ken Robey was second in the Utility Modified class, Adam McGill was second in Open A, Mark Notman and Jeff Pickens battled it out for third and fourth in Open B, Brian Vasko won the 250 B class while Harlen Foley and Brian Hulsey duked it out for the Vet class win.

Last week I touched on the overall podiums from that race, but diving a little deeper we’ll first take a look at the ATVs. As mentioned, Chris Borich claimed the last win at Mathews Farm and coming into 2018 he and Johnny Gallagher are the only two XC1 Pro riders who were in the Pro classes at that time! Bill Ballance and Matt Smiley rounded out the Pro class podium that day in 2003 but there’s several other interesting names racing then as well. Santo DeRisi had a decent day, finishing inside the top 10 with a seventh place in the Pro class. Tenth place would go to Steve Holbert, who was a front-runner throughout the late 80s and 90s, claiming a number of overall wins and finishing runner-up to Barry Hawk a number of times in the final season points. 

In the Pro Production class it was Chad Duvall taking the class win. Back then, Chad was a top ATV racer in his own right. It’s kind of funny how things change over the years. Racers such as Chad Duvall and National Enduro champ, Jeff Russell, were once known as top racers and while their sons were working their ways through the ranks, the kids were often referred to as “Chad’s son” or “Jeff’s son” by many. Well, now that these guys have become the top guys, Chad and Jeff have become “Thad’s Dad” and “Kailub’s Dad”. Anyway, William Yokley would finish second in the Pro Production class and Brandon Ballance rounded out the podium in third. Johnny Gallagher would go on to finish seventh while twelfth place would go to three-time GNCC ATV National Champion, Tom Tokay. 

On the bike side, Barry Hawk would claim the win. Interestingly enough, Barry’s first-ever bike overall win came at the first Mathews Farm event in 2001. Fred Andrews and Steve Hatch would finish on the podium with Jason Raines and Mike Kiedrowski rounding out the top five. Back then, there was only one Pro class on the bike side and out of the 19 riders who contested the Pro class that day, there are none who are still in the Pro ranks! However, there are a number of those guys who still make occasional appearances racing such as Raines, Mike Lafferty, Jimmy Jarrett, and Shane Watts.

What kind of history will be made when GNCC Racing returns to Mathews Farm for the 2018 Mason-Dixon GNCC? What if Chris Borich makes that round his return to the center of the podium? What if Barry Hawk gives the XC3 class a whirl again and claims a win? What if someone comes out of the woodwork and surprises everyone? There are so many questions for later in the season but there’s also a lot of racing to take place before then. Regardless, it’s looking like a great season is upon us and it will be starting before we know it.

#ThrowbackThursday (Jared Bolton)

This week's edition of Throwback Thursday has no real theme. I just picked out several throwback photos that I thought were really cool. Enjoy!