GNCC Racing

America’s Largest Off-Road Motorcycle and ATV Racing Series Returns to Montgomery County October 26 - 28

America’s Largest Off-Road Motorcycle and ATV Racing Series Returns to Montgomery County October 26 - 28

Monday, October 22, 2018 | 11:05 AM
by:
Monday, October 22, 2018 | 11:05 AM

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Kayla Olliver
(304) 284-0084
[email protected]

America’s Largest Off-Road Motorcycle and ATV Racing Series Returns
to Montgomery County October 26 - 28
Local Racers Line Up to Compete Against Nation’s Best Athletes 

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (October 22, 2018) – America’s largest off-road motorcycle and ATV racing series returns to Montgomery County this weekend, October 26 - 28, for the 24th Annual AMSOIL Ironman GNCC. This event serves as the season finale for the 2018 AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Series (GNCC) an AMA National Championship, and will be held at Ironman Raceway in Crawfordsville, Indiana.

The Ironman Raceway is rich in off-road racing history, and in part is a favorite stop for fans and racers alike. The Ironman event is named after the late GNCC ATV Champion Bob “Ironman” Sloan, who resided in Indiana and helped make the event happen. This event is held not only in his memory, but also in support of October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The facility will be adorned in pink, and a group donation to the Montgomery County Free Clinic (MCFC) will be presented on Sunday prior to the 1 p.m. race start.

Austin Abney is hoping to secure a win at this weekend's AMSOIL Ironman GNCC in front of his family and friends.
Austin Abney is hoping to secure a win at this weekend's AMSOIL Ironman GNCC in front of his family and friends. Ken Hill

An exciting lineup of live musical entertainment presented by Monster Energy will take place on Friday, October 26 and Saturday, October 27. The Davisson Brothers Band will kick off the weekend on Friday at 8:30 p.m., followed by country music artist and ACA Award Winner, Easton Corbin at 9:30 p.m. on Saturday. 

Once again the Ironman GNCC was the largest attended event of the year with 2,384 racers throughout the course of the two-day event, and this event will draw several thousand spectators from the surrounding communities, as well as all over the U.S., ultimately bringing an estimated $3 million in venue to Montgomery County and surrounding areas. Riders will compete on highly tuned dirt bikes and four-wheeled ATVs, and the race will include top talent, such as U.S. National Champions and World Champions from Europe, Australia and New Zealand. 

Indiana native, Austin Abney will be a rider to keep an eye on during Saturday afternoon’s ATV race. Abney races in the XC2 Pro-Am division, and currently sits second in the championship points. After earning a class win at the beginning of the season, Abney will be aiming to clinch another win as the season comes to an end in front of his family and friends. Competing in Saturday morning’s 4x4 Pro class is Kevin Cunningham of Greensburg, Indiana. Cunningham secured his third-straight class championship and will look to end his season victorious in front of his hometown crowd. 

Rachel Gutish comes from Terre Haute, and is aiming for her first WXC win in her home state. 
Rachel Gutish comes from Terre Haute, and is aiming for her first WXC win in her home state.  Ken Hill

Racing on Sunday in the premier 1 p.m. race will be Indiana’s own Mike Witkowski. Coming off his best finish of the season two weeks ago in Ohio, Witkowski will be on a mission at the Ironman GNCC to battle for a podium finish in front of his home state crowd. Another rider looking to earn her fifth WXC bike podium finish of the year is Terre Haute’s Rachel Gutish. After finishing third at the previous round Gutish is aiming to battle at the front of the 10 a.m. race, and earn her first win of the season in her home state.

Additional local racers expected to compete Saturday on ATVs and UTVs will be: Austin Abney (XC2 Pro-Am), Levi Bowman (College B 16-21), Austin Bratcher (YXC2 Supermini Jr. 12-13), Paxton Dickerson (YXC1 Supermini Sr. 13-15), Austin Carey (Junior B 22+), Matthew Blankenship (College A 16-21), Courtney France (Women), Hailey France (Women), Jacob Knowling (Sport 15+), Corey Silverthorn (College A 16-21), Corbin Mennen (College A 16-21), C.J. Mullet (Vet B 30+), Jakob Ritter (16-18 C), David Dipasquale (4x4 B), Johnny Wells (40+C), Kevin Cunningham (4x4 Pro), Brian Bandy (30+ C), Austin Parks (4x4 Pro), Nicholas Royalty (XC2 Pro-Am), Tyler Swindle (College A 16-21), Brett Bennett (UXC3 Pro-Am), Jerad Hamm (UXC3 Pro-Am), Matt Zeiler (UXC2 Pro) and Eric Palomaki (UXC3 Pro-Am).

Also expected to compete weekend on motorcycles will be: Rob Hechinger (250 C Jr. 25+), Jared Keller (Sportsman A), Jackson Livesay (16-18 C), David Winningham (Vet C 30+), Joe Booher (85cc 12-13), Zachary Booher (65cc 10-11), Mike Faris (Senior C 40+), Craig Moore (Masters A 50+), Devin Burks (Junior A/B 25+), Joel Creed (Elite Masters 65+), Austin Lee (XC2 250 Pro), Rachel Gutish (WXC), Jack Joy (85cc 12-13), Maxwell Randolph (Open A), Mike Witkowski (XC2 250 Pro), Joshua Graham (200 C Schoolboy 12-15), Garry Jones (Golden Masters 60+), Rod Marshall (Masters A 50+), Jacob Blythe (125 B/C), Elizabeth Perez (Women) and Nickolas Watterson (4-Stroke C Lites).

Fantic eMTB racing will take place this Friday, October 26 at 5 p.m. 
Fantic eMTB racing will take place this Friday, October 26 at 5 p.m.  Ken Hill

On Friday, October 26, the third Fantic eMTB race will take place at 5 p.m. and feature seven classes with no pre-qualifying: Pro, Schoolboy (12-18), Junior (19-29), Vet (30-39), Senior (40-49), Masters (50+) and Women. The entry fee is $30 Transponder scoring will be used; transponders can be rented or purchased at the events.

Four-wheeled ATVs and UTVs will compete throughout the day on Saturday, October 27. Youth ATV racing begins at 8 a.m., with Single Seat UTV racing at 9 a.m., followed by amateurs, 4x4 Pro and Women at 10 a.m., and the top amateurs and pros race at 1 p.m. Following Saturday’s afternoon race will be the thrilling Side-by-Side UTV race taking place at 4:00 p.m.

On Sunday, October 28, the motorcycles will take to the woods of Indiana following the same race schedule of youth racing action starting the day off at 8 a.m., women and amateur riders race at 10 a.m. and the pros and top amateurs will start at 1 p.m.

This event weekend is co-sanctioned with IXCR, a series that produces local racing events Indiana, and will ultimately bring out a full slate of local racers. Local riders are invited and encouraged to compete in the event, as GNCC Racing offers classes for riders of all skill and experience levels. The amateur race entry fee is $50 if racers pre-enter, or if they sign up at the track. To learn more about GNCC Racing, refer to the GNCC 101 webpage.

Spectator passes run $20 for adults and $10 for children (6-11), and kids five and under are free for the full weekend (Saturday through Sunday) with concert admission, pro pit access and pro autographs at no additional charge.

Monster Energy presents live musical entertainment from the Davisson Brothers Band on Friday and Easton Corbin on Saturday.
Monster Energy presents live musical entertainment from the Davisson Brothers Band on Friday and Easton Corbin on Saturday.

The 1 p.m. pro races will be broadcasted LIVE on the internet via Racer TV on www.racertv.com both days. A highlight show featuring the event will air on NBC Sports Network on Sunday, November 11 at 3:00 p.m. EST.

To get to the track from Indianapolis take I-74 W to Exit 39 for IN-32 W to Crawfordsville. Then turn right onto East Market Street, and proceed until making a left onto N Washington Street. Turn right onto IN-47 S/W South Boulevard, take a right onto County Road 200 S and the track entrance will be on the left.

For more information on the GNCC series, visit the official website at www.gnccracing.com or call (304) 284-0084. Join the conversation on the series social media channels, along with receiving the most up-to-date news and exclusive content.

About GNCC Racing

The AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Series is America's premier off-road racing series. Founded in 1975, the 13-round championship is produced exclusively by Racer Productions. Cross-country racing is one of the most physically demanding sports in the world. The grueling three-hour GNCC races lead as many as 2,400 riders through tracks ranging in length from eight to 12 miles. With varied terrain, including hills, woods, mud, dirt, rocks and motocross sections, GNCC events are tests of both survival and speed. The series draws talent from all over the U.S., Central America, South America, Europe, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. GNCC Racing is televised weekly on NBC Sports and RacerTV.com. For more information, please visit www.gnccracing.com.

How to Watch 

Racer TV and NBC Sports Network (NBCSN) are the official homes for coverage of the AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) events. All 13 rounds, from the season opening Big Buck GNCC in South Carolina to the finale at Ironman Raceway in Indiana, will air in 30-minue; taped-delayed telecasts on NBCSN, while Racer TV provides live streaming coverage of the 1 p.m. ATV and motorcycle races from each event, in addition to the six UTV rounds. Catch all the action at http://www.nbcsports.com/ and http://www.racertv.com/

About the American Motorcyclist Association

Founded in 1924, the AMA is a not-for-profit member-based association whose mission is to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. As the world's largest motorcycling rights and event sanctioning organization, the AMA advocates for riders' interests at all levels of government and sanctions thousands of competition and recreational events every year. The AMA also provides money-saving discounts on products and services for its members. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, the AMA honors the heroes and heritage of motorcycling. For more information, visit www.americanmotorcyclist.com. Not a member? Join the AMA today: www.americanmotorcyclist.com/membership/join.