GNCCRacing.com: Congrats on another win this weekend! So, how did you get started riding and racing?

Drew Landers: Thank you! Growing up, I had always been into all things with a motor. I got my first ATV at the age of five, and started riding and racing motorcycles as well when I was six. I never actually raced an ATV until I was eleven. After that, I raced both until I was fourteen, then decided to solely race the ATV.

What was your first race, and who brought you to it?

My dad took me to my first race. I remember it was in 2005 at a Mid-South Hare Scramble and I was riding a Honda CRF 50.

How many years have you been doing the GNCC series and why did you decide to start doing them?

My first GNCC was the Yadkin Valley Stomp in 2007. I was still racing bikes then, so competed in the 65 (7-11) class. Some friends from home raced them and we wanted to try it out for ourselves.

Tell us about your amateur career.

My amateur career consisted of a lot of mechanical issues. I raced the youth ATV classes until 2012, then moved up to the morning race, and honestly never had a good season while in it. In fact, my 2014 season I didn’t finish a single race! My first season in the afternoon race was in 2016, and I started in the College A (16-21) class. In 2017, I won the class, the Top Amateur award, whilst racing with a broken wrist. I then moved into XC2 the following year.

Wow, that had to be a tough year in ‘14. How did you stay motivated, and did it teach you a lot?

What kept me motivated is the fact that I never got the results that I knew I was capable of. Being so close to them all the time made me want it that much more! The mechanical issues taught me a lot about my machines, how to better my setup, how to treat the machine while racing and definitely how to prep for races!

Once you moved into the pro ranks, how did thing go for you?

My first year in XC2 in 2018, I ended the year fourth in the class championship and seventeenth overall for the season, after breaking my ankle at round ten and not being able to race the final two rounds that season. In 2019, I snagged one win in XC2 and finished the year second in class and fourteenth overall! And so far in 2020 I have won four out of five races in XC2 and lead the class in points.

Yeah, you have had a fantastic season for sure! What do you think you’re doing differently this year versus your previous seasons in XC2?

I have learned a lot, have made myself more consistent and changed a few things in my program – some little, some big. I have an awesome group behind me, some fantastic supporters, and an amazing machine under me!

What are your long-term career goals?

My long-term goal is to be competitive in the XC1 pro class and be the pro rider I’ve always dreamed of being! Ever since I was a little kid I’ve looked up to the pros and knowing I’m just a step or two from being there racing against the guys I used to watch on RacerTV just seems crazy to me!

What pro rider did you look up to the most as a kid?

I grew up as a huge Bill Balance fan!

Do you have a day job or are you a full-time racer?

I work for my dad and his company, LanMills. It is a packaging, logistics, distributing and solutions company. I guess my title would be something along the lines of “Project Manager”, but I do many different things. The job works out for me, because I have the flexibility to ride and train the way I want to in order to be a successful pro racer! It helps that my boss fully supports me being on a fourwheeler! (laughs)

Yeah, I bet it does for sure! Why are you passionate about racing?

I love the time that I spend on the machine. The feeling of being on the race track is so unique and it’s always a blast no matter the outcome… of course, good results do make it even better!