by: Mikey Waynes
Tuesday, May 2, 2023 | 10:00 AM
Steve Harrell currently races in the XC2 ATV Pro-Am class, where he sits undefeated after five rounds of racing. GNCC caught up with Steve for this week's Wiseco Tuesday Toolbox to see how he got to where he is right now.
GNCCRacing.com: When did you start riding and eventually racing?
Steven Harrell: I started riding when I was 3 in 2005. My first bike was a little red extreme 50. I started racing in 2020. I raced my first race at The General GNCC. I’d never raced before that ever.
You got a later start than most at the national level. What got you involved in racing?
A couple of my dad’s friends had kids and they raced some a while ago and that’s how I even found out about it but I road with them all the time as a kid. Riding is all I did besides playing football and wrestling as a kid and throughout high school. Covid hit in 2020 and my chances of winning states in high school for wrestling were slim due to covid canceling my season so my dad talked to his buddy to get me into it because he wanted me to get into something new, he knew I was a somewhat fast rider and that’s how it started.
You’re undefeated in the XC2 Class this year through the first four rounds of racing. What’s clicking for you this season?
Having a good support group and honestly staying patient and smooth during the race. Having a guy like Ryan Smith from BNR doing my motor work, shock work and just having my back helps too!
Having not come up through the youth ranks in GNCC, what are some hurdles or obstacles you’ve had to face in learning the pace in your journey to success?
Honestly, I’d say the biggest obstacle in the beginning was when I had a lot of mechanical issues when I first started racing but watching Hannah hunter and the way her and her dads system worked helped me a lot along with having BNR Motorsports help me out.
What are your goals with your racing career?
My goal is to be the best and I wanna try and help make atv racing like it was 10 years ago. Depending on if I win XC2 or not this year my goal is to move up to the XC1-Pro class once I win the XC2 title.
You’re pretty quiet at the track. All business if you will. When you’re not racing or training what do you like to do for fun?
Truly, I love this sport as a passion. I live it and breath it for sure, but I do love riding mountain bikes and riding dirt bikes other than the quad side.
We’ve talked about your perfect start in the XC2 Class. But you’ve also clicked off four 10th place finishes in the Overall as well. Is that a goal of yours, or has it just worked out that way through the last few rounds?
My goal is to be in the top 10 every race but I wanna do better for sure.
Generally speaking the XC2 is pretty stacked. As you look down through the class there are several guys that have what it takes to win. Going to put a little pressure on you, who are the names that stand out to you in the class as your most difficult competition?
For sure there’s a lot of young talent coming up through rankings Layne McCormick, Brandon Owens, Grayson Eller, Dylan Walraven and James Glauda are the biggest threat in the XC2 class.
What does training look like for you throughout the season?
I work out throughout the week, ride and mtb every week during the season.
Are you also juggling a full-time job?
I work with my brother-in-law so he’s flexible with me so I can work when I want and take off when I need to.
Lastly, who are the sponsors and people you’d like to thank?
BNR MOTOSPORTS, FEARLESS, Kenda, HMF, and Pro Graphics.
