GNCC Racing: Jumping straight into it, you stepped back from racing for a period of time to attend lineman school and begin a career with PPL. What led you to make that decision? 

Layne McCormick: I started racing when I was 5, so by the time I was 18 - it plays a toll on you and almost lose your spark for a little. In that time of racing for 13 years, chasing the idea of becoming pro and hanging around the pros, I soon realized, unfortunately, that racing wasn’t going to pay the bills and wasn’t going to be a forever career. As much as I love racing, I knew it wasn’t forever. After high school, I knew it was about to get real, real quick. I didn’t believe in the idea of going into college debt to party around for 4 years. I believe in hard work, with the initial cost of lineman school being lower than college, it sparked my interest. If you look around, electricity isn’t going anywhere, so it’s a career that is thriving in today’s world and isn’t going anywhere.   

At Ironman last year, you got a call just a couple of weeks before the race and decided to line up, finishing fourth in XC2 and 20th overall. What went into that decision to come back and race, and how did it feel to have such a strong race? 

Very impulsive decision to say the least, as Brad Whitehead and I were just joking about the idea at deer camp. Come to find out, he wasn’t joking. I didn’t think twice about it when he gave me the green light to go racing. Before the race, Brad said, ‘’Just go out there and have fun’’. That was the most important, through many years of having no life besides racing, trying to give sponsors the results they deserve, having pressure from people on the outside. You lose the idea of why everyone started racing. Because it’s FUN, if you’re not having fun, then it’s time to pack the bags. That race, I had no one to prove but to myself that I could still go out there and get it done. It felt great to finish where I did, there were no expectations. With only 5 minutes on that Honda before we loaded it in the trailer and no seat time for two years, I’d say I did alright.

Now you're back racing this season and putting together some strong finishes. What has the transition back into full-time racing been like for you?

It’s been picture perfect. I have purpose again, and the ‘’spark’’ is back. When I do something, I go all in. Brad said, “Let’s go racing in 2026 after Ironman.” And that’s when I went all in on putting the daily deposits in at the gym and developing the mentality to go racing again. It’s definitely not easy working full-time and racing full-time, but what a privilege it is to feel tired, sore, and beat down.

The XC2 class is one of the most competitive and toughest in GNCC Racing. Coming back from a break and jumping into that class can’t be easy. How have you worked to get yourself back up to speed?

It’s definitely not easy. The Honda is a whole new animal to me, as I have ridden a Yamaha my whole life. But I know I have the speed and belong up front in that class. We are making adjustments to the quad every race as I am getting more comfortable on it. We are working closely with Micah Macdonough from Custom Axis shocks. Micah has been a huge help in getting the quad to handle the speeds that this class runs at. It’s only going to get better as the season goes on.

Now that we’ve talked a bit about where you are today, let’s take it back to the beginning. When did you first start riding and racing ATVs, and what got you into the sport?

Racing has always been in the family, as my dad came from the dirt track and drag racing scene. I started riding quads when I was 5 and started racing soon after. All the glory goes to my dad, who got me into racing. He is the reason I am the man I am today. My Dad and Mom pushed me day in and day out and were a direct result of our success through the youth ranks. Also, have got to give credit to my teacher, the 6x National Champ, Chris Borich. Chris has been there since almost day 1, and my riding is credited to him. He has taught me everything I know on the quad and the race craft that it takes to compete at these levels. Surround yourself with winners.

Is there a track on the GNCC schedule that you especially enjoy racing, and what makes that one stand out to you?

Definitely Mason-Dixon, nothing beats a home state race. I love the dirt because PA dirt is what I’ve always ridden. I won my first amateur overall there and have always had great success at this round. I look forward to starting to get north and racing on some dirt.   

The XC2 class is stacked with talent this season. Who do you see as some of your biggest competition, and how does racing against those guys push you to improve?

Myself. When I look in the mirror, that’s my biggest competitor. The only rival I have is the person I was yesterday. I challenge my ‘’limits’’, striving to be the best version of myself. I won’t let someone else’s success make me feel small. Not to be better than anyone else, but to be better than I was.