GNCC Round 9 Race REport
AMSOIL GNCC Racing ATV Highlights: The Wiseco John Penton GNCC
Walker Fowler Comes From Behind to Win Hometown Race
MILLFIELD, Ohio (July 8, 2017) – The AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Series presented by Maxxis, an AMA National Championship, continued today, July 8, in the Buckeye State with the 28th Annual Wiseco John Penton GNCC held at the popular Sunday Creek Raceway in Millfield, Ohio. After a substantial amount of rain fall the day before, track conditions were slippery and wet as WFR/Yamaha/Maxxis/Fly Racing’s Walker Fowler pushed his way from behind to another overall victory.
Once the green flag waved on the ninth round of the GNCC series, CST/Induction Solutions/LSR/HiPer/Spider Graphix’s Adam McGill found himself in a favorable position and earned the $250 Wiseco Holeshot Award. Fowler remained in close proximity throughout most of the first lap until the eight-mile mark where he became tangled with a vine and he had to dismount his quad.
Adam McGill jumped out to the early lead, grabbing the $250 holeshot award courtesy of Wiseco.
“We got down in the pro only section with some big rocks on a ridge,” explained Fowler. “And a big section of grape vine went through one a-arm, over the frame rail, under a foot peg, and out the back and it stopped the bike dead. Thankfully a young man named Gage and his friends jumped in and we got the bike flipped over and worked on it for forever, or so it felt like. When I finally got the bike going I was sitting third place in XC2.”
With Fowler now in the back of the pack, McGill focused on setting the pace up front with JMR/ATVriders.com’s Jarrod McClure and GBC/Canyon Motorsports/Fly Racing’s Landon Wolfe following. By the conclusion of the second lap, Chris Borich had worked his way into second with McClure right behind him.
Adam McGill used the holeshot to his advantage where he lead almost the entire race.
When the race reached its halfway point, Fowler had moved into sixth with McGill still leading the way. At the end of the third lap, McGill, Borich and McClure were within inches of each other, with fourth and fifth not too far behind.
As the leaders approached the hill climb, McGill was still accompanied by Borich, and as they emerged on the motocross track, the top-five were all wheel-to-wheel. Perhaps the biggest update was Fowler sitting in fourth right on the rear wheels of McClure. McGill, Borich, McClure and Fowler stayed in the same order as they raced through the infamous mulch pile.
With only half a lap remaining in the last race, McGill faced issues at a creek crossing allowing Borich to slide by and take the position, but it wasn’t for long as Fowler took an even better line and worked his way to the lead.
After getting unstuck from a vine on the first lap, Walker Fowler worked his way from dead last to take the overall victory.
“I didn’t have the best start and I just kept pushing and worked my way to the front,” said Borich. “All of a sudden I came up and saw Adam [McGill]. I ended up getting hooked up with McGill and [Jarrod] McClure and we were rolling. On the last lap I passed McGill on a different line, and then Fowler passed me on his line choice.”
Fowler continued pushing until the checkered flag, and Borich and McGill came through scoring with just one second between them in second and third. “My gloves were soaking wet and slick from the vine so I knew it was going to be a long day, but it just goes to prove never give up,” said Fowler. “I knew the track was somewhat technical and that I needed to push once I saw that two-lap card and I was in fifth. I just went all-out and made quick passes and move onto the next rider after rider. When I was finally riding the way I know I could on that last lap everything was working perfect.”
Overall Podium: (2) Chris Borich, (1) Walker Fowler, (3) Adam McGill.
Coastal Racing’s Brycen Neal landed just off the podium in fourth, and McClure fell to fifth on the last lap. ATV Innovations/Solo Pilot’s Westley Wolfe had his best finish of the season with sixth overall, and Landon Wolfe and Dillinger’s Celtic Pub/GBC Motorsports/Moose Racing’s Marty Christofferson followed in seventh and eighth.
In the XC2 Pro-Am division, the race was equally exciting where the top three crossed the finish line within seconds of each other. Hygear Suspension’s Greg Covert jumped out to the early lead grabbing the $100 All Balls Racing Holeshot Award. As they finished it would be Ithaca Recreation/Maxxis/Quad Tech/Storm Peak Crossfit’s Hunter Hart taking the win followed by M.R. Unlimited/Hygear Suspension/GBC Tires/Tire Spine’s Devon Feehan. Covert maintained his early lead to finish third in class.
XC2 Pro-Am Podium: (2) Devon Feehan, (1) Hunter Hart, (3) Greg Covert.
Drew Landers had a hard fought race to earn the College A (16-21) victory along with 17th overall. His finish earned him top amateur honors. Jeffrey Pickens and Steven Covert rounded out the overall amateur podium in the 1 p.m. Pro race.
Right after the conclusion of the 1 p.m. Pro race, the action continued with UTV racing. Can-Am’s Cody Miller took his first win of the season. Defending champion and Miller Brothers Racing/AmPro Yamaha’s Cody Miller put forth his best effort to finish second, with JB Racing/Can-Am’s Tim Farr crossing the line in third.
Overall UTV Podium: (2) Cody Miller, (1) Hunter Miller, (3) Tim Farr.
The 4×4 Pro riders made a clean sweep of the 10 a.m. podium with Can-Am/DJR/QuadBoss-backed Bryan Buckhannon taking the overall after swapping the lead back-and-forth with Cunningham Racing/Can-Am/Maxxis’ Kevin Cunningham who placed second. Team UXC Racing’s Kevin Trantham finished out the overall podium in third.
DeRisi Racing’s Dwight Pollard took overall amateur honors in the 10 a.m. race with fourth overall and the 4×4 A class win.
10 a.m. Overall Podium: (2) Kevin Cunningham, (1) Bryan Buckhannon, (3) Kevin Trantham.
In the WXC division, Dillinger’s Celtic Pub’s Katelyn Osburn landed on the top spot of the podium for the second time this season. Angel Knox and Kamren Bobb finished a respective second and third.
Robert Boynton made the pass for the win on the white flag lap, and secured the points lead with his win. Chris Ferraro followed in second with John Baughman rounding out the overall podium in third.
Single Seat UTV Podium: (2) Chris Ferraro, (1) Robert Boynton, (3) John Baughman.
ATV racing at The John Penton GNCC kicked off with the 8 a.m. youth race with Layne McCormick taking the overall and Super Mini (12-15) victory. Casey Simmons crossed right behind McCormick in second with Carter Holder making his first podium appearance of the season in third.
Both the Pro ATV and UTV races were broadcast LIVE in their entirety on RacerTV.com and can be viewed as archived video online by visiting the GNCC LIVE page. A highlight show featuring the event will air Saturday, October 14 at 2:30 p.m.
AMSOIL GNCC Racing resumes in the fall, September 9 and 10, with the Parts Unlimited Unadilla GNCC in New Berlin, New York.
Youth Overall Podium: (2) Casey Simmons, (1) Layne McCormick, (3) Carter Holder.
For more information on the series, visit the official website at www.gnccracing.com or call (304) 284-0084. Join the conversation on the series Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and be sure to always hashtag #GNCC.
The Wiseco John Penton GNCC
Millfield, Ohio
Round 9 of 13
Saturday, July 8
XC1 Pro Event Results:
- Walker Fowler (YAM)
- Chris Borich (SUZ)
- Adam McGill (HON)
- Brycen Neal (YAM)
- Jarrod McClure (HON)
- Westley Wolfe (SUZ)
- Landon Wolfe (HON)
- Marty Christofferson (HON)
- Johnny Gallagher (YAM)
- Randy Hamilton (HON)
*Overall National Championship Standings:
- Walker Fowler (265)
- Adam McGill (180)
- Chris Borich (158)
- Brycen Neal (148)
- Jarrod McClure (137)
- Landon Wolfe (133)
- Johnny Gallagher (97)
- Marty Christofferson (95)
- Hunter Hart (91)
- Devon Feehan (91)
*Indicates that the Overall National Championship Standings will determine the 2017 National Champion.
XC2 Pro-Am Event Results:
- Hunter Hart (YAM)
- Devon Feehan (HON)
- Greg Covert (YAM)
- Matthew Lindle (HON)
- Braden Henthorn (HON)
- Kenny Shick (YAM)
- Levi Coen (HON)
- Bryson Hoppes (YAM)
- Devin Masters (SUZ)
- Wyatt Wilkin (HON)
XC2 Pro-Am Series Standings:
- Devon Feehan (223)
- Hunter Hart (201)
- Greg Covert (200)
- Matthew Lindle (170)
- Brandon Icard (118)
- Levi Coen (111)
- Kenny Shick (110)
- Sam Hough (98)
- Austin Abney (98)
- Bryson Hoppes (83)
About GNCC Racing
The AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Series presented by Maxxis 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.
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.
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