Mullins Claims GNCC Title with Loretta's Win
Charlie Mullins Conquers Parts Unlimited Loretta Lynn's GNCC to Capture First-Ever XC1 Championship
Photo By: Shan Moore
Charlie Mullins wrapped up the XC1 title..
Rewinding to Friday, Mullins suffered a mechanical issue near the end of a race that he indisputably dominated, while Paul Whibley and Josh Strang closed the points gap on the American off-road racing star heading into Sunday's finale. Mullins proved that he could handle the pressure, though, riding his way to claim his first-ever GNCC XC1 title. And to top it off, Mullins also won the $250 Motosport.com Holeshot Award at the start of the race.
Photo By: Shan Moore
Kailub Russell finished off the year with a second place finish..
"It's a dream come true," said Mullins. "I'm really at a loss for words, right now. I've worked so hard and so many people have helped me along the way. There are so many people out there that helped make this happen and it feels really good to finally win it, it's been a long time coming."
"It's been 10 years ago I was in the youth class, and it's pretty cool to come up and be the champion," added Mullins. "When I started racing it was just me and my dad and my uncle just coming out on the weekends, just spending time with the family and having a good time. I really never thought it would progress to this, it's something I'll always remember."
Photo By: Shan Moore
Paul Whibley rounded out the podium.
Buttrick ran a solid second for the first half of the race after rolling off a season-best second place on Friday, but unfortunately Buttrick pulled out of the race with an injured hand. WMR Racing/Clockwork/Planet Fitness KTM's Nate Kanney ran into mechanical issues in the final round of racing and the fifth place racer pulled off early on.
Russell took over second after his FMF/KTM teammate Buttrick dropped out and after that, the Pro class rookie never looked back - ending the race with nearly two minutes to spare over the seasoned Whibley.
Photo By: Shan Moore
Australian Toby Price was fourth.
Whibley, who won Friday's round, wasn't able to put in another win on the weekend, but the Kiwi managed second place in points after an arguably rough start to the 2011 season.
"The track was really rough today and we had a few set-up issues, the bike wasn't working as good as it was Friday," said Whibley. "But it's good to finish the year where we did, considering the problems we had at the start of the season."
Australian off-road star Toby Price finished fourth in just his second GNCC race of the season, while Jesse Robinson finished fifth, filling in on the factory Beta team for the injured Chris Bach.
Holeshot specialist Jedehiah Haines was sixth on a Kawasaki, beating out JG Off-road/GEICO Powersports Honda's Scotty Watkins for the spot.
Photo By: Shan Moore
Andrew DeLong got his first XC2 win.
Rounding out the top 10 were Kawasaki rider Eric Bailey and Kenny Gilbert on a KTM.
Andrew DeLong claimed his first-ever XC2 victory after an epic battle with his FAR Husqvarna teammate Jason Thomas and Obermeyer Yamaha/Raines Riding University/OffroadViking.com's Jordan Ashburn.
Ashburn took the early lead after grabbing the $100 Motosport.com Holeshot Award, however, DeLong and Thomas soon hooked up in a fierce duel that eventually carried them past Ashburn and into the lead.
For the next several laps, DeLong and Thomas traded the lead several times, with Thomas holding the upper hand going into the final lap. However, DeLong was not to be denied and made a spectacular pass just before the motocross track to take the win.
"It feels good to get this win under my belt," said DeLong. "Jordan kind of checked out on us early, and then me and Jason started rolling and we just put the hammer down and caught him."
Thomas, who, remarkably, was riding with a plate and several screws in his hand after breaking it before the Ironman GNCC, held on for second with Ashburn taking third.KTM's Steward Baylor Jr., who wrapped up the XC2 title on Friday, finished fourth after drowning out his bike in one of the water crossings.
Obermeyer Yamaha/Raines Riding University/OffroadViking.com's Morgan Moss was fifth, ahead of Yamaha riders AJ Stewart and Steven Squire.
Justin Bonita and Zack Nolan were eighth and ninth, respectively, both riding KTM's, while JG Offroad/ GEICO Honda's Rory Mead was 10th.
After graduating from the Youth ranks just last year, Fairmont, W. Va. racer Layne Michael turned in a herculean effort to finish ninth overall, earning him the honor of Top Amateur for the first time in his rookie season. Open A's Adam Bonneur put up a good fight, though, contesting the young rider for that top honor throughout the three-hour race.
In the A.M. race, Husqvarna rider Andrew Powers claimed his first overall win of the year, and topped the 200 C (16+) class, as well. Masters A (50+) winner Randall Riggs was second overall on a Yamaha, with KTM rider Cameron Hicks taking third overall and second in the 200 C (16+) class.
Photo By: Shan Moore
Lane Michael was the top finishing Amateur.
KTM's Maria Forsberg topped the Women's division with a fourth overall finish, while Mark Patterson was fifth overall and second in the Masters A (50+) division.
Darin Downs (Yam) took the win in the Sportsman A class, with Shawn Clark (Yam) second and Zach Ingram (KTM) third.
Super Mini (12-13) class winner Michael Witkowski (KTM) topped the Youth division, taking the overall win for the first time this year. Austin Lee (KTM) was second overall and second in the Super Mini (12-13), while Levi Keller was third overall and first in the Super Mini (14-15) division.
The 65 (10-11) class was won by Kalab Hagan (KTM), with Hayden Vancuren (KTM) second and Cole Bates (KTM) third.
The 2011 Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series wrapped up this weekend at the historical Loretta Lynn's Ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tenn. GNCC Racing now heads to Morgantown, W. Va. for the 2011 GNCC Awards Banquet at the Waterfront Place Hotel and Convention Center, December 2 and 3. For more information, please visit www.gnccracing.com.
XC1 Results:
1. Charlie Mullins (KTM)
2. Kailub Russell (KTM)
3. Paul Whibley (Yam)
4. Toby Price (KTM)
5. Jesse Robinson (Bet)
6. Jedehiah Haines (Kaw)
7. Scotty Watkins (Hon)
8. Cody Webb (Bet)
9. Eric Bailey (Kaw)
10. Kenny Gilbert (KTM)
XC1 Standings:
1. Charlie Mullins (302/6 wins)
2. Paul Whibley (282/4 wins)
3. Josh Strang (266/2 wins)
4. Kailub Russell (227/1 win)
5. Nate Kanney (192)
6. Cory Buttrick (168)
7. Thad DuVall (138)
8. Jimmy Jarrett (127)
9. Jedediah Haines (112)
10. Mike Lafferty (105)
XC2 Results:
1. Andrew DeLong (Hsq)
2. Jason Thomas (Hsq)
3. Jordan Ashburn (Yam)
4. Steward Baylor Jr. (KTM)
5. Morgan Moss (Yam)
6. AJ Stewart (Yam)
7. Steve Squire (Yam)
8. Justin Bonita (KTM)
9. Zack Nolan (KTM)
10. Rory Mead (Hon)
XC2 Standings:
1. Steward Baylor Jr. (315/6 wins)
2. Jordan Ashburn (269)
3. Jason Thomas (257)
4. Andrew DeLong (255)
5. AJ Stewart (147)
6. Morgan Moss (147)
7. Jesse Robinson (146)
8. Zackery Smith (130)
9. Steven Squire (127)
10. Scotty Watkins (125)
Motosport.com $250 XC1 holeshot - Charlie Mullins
Motosport.com $100 XC2 holeshot - Jordan Ashburn
About GNCC Racing:
The Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series is America's premier off-road racing series. Founded in 1979, 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 1,800 riders through tracks ranging in length from eight to 12 miles, competing for more than $3 million in prizes. With varied terrain, including hills, woods, mud, dirt, rocks and motocross sections, GNCC events are tests of both survival and speed. For more information, please visit www.gnccracing.com.