Strang Wins Big Buck GNCC
Strang finished the race just seconds ahead of GEICO/JG Racing Monster Kawasaki's Paul Whibley in second and teammate Charlie Mullins. Strang is the first repeat winner of the series that saw a different rider for each of the first three rounds.
"The last two laps were quick," Strang said. "We all three wanted to get in the lead and pull away. It's definitely good to get that second one."
Mullins fired first, nabbing his third $250 MotorcycleUSA.com holeshot award and was quickly followed by Strang, Whibley and Shock Doctor KTM rider Nate Kanney as they headed into the woods. Mullins held onto the lead for the first few laps and along with Strang, Whibley and Kanney, held the lead spots as the riders traded in and out. As they charged through the dusty track Kanney and Mullins began to fade away. At the pits, Husqvarna's Glenn Kearney decided not to pit and took the lead until he ran out of gas in the final laps. From then on, it was Strang and Whibley racing wheel-to-wheel until the finish, until Strang was able to pull a few seconds ahead. Mullins was the third XC1 Pro to cross the finish.
Photo By: Matt Ware
The XC1 class roared through the first turn at the Pirelli Big Buck GNCC
"I really wanted to win today," Whibley said. "It was a really cool race today. I'm alot happier today. The bike is awesome."
Kanney nabbed 4th place followed by Yamaha's Thad Duvall in 5th and Barry Hawk in 6th. KTM's Kurt Caselli in 7th and Kawasaki's Jesse Robinson in 8th. Rounding out the top 10 was Husqvarna's Glenn Kearney and Kawasaki's Jimmy Jarrett.
Pro Lites and XC2 rider Shock Doctor KTM's Kailub Russell, raced to an incredible third overall finish, just 45 seconds behind Mullins, making him the third overall winner and the XC2 Pro-Lites winner. Russell began pulling away from Buttrick after Buttrick crashed in the first turn and never looked back. Slowly catching up to the leaders Russell crossed the finish line just a minute and a half behind Whibley and Strang.
Photo By: Matt Ware
Mullins grabbed the $250 MotorcycleUsa.com Holeshot award today.
Buttrick had a hard time coming within sight of Russell and instead traded in and out with Kawasaki privateer Andrew Matusek for second and third until the last laps of the race, when Monster Energy/Andrew's Yamaha' Jason Thomas overtook Matusek to come in to third. Andrew's Yamaha's Josh Weisenfels took home the $100 Cometic XC2 Holeshot Award.
Matusek took home fourth, KTM's Jake Korn took 5th and Kawasaki's Robert Santheson came in 6th. In 7th place was Honda's Ryan Echols followed by Kawasaki's Scott Watkins in 8th. Yamaha's Brian Lawson and Kawasaki's Johnathan Woodford rounded out the top 10 in 9th and 10th places respectively.
Photo By: Matt Ware
Russell raced his heart out today.
The 2009 Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series continues with the Acerbis Loretta Lynn's GNCC in Hurrican Mills, Tennessee, on April 18th and 19th. For more information, visit www.gnccracing.com
XC1 points standing to date: 1.PAUL WHIBLEY(KAW), 2.CHARLES MULLINS SUZ), 3. JOSHUA STRANG(SUZ), 4.NATHAN KANNEY (KTM), 5.KURT CASELLI(KTM)6.,JIMMY JARRETT (KAW), 7. BARRY HAWK JR(YAM),8.JESSE ROBINSON (KAW), 9.THADDEUS DUVALL (YAM), 10.RYAN GAINEY (HON)
XC2 Points Standings: 1. KAILUB RUSSELL (KTM) 2. CORY BUTTRICK (KTM) 3. JASON THOMAS(YAM) 4. ANDREW MATUSEK (KAW), 5.SCOTT WATKINS (KAW) 6. JAKE KORN (KTM) 7 BRIAN LAWSON (YAM), 8.ROBERT SANTHESON III (KAW) 9. DAVID SNYDER (YAM) 10.JOSH WEISENFELS(YAM)
About GNCC Racing: The Can-Am Grand National Cross Country series is America's premier off-road racing series. Founded in 1973, 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. With varied terrain, including hills, woods, mud, dirt, rocks and motocross sections, GNCC events are tests of both survival and speed. Riders compete for more than $3 million in contingency and prize money, which draws talent from all over the U.S., Europe, Australia and New Zealand. GNCC Racing is televised and will air beginning April 4th on the Versus Network. For more information, please visit www.gnccracing.com.
About Racer Productions: A West Virginia-based motorcycle and ATV event production company, Racer Productions has been a leader in the off-road racing industry for more than 30 years. It's repertoire of events includes the 13-round Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series, held since 1973; The Kawasaki/Monster Energy High Point National in Mount Morris, Pa., held since 1977; The ATV Dirt Days at Loretta Lynn's Ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tenn., held since 1985; The U.S. World Motocross Gran Prix at Steel City Raceway in Delmont, Pa. in 1987; The Monster Energy/Kawasaki Steel City National, held since 1988; The ATV Stampede National Motocross at High Point Raceway, held since 1994; The AMA Pro ATV Open at Steel City in 2007; as well as numerous other amateur motocross events. In addition, Racer Productions staffs the prestigious Air Nautiques/AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship at Loretta Lynn's Ranch, held since 1982. For more information, please visit www.racerproductions.com.
Photo By: Matt Ware
Whibley, Strang and Mullins celebrate on the podium.
Photo By: Matt Ware
Buttrick, Russell and Thomas celebrate their wins on the podium.
Photo By: Matt Ware
Whibley is consistently landing on the podium.