Walker Fowler Shines at AMSOIL Snowshoe GNCC
The 2017 AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Series presented by Maxxis, an AMA National Championship, continued today, June 24, with the 11th AMSOIL Snowshoe GNCC held at the popular Snowshoe Mountain Resort in West Virginia. “America’s toughest race” lived up to its nickname after an abundant amount of rain fell in the days prior to the race creating slick and muddy conditions for the world’s fastest off-road ATV racers.
With the unique live engine start modeled after the famed Blackwater 100 race, Chris Borich would find himself in a favorable position and lead the way into the woods, with CST/Induction Solutions/LSR/HiPer/Spider Graphix’s Adam McGill in tow. Once they reached the infamous Howard’s Hole it was WFR/Yamaha/Maxxis/Fly Racing’s Walker Fowler in the lead position, and as he approached timing and scoring for the first-time Fowler had a 49-second lead on the rest of the field who was held up in a bottleneck.
Chris Borich lead the way into the Snowshoe woods, followed by Adam McGill. (Photo by Ken Hill)
Unfortunately, McGill suffered from a crash early on allowing for Borich and Coastal Racing’s Brycen Neal to get by. Although they were physically second and third on the track, it was BNR Racing’s Kevin Yoho and Brent Sturdivant in second in third on adjusted time. The standings remained the same throughout the second lap.
Neal was able to secure third on adjusted time on lap three, while Sturdivant began fading through the pack. Meanwhile, Fowler continued to stretch his lead and Yoho kept a steady pace in second. Fowler continued to lead the entire race, earning his seventh win of the season. Yoho had his personal-best finish, landing his first-ever podium finish with second overall.
Neal was plagued with bad luck on the last lap where he got stuck and had to dismount his quad in Howard’s Hole, allowing Borich by for third. Neal quickly rebounded, but just missed the overall podium in fourth.
“Adam [McGill] is so successful here, so we are all the underdogs heading into this race,” said Folwer. “To see guys like Kevin [Yoho] up here getting his first podium – it’s just awesome. This place is so unpredictable, I got stuck twice during the race, it just seemed like the bottom was falling out of the track.”
Overall Podium: (2) Kevin Yoho, (1) Walker Fowler, (3) Chris Borich. (Photo by Ken Hill)
Brian Wolf had his best finish of the year with fifth overall, followed by Pierce Performance’s Cody Collier and GBC/Canyon Motorsports/Fly Racing’s Landon Wolfe. JMR/ATVriders.com’s Jarrod McClure crossed the finish line in eighth and Dillinger’s Celtic Pub/GBC Motorsports/Moose Racing’s Marty Christofferson finished ninth. Sturdivant rounded out the top ten overall.
In the XC2 Pro-Am division, DeRisi Racing/Tire Spine/Spider Graphix-backed Brandon Icard rose to the occasion – taking his first ever XC2 Pro-Am podium and win in the tough conditions. Hygear Suspension-backed Greg Covert and M.R. Unlimited/Hygear Suspension/GBC Tires/Tire Spine’s Devon Feehan rounded out the class podium.
XC2 Pro-Am Podium: (2) Greg Covert, (1) Brandon Icard, (3) Devon Feehan. (Photo by Ken Hill)
Thomas Koontz Jr. claimed the top amateur honors with a 14th place overall finish and Vet A (28+) division win. Dustin Hendershot and John Glauda Jr. rounded out the amateur overall podium.
The 4×4 Pro class made a clean sweep of the 10 a.m. race overall podium Team UXC Racing’s Kevin Trantham standing in the middle of the box for the first time this season. Cunningham Racing/Can-Am/Maxxis-backed Kevin Cunningham cross the line in second with United Kingdom’s own Steve Atkins behind him in third.
10 a.m Overall Podium: (2) Kevin Cunningham, (1) Kevin Trantham, (3) Scott Atkins. (Photo by Ken Hill)
Angel Knox took home the WXC victory with Traci Pickens and Dillinger’s Celtic Pub-backed Katelyn Osburn rounding out the class podium.
The 8 a.m. youth race kicked off the racing action this morning with Bryce Husband taking his first ever youth overall win. Layne McCormick and Devin Corrothers followed in second and third overall.
8 a.m. Youth Overall Podium: (2) Layne McCormick, (1) Bryce Husband, (3) Devin Corrothers. (Photo by Ken Hill)
The 1 p.m. ATV Pro race was broadcast LIVE in its 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, August 26, at 7:00 p.m.
The 2017 AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Series continues in two weeks, July 8 and 9, with the Wiseco John Penton GNCC at Sunday Creek Raceway in Millfield, Ohio.
For more information on the GNCC series, visit the official website at www.gnccracing.com.
- Walker Fowler (235)
- Adam McGill (159)
- Chris Borich (133)
- Brycen Neal (130)
- Jarrod McClure (121)
- Landon Wolfe (119)
- Johnny Gallagher (88)
- Marty Christofferson (82)
- Devon Feehan (80)
- Hunter Hart (79)
More by Press Release
