#LorettaLynnRanch

Chris Borich takes the checkers ahead of Taylor Kiser at the 2012 GNCC finale at the Loretta Lynn Ranch.

In a surprising bit of news, Racer Products has announced that the 2013 Grand National Cross Country Series will not make a stop at the Loretta Lynn Ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tenn. – the oldest race on the GNCC circuit.

“Due to a scheduling conflict, the Loretta Lynn’s venue will not be on the GNCC schedule for 2013,” says GNCC Event Director, Dean VanLeeuwen. “Loretta’s has given us nearly 30 years of good racing and we’re looking forward to possibly returning to the ranch in the future.”

National Guard/Coastal/Bowers Motorcycle Supplies/Yokley Racing Team rider Jarrod McClure finished fifth overall and fifth in the XC1 Pro Class at the season finale of the 2013 Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series. There were 113 total entries including 16 XC1 Pro racers.

Summary

The format for the last GNCC of the year at Loretta Lynn’s Ranch was different as the bikes raced on Saturday and the ATVs on Sunday. Rain showers on Saturday night made the track almost perfect for the ATVs on this crisp autumn race day. The historic facility features a high-speed grass track, the national caliber Moto Cross track, trails with lots of rocks, gravel and elevation changes.

At the drop of the start flag, McClure got a great launch and the $250 Motosport.com Holeshot Award. The top five XC1 Pros ran nose to tail for the first several laps, with the lead changing hands several times per lap. McClure ran a good, smooth race and finished in fifth place at the end of the five-lap, two-hour race.

Though Chris Borich has long ago clinched the XC1 season championship, the world’s top cross-country racers still have plenty to fight for at the season finale of the 2012 Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series – the Parts Unlimited Loretta Lynn’s GNCC in Hurricane Mills, Tenn.

Last round, Ballance Racing Yamaha’s Walker Fowler became the fourth unique winner in the XC1 Pro ATV class, while Bowers Motorcycle/Coastal National Guard/Yokley Racing’s Jarrod McClure and Motoworks/Can-Am’s Chris Bithell came close to grabbing their first wins of the season as well. Four-time and current champ Chris Borich hasn’t been able to continue his win-streak the last couple of rounds, which has left the door open for other riders to land a spot in the middle of the podium.

Can-Am X-Team Outlander 800R X xc racer Bryan Buckhannon won the 4×4 Open class at the Can-Am GNCC finale in Tennessee, to earn back-to-back class championships. Warnert Racing / Can-Am DS 450 XC1 pro class racer Adam McGill finished second at Loretta Lynn’s Dude Ranch to earn second overall for the season. Warnert Racing / Can-Am teammate Chris Bithell earned fourth at Loretta’s and fourth overall in the XC1 ranks aboard his DS 450.

“I was thrilled to see Buckhannon win his class here at Loretta’s and repeat as 4×4 Open class champion,” says Jimmie O’Dell, race manager, Can-Am. “McGill and Bithell rode extremely hard in Tennessee, like they have all season. They each led a portion of the race, but unfortunately couldn’t finish it out. Adam truly earned his second-place podium finish today and it was a good way for him to end the year.”