The Snowshoe track is the toughest of the series, and the 20 mile- double loop track will plunge nearly 1000 feet in elevation on downhill trails, introduce a good flow of tight trails in the valley, and then climb back up 1000 feet on a rugged, steep, powerline road, very similar to sections used in the legendary Blackwater 100 off-road race-the original GNCC.

Plus, the event packs a $50,000 weekend purse, including a payment of $10,000 for an overall win, and $5,000 for second and $3,000 for third. Throw in the extra money and the rugged track, and there's a recipe for great success, but also crushing defeat.

Borich is still on top after pulling out three-straight wins and five for the season. Yamaha's Taylor Kiser sits 23 points behind heading to Snowshoe.

Besides Kiser and the track, Borich has even more to contend with. With Kiser in the points is FRE KTM's Adam McGill, the West Virginian who won at Snowshoe last year. This year McGill has chosen to take the consistent approach to the season, but now he needs wins to vault back into the series' lead he held earlier this year.

McGill is only 11 points behind Kiser and both have been determined this season to knock Borich off the lead and have come close several times. Kiser is staying consistently in the top 5, and is usually on the podium. McGill started the season off strong, staying on the podium the first five rounds. He's had two rough races though, finish 9^th in round six at the Titan and 13^th at John Penton two weeks ago. But at the John Penton race, he led until the last lap, until he had mechanical problems, letting Borich by.

In the third pack, about 25 points behind, another battle is brewing between Houser Racing's Bryan Cook, defending GNCC Champion Yamaha's Bill Ballance and his teammate Brandon Sommers. Only a handful of points separate the riders as they go into Snowshoe, and Cook and Ballance both saw improved results at John Penton. Sommers had a streak on the podium but at John Penton crashed hard and finished 17^th.

Rounding out the top 10 of the leaders are Yamaha riders Donald Ockerman, Duane Johnson, Jarrod McClure and Johnny Gallagher. And close by is Warnert Can-Am's Chris Bithell, who at John Penton finished in third, a gritty comeback after a rough season.

With the hardest race ahead, who knows who will come ahead in their pack and on top of the podium.

Directions to the track:

Pittsburgh: I-79 South to Weston, WV, then East on US-33 to Elkins, South 48 miles on US-219 to Snowshoe

Nashville, Knoxville, Tri-Cities Areas: I-40 to Knoxville and I-81 North to I-77 North to I-64 East to White Sulphur Springs, then 92 North to WV-39 West to Marlinton, WV; then 26 miles on US-219 North to Snowshoe. (You may also leave I-64 at Lewisburg and travel Hwy 219 North to Snowshoe . . . shorter but very mountainous).