For Round 7 of the 2013 Mtn. Dew ATV Motocross National Championship the series headed to Steel City Raceway this past weekend. When all the dirt had settled it was defending champ Chad Wienen capturing his fifth consecutive win of the season.  Pennsylvania native Joel Hetrick finished the weekend in second place, while Thomas Brown rounded out the overall podium in third.
 
Not only did Wienen earn the victory, but the Wienen Motorsports SSi Walsh Yamaha presented by Maxxis Tires & Team Vollmer's also grabbed the ATVRiders.com Fastest Qualifier Award during morning practice.
 
In the first moto, Pennsylvania native John Natalie grabbed the holeshot and early lead aboard his MotoSport.com Motoworks DWT machine, and he managed to lead the tight race up until the halfway point of the race.

"I had a good jump off the gate and was able to run a good moto, leading up until halfway when I made a mistake and fell back into second,” Natalie said. “I knew I had to ride smart but I was happy to be able to get a good result in front of all my hometown family and friends that came out to support me this weekend.”

Wienen sat in third place after the turn, pressuring the front two riders until he was able to make a move into second by lap five. Wienen made a clean pass with five laps to go and put a gap on the field as he took the win in the first race of the day.

 
"I'm really pumped on the weekend. I was able to grab my sixth overall of the season and extend my lead in the championship points chase,” he said. It was really great racing and we were finally able to give the spectators a good show with some great racing."

Natalie was able to hold onto second despite pressure from behind. Brown was the man on the move in moto one coming from a start just inside the top 10, the Wienen Motorsports SSi Walsh Yamaha presented by Maxxis Tires & Team Vollmer rider had his work cut out for him to find the front of the field. Brown put his head down and was able to move his way into fifth by the end of the third lap but had more than a seven second gap between himself and the front of the field. Brown continued to pressure on and with two laps to go was able to make a pass into the third place spot.

For the second moto Joel Hetrick looked like a man on a mission, putting an eight-second lead on the field by the halfway point. He continued his tear on the way to a moto two victory, securing his first podium since he broke his collarbone in May.
 
"I'm really happy I was able to get back up to the podium this weekend,” Hetrick said. “I got two good starts and was able to push through to a moto two win. It feels great to get back up on the box and I'm looking forward to getting to the top spot."

Wienen was off to another good start in moto two, coming out of the first turn in third. He was able to move into second by lap six but was unable to gain any time on the front-runner. Wienen crossed the finish line in second and secured his fifth consecutive overall win of the season. Brown again found himself having to work through the field to find the podium again. His solid effort earned him his sixth third place finish of the 2013 season.
 
"I really had my work cut out for met his weekend,” he said after the race. “I got off to two bad starts and had to work my way through the field but was able to find the speed to make my way up to the front of the field. I'm happy with my third place overall finish but am really looking forward to moving my way up to the top of the box.”
 
The series will continue Round 8 of the 2013 Mtn. Dew ATV Motocross, sanctioned by AMA, National Championship at Unadilla Raceway in New Berlin, NY. on July 13. For more information, visit http://www.atvmotocross.com/.
 
AMA Pro ATV Results
1. Chad Wienen (YAM)
2. Joel Hetrick (HON)
3. Thomas Brown (YAM)
4. John Natalie (HON)
5. Josh Creamer (CAN)
6. Josh Upperman (HON)
7. Jeffrey Rastrelli (CAN)
8. Nick Denoble (SUZ)
9. Tyler Hamrick (HON)
10. Casey Martin (HON)