November 8, 2011 – Corona, CA – It was a battle of Fred Andrews Racing Husqvarnas in the XC2 class of Sunday’s Loretta Lynn GNCC, and FAR racers Andrew Delong and Jason Thomas ended their GNCC season with a spectacular duel, going 1-2 on the day!
Delong wowed everyone with two podium finishes at Loretta’s – a third on Friday and a win on Sunday. In only his third-ever race on the FAR Husqvarna TXC250, Delong captured his career-first XC2 victory, though it came down to sheer luck on the final lap. Thomas and Delong were neck and neck for the lead when they came up on a lapped rider. They each went to one side, and the lapper moved over into Jason’s line, allowing Delong to gain the point.
“My day went so good!” Delong exclaimed. “I just waited for them to get tired and then took off as fast as I could. It was so rough out there, but my TXC250 worked so good today. I’m so happy!”
Despite having to settle for runner-up on Sunday, Thomas’ performance on the weekend was admirable – a broken hand held in place by pins didn’t stop him from competing in the double-header GNCC finale. Thomas toughed it out, as he has all season, and pushed his TXC250 to a fourth-place finish on Friday after getting stuck on the first lap, and a strong second place on Sunday.
Though it was a great day for the team, Thomas was a little disappointed. “My hand was so sore this morning. I came here to win and I did my best. I got caught up with a lapper and it cost me. But I’m proud to be on the podium, especially with my teammate.”
“What an awesome day for the team,” commented Fred Andrews. “Both my guys gave us everything they had today. Husqvarna 1-2 – what a way to end the season!”
Two other Husqvarna’s ended the season on top of the podium at the Loretta Lynn Ranch GNCC. Toy Tech Husqvarna rider Andrew Powers took the overall in Sunday’s morning race aboard a WR125. The overall win marked a first for Powers, and secured the 200 C 16+ championship for both the GNCC series and the AMA Racing East Hare Scrambles Series. Sunday was also a winning day for Junior Women class rider Veronica Martin, who piloted her TXC250 to her season-first win.
“We want to congratulate all Husqvarna racers on a great GNCC season,” commented Husqvarna National Marketing Manager Corey Eastman. “We’re proud of our FAR Husky team for parking two TXCs on the podium. And it was a wonderful surprise to see season-best finishes from our support riders, Powers and Martin, as well.”