MORGANTOWN, W. Va. – Round 9 of the 2013 AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Series heads to Snowshoe Mountain Resort this weekend for the toughest, most spectacular and most unique race on the whole circuit, the AMSOIL Snowshoe GNCC. Four-time ATV champion Chris Borich leads the field into the final race before the summer break, but Saturday’s two-hour battle through the grueling woods of Snowshoe Mountain has the potential to shake things up in the XC1 class.
Set in the upscale ski village of West Virginia’s largest ski resort, this weekend’s Snowshoe GNCC promises to resurrect pieces of XC history with its live engine starts across the paved road located in the heart of Snowshoe’s village. The in town starts pay homage to the Blackwater 100-the original GNCC-where groups of five racers take off in five-second increments, making for a spectacular scene.
Because of the unique start and technical racecourse, the Snowshoe GNCC has been known to throw a twist in the race action. In fact, there have been three different overall winners at Snowshoe in the last four years. Maxxis-backed Chris Borich captured a hard-fought win over Reliable Tool Supply/Maxxis rider Chris Bithell in 2012, while Lonestar/Precision/ITP’s Adam McGill watched from the sidelines with a recovering injury. However, McGill took the Snowshoe victory in 2011 and that, coupled with his overall win at the previous round this season, could give McGill the momentum needed to make it two-in-a-row this Saturday.
GT Thunder’s Brian Wolf has a history of performing well on technical courses, including his back-to-back Snowshoe victories in 2009 and 2010. Wolf currently sits outside the top 20 overall in the standings, but the Ohio native is expected to challenge the win at the Snowshoe GNCC.
Through eight rounds, Borich holds a commanding points lead over McGill, who recently moved into the second place position following his first win of the season at Round 8. However, less than five points separate McGill, AmPro Yamaha’s Walker Fowler and Bithell for the second place spot, making this Saturday’s race a fight to the finish for valuable championship points.
BNR’s Kevin Yoho rounds out the top five in points, just ahead of Waynesburg Yamaha’s Jeff Pickens. Team Woodhead/DeRisi Racing’s Braden Henthorn, Yamaha/GBC/HMF’s Johnny Gallagher and JB Offroad/Can-Am’s Jarrod McClure sit just four points apart for the seventh place position and XC2 rookie Brycen Neal rounds out the top 10 overall.
Neal continues to lead the XC2 Pro Am class with five wins this season. Rookie Landon Wolfe secured his first career XC2 win last round, climbing his way into the second place position in points, while Indiana’s Fred Marley holds the third place position with a consistent string of podium finishes.
Four-wheeled ATVs will compete throughout the day on Saturday, June 29 and dirt bikes will race on Sunday, June 30. Local riders are invited to race the event as well, as GNCC racing offers classes for riders of all skill and experience levels. The amateur racer entry fee is $40 and riders can sign up at the track.
Spectator passes run $15 for the full weekend, with pro pit access and pro autographs at no additional charge. Youth ATV racing will take place Saturday at 8 a.m., followed by amateurs, 4×4 and Women at 10 a.m. and the top amateurs and pros at 1 p.m. For more information on the series, visit www.gnccracing.com.