The Wiseco John Penton Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) event featured both ATV and side-by-side vehicle racing and was held Saturday, June 1 in Millfield, Ohio.
Can-Am Maverick 1000R X rs pilot Kyle Chaney won the UTV XC1 Modified class in the third round of the six-race SxS series. Can-Am X-Team racer Michael Swift finished third on the UTV XC2 Limited class podium with his Team UXC Racing-backed Can-Am Maverick 1000R X rs.
During round seven of the ATV portion of the series, Can-Am 4×4 racers won five morning classes, led by U2 class winner Rob Smith, who also earned second overall on the morning podium with his Renegade 800R X xc.
“I was very pleased with our Can-Am racers’ results at The John Penton GNCC round in Ohio. We had the most successful weekend of racing ever from our side-by-side racers. Kyle Chaney drove an outstanding race to earn the first GNCC UTV XC1 Modified class overall victory with the Can-Am Maverick 1000R X rs. We had six Can-Am side-by-side vehicles finish inside the top 10 of the XC1 class and earned at least one podium in every GNCC SxS class,” said Jimmie O’Dell, Race Manager, Can-Am. “Our Can-Am Renegade and Outlander racers continue to dominate the morning racing as we won all five 4×4 classes, highlighted by Rob SmithÂ’s second-place finish on the GNCC overall podium.”
Starting from the third row, Kyle Chaney and co-pilot Denny Napier pulled their row’s holeshot and were quickly on the heels of the second-row racers. From there, the JB Off-Road / Can-Am Maverick 1000R X rs pilot set his sights on the leaders. He quickly moved into sixth after lap one on adjusted time.
With two laps remaining, Chaney caught up with the race leaders and kept his Can-Am in contention for the race overall. He became the overall XC1 class race leader on the final lap, based on adjusted time. Chaney went on to win his first GNCC UTV XC1 Modified class victory with the Can-Am Maverick 1000R side-by-side. He is tied for second in the UTV XC1 Modified class with three UTV rounds remaining.
“The Maverick 1000R worked awesome. I knew the speed and ability was there, we just needed some luck and we got it. I know that this will be the first of more wins,” said Chaney. “My setup is dialed in, so I am not changing anything heading into the Masontown GNCC.”
Can-Am drivers earned six of the top 10 UTV XC1 Modified class finishes. JB Off-Road’s Tim Farr and co-pilot Julie Farr earned sixth place in Ohio. Team Zakowski Motorsports’ Zac Zakowski edged Louis Powersports / Can-Am X-Team racer Cody Miller for seventh. Larry Hendershot (Team HP/ NC 44) was ninth ahead of Team NC PowersportsÂ’ Stuart Weeks.
In the UTV XC2 Limited class, Michael Swift (Team UXC Racing / Can-Am) drove his Can-Am Maverick to a podium finish. The third-place finish was his best of the UTV season.
In ATV action, Rob Smith (Can-Am X-Team) won the U2 class, took second on the GNCC overall morning podium and the top spot on the 4×4 podium. Round seven was his third class win with his Can-Am Renegade ATV. Can-Am Renegade racer Jordan Phillips took second. Swift, who also competed in the ATV morning race on his Team UXC Racing / Can-Am Renegade, finished third and trails Smith by four points heading into round eight.
Bryan Buckhannon led the 4×4 Open class from the first lap to the finish, winning by almost a full minute over Can-Am racers Sam Williams and Zakowski. Buchannon is now a perfect 7-for-7 in the 4×4 Open class this year on his ATV Parts Plus / Can-Am Outlander 800R.
Can-Am Outlander 500 4×4 pilot and defending 4×4 Lites class champion Kevin Trantham won his class by more than 10 minutes and also earned fifth overall in the morning race. Scott Day and Bill Nativio finished second and third on their Can-Am ATVs.
Forrest Whorton won the 4×4 Senior (40+) class for the fourth time this year. Chris Gray and David Jessee made it an all-Can-Am podium, earning second and third. Chad Moret, who won his first race of 2013, and Ryan Smith went 1-2 in the 4×4 Novice class on their Can-Am ATVs.
JB Off-Road / Can-Am DS 450 Pro Jarrod McClure finished 11th in the XC1 ATV Pro class and 25th overall. He’s currently ranked eighth in the class points race.
For more information on Can-Am racing, the entire 2013 schedule, the Â’13 contingency program and Can-Am DS 450 ATV amateur racer support program, please visit www.can-amxteam.com.
