On Wednesday night my quad was loaded into Dave Hunsucker's trailer, along with my sisters quad. The team manager, Kevin Johnston had a load of tires to take, so Dave would bring our quads. On Thursday afternoon I helped Kevin organize the tires in the trailer and load the trailer before more rain would pour down. My sister, Jodi Stracham and I would not be leaving with Kevin that night. We had final exams. We left on Friday afternoon around one and it was weird to be driving in the daylight. We arrived at the track Friday evening around seven. I went to sign up, then to tech, then to bed. I was exhausted!
Saturday morning felt different than any other. After I helped our mechanic, Ryan Reed, with some pre-race preparations, we walked the motocross track. I was somewhat nervous of Jami Luburgh, because I knew motocross was her turf, but I also knew I could make up a lot of my time also. We lined up on the second row as usual, but the U2 class would be ahead of us. Jermie Dudding would get tangled up with another rider and delay our start. Dudding would come back to finish second in class behind Sam Williams and ahead of our last races overall winner Mike Benson.
After the chaos would clear up, us women got ready for our start. The GNCC Official Ricky Towery waved the green flag and it seemed the whole row was delayed except Traci Cecco; who would take her first holeshot of the season. Behind her was Kristen Atwell in second and Jennifer Albright and myself battling for third. I had a good feeling about this place because we were back in my home state. I found my way around Jennifer and rode with Kristen for a while. Traci quickly checked out from the rest of the pack, she was on fire. When we got to the mulch pile, my quad just died and most of the class passed me. After the quad finally fired, I quickly took off and caught Kara Merritt. We got in a field section and I started picking riders off. On the sidelines in the field section was Stephanie Verkade, showing her support for the other women riders. As Traci was gaining time on the rest of us, we all were battling for positions. Shanna Bradshaw's quad experienced vapor lock issues in a straight away that was located in a tight woods section. I got off my quad and helped move hers out of the way so the guys behind me and myself could squeeze bye. On the fourth lap I got stuck behind a guy on a Yamaha Banshee with a flat tire, I could not get around. I was once again in another tight woods section. As riders quickly got behind me I had nowhere to go. I had to get off and help him so I could get around. It seemed like I've done this before. While doing this I had a clear view of the road where riders were cutting down and going around. I was not happy. I finally got around hoping not to find another bottleneck, but I did. About two miles later there was a huge pileup on a hill. Seeing an opening I quickly cut in and went around. A mile after this, I saw a rider in the line to the side. It was Kristen Atwell. Talking to her after the race I found out she tagged a tree and bent her tie-rod. She bent it back and quickly got back out to finish eighth. I finally got the white flag and my last lap was flawless. Angel Atwells KTM blew up somewhere during lap number three. Traci Cecco would win the Womens class by five minutes, and take the overall. (Jonathan Snaff took the overall but he is in sportsman A/B so it did not count.) Traci took her third win of the season and back over the points lead. Michael Swift from the 4x4 Limited class and Samuel Williams from the U2 class finished second and third overall. Jermie Dudding and Mike Benson would round out your top five.
As we got cleaned up the afternoon riders were ready to go. Jeffery Pickens was hoping to take another holeshot, but the number six of Taylor Kiser beat him to it. Nobody was paying attention to the pro holeshot, because their attention was focused on turn number one where the 784 of Brandon Sommers had been wrecked. He quickly got back up and took off. As we waited at the finish line for the riders to come around for lap number one, we heard on the radio an official say they needed a winch at mile marker two. Adam McGill would be the first rider to come through carrying great momentum. Behind him was Brian Cook, Taylor Kiser, Jeffery Pickens, and Chris Bithell. The Pro am guys were mixed in and Brian Wolf and Dustin Canipe were in a battle. Somewhere in lap number two Chris Borich worked his way up to third. At the nine mile marker on laps number two and three, Adam McGill, Chris Borich, Taylor Kiser, and Chris Bithell were bunched in a group battling it out with one another. Jeffery Pickens followed by a few seconds and the six had quite a lead on the rest of the pack. As the race came to a close Chris Borich would take his fifth win of the season. Taylor Kiser and Christ Bithell would round out your top three overall. They were followed by Brian Cook, Bill Balance, Jeffery Pickens, Duane Johnson, the XC2 rider of Brian Wolf, Donnie Ockerman, and Jarrod McClure.
Dustin Canipe's quad died right before the finish. This left an opening for Kevin Yoho. Brian Wolf won XC2 followed by Kevin Yoho and Dustin Canipe.
At the end of the race everyone was wondering what had happen to our race leader Adam McGill. He had broke a tie-rod, got it replaced on the track, and then broke something else. Brandon Sommers wrecked again on the motocross track and spectators said even though he got back out there he seemed really hurt. He did however finish the race.
Somerset is the next race. GNCC has a lot going on. Somerset is the most unique track because of the start, the convenience of the town, and the rocks West Virgina has to offer. It is also the last race before the summer break. See you all there.