Morgantown, W.Va. (December 15, 2009) - The Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series has lost one of its most loyal family members. Aurora, Ohio's John Gallagher Sr. passed away tragically on Monday in a work-related accident. He was 63-years-old. No one in the 35-year history of GNCC Racing has competed in more GNCC events than Gallagher, and probably no one has won more, either. Gallagher competed and won on both ATVs and bikes for a large portion of his career. Most recently, he won the 2008 Super Senior (50+) ATV Championship and finished third in the class in 2009. The entire GNCC Racing family mourns the passing of Gallagher, and the racing community is urged to keep John Sr., his wife Maryellen, and children John Jr. and Brooke in their thoughts and prayers.
Gallagher's racing days date back to the origins of the GNCC Series, and he often cited series' founder Dave Coombs Sr. as a close friend. Gallagher's loyalty to the series and frequent championships resulted in a factory ride with Polaris beginning in 2006, where he delivered more Super Senior Titles and also helped manage the manufacturer's racing program. In 2004, Gallagher collected the ATVA Vet-Senior Rider of the Year award at the AMA Sports Banquet in Las Vegas. Gallagher also introduced his son John Jr. into racing at a young age. Johnny Gallagher Jr. won a GNCC Youth Championship and now competes in the premiere XC1 pro division for Yamaha, finishing tenth in the 2009 rankings.
Funeral arrangements have yet to be announced for Gallagher. Information will be posted on
GNCCRacing.com as soon as it is available.
For more information, check out the official series website at GNCCRacing.com or call 304-284-0084.
About GNCC Racing
The Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series is America's premier off-road racing series. Founded in 1979, the 13-round championship is produced exclusively by Racer Productions. Cross country racing is one of the most physically demanding sports in the world. The grueling three-hour GNCC races lead as many as 1,800 riders through tracks ranging in length from eight to 12 miles, competing for more than $3 million in prizes. With varied terrain, including hills, woods, mud, dirt, rocks and motocross sections, GNCC events are tests of both survival and speed. For more information, please visit GNCCRacing.com.