Can-Am ATV and Side-by-Side Racers Post Victories in GNCC Racing and TQRA MX Series
OutdoorHub 04.03.12
Can-Am X-Team racers earned five 4×4 class overall wins this past weekend at the Steele Creek Can-Am / Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) series event and also posted three class victories in the Texhoma Quad Racing Association (TQRA) series. In the GNCC series, Kevin Trantham led the way, winning the 4×4 Lites class and finishing third overall on the morning podium aboard his 2012 Can-Am Outlander 500. Cody and Hunter Miller each piloted a Can-Am vehicle to victories at round two of the TQRA motocross series held in Geary, Okla.
“The Steele Creek GNCC was a brutal, challenging course, but our 4×4 class racers truly performed well aboard their Can-Am ATVs,” stated Jimmie O’Dell, Race Manager, Can-Am. “Michael Swift and Bryan Buckhannon are so evenly matched aboard their 2012 Outlander 800s, they really put on a show racing wheel-to-wheel with each other the entire two-hour race. I was glad to see Swift finally get his first win of 2012, but I’m sure the two riders will have another battle at the next race in South Carolina. Kevin Trantham put in one of his most impressive performances ever aboard his Outlander 500, by winning his class and earning a spot on the morning overall podium. In TQRA, I was pleased to see both Cody and Hunter Miller post some hard-fought victories over the weekend with both their Can-Am ATVs and side-by-side machines.”
Steele Creek GNCC
Round three of the Can-Am / GNCC series at Steele Creek in Morganton, N.C., not only featured one of the series toughest courses, but the event also had a purple theme in support of the March of Dimes charitable organization. One lucky winner took home a new Can-Am DS90 X that was donated as the grand prize for the fundraising raffle.
Trantham posted his third consecutive 4×4 Lites class win to start the 2012 GNCC season. The North Carolina native dominated his class, winning by more than 12 minutes. In the process, he also passed enough riders to earn third place on the morning overall podium.
“We had a good race. I got out front and kept pulling away,” said Trantham. “It felt good to be on the (overall) podium and I hope I can continue to do that all season long.”
The victory came down to the final few turns in the 4×4 Open class. UXC Racing / Can-Am X-Team racer Michael Swift won his first race of the season edging fellow Can-Am X-Team racer and current class points leader Bryan Buckhannon aboard his ATV Parts Plus backed Outlander 800R. Cliff Beasley, riding his Team UXC Racing / Can-Am X-Team Renegade 800R, won his third straight U2 class event. Can-Am X-Team racer Forrest Whorton also improved to a perfect 3-for-3 in 2012 with his 4×4 Senior class win. Tanner Bowles has now won two 4×4 Novice class races in a row on his Can-Am after his victory in North Carolina.
Motoworks / Can-Am DS 450 racer Chris Bithell finished sixth in the XC1 Pro class. He led lap two, but fell off the pace after making a pit stop a lap later. He’s currently fifth in the XC1 points race with 10 rounds remaining on the schedule.
TQRA
Brothers Cody and Hunter Miller battled all weekend at round two of the TQRA series held at RAW MX in Geary, Okla. Cody Miller won twice aboard his Can-Am DS 450, posting wins in the Open Expert and Pro-Am classes. Hunter was second in both classes, however, he won the UTV Open class. After second in moto one, Hunter drove his Can-Am Commander 1000 X to victory in moto two to beat Cody for the class overall.
“We’ve been having a blast racing the Commander. It handles well and has tons of power. It is fun to drive, and we have been having a lot of success with it,” said Cody Miller. “I had good motos today and I put Can-Am on the podium with both the quad and the side-by-side.”
Other DS 450 amateur class podium finishers were, Jeff Reeves (third, Over 30A), Michael Bettis (third, +25), Gary Schlentz (second, Open C) and Bruce Rowe (second, Over 40B).
For more information on Can-Am racing, the entire 2012 schedule, the ’12 contingency program and DS 450 amateur racer support program, please visit www.can-amxteam.com.
