Valcourt, Québec – Can-Am ATV and side-by-side racers earned five class wins and 15 total class podiums at the ITP Powerline Park Grand National Cross Country race in Ohio. Kyle Chaney topped the UTV overall podium in his Maverick 1000R, while Can-Am Renegade 4x4 Pro class racers Bryan Buckhannon and Kevin Trantham both finished on the 10 a.m. session overall podium. Texas Off-Road Nationals and Can-Am racer Hunter Miller won both the ATV Pro and UTV Expert classes at round seven in Texas.
“It was a dominating weekend for team Can-Am and our racers at both the Powerline GNCC in Ohio and the TORN race in Texas. Class wins are always important in terms of winning championships, but anytime one of your racers makes the overall podium, like Kyle Chaney, Bryan Buckhannon and Kevin Trantham, it’s even better,” said Jeff Leclerc, Racing Project Leader, Can-Am. “Hunter Miller won two classes in Texas to take the points lead in the ATV Pro class and move to within eight points of the UTV Expert class leader.”
Powerline Park GNCC
A chilly Powerline Park hosted round 12 of the Amsoil GNCC ATV series and also round five of its six-leg UTV Championship series. Can-Am/Chaney Racing/Turnkey UTV racer and current UTV XC1 Modified points leader Kyle Chaney came from fifth place after lap one to take the class win at Powerline Park and the top stair of the UTV overall podium. It was the third straight victory for Chaney, who now owns a 28-point lead heading into the final round. Team Jack’s Excavating/Can-Am and Team JB Off-Road/Hendershot/Can-Am took fourth and fifth at Powerline Park.
“I am beyond excited to make it three in a row and build a nice points cushion,” Chaney said. “It has been a great season so far, but I couldn’t have gotten up here without my mechanics, dad and co-pilot (Chris Bithell). The Maverick was working great and handled well. We had a lot of work to do to claim the lead, and we still have a lot to do at the Ironman finale.”
Team Jack’s Excavating II/Can-Am took second in the XC2 Limited (UTV) class in a Maverick 1000R at Powerline Park to give it an eight-point lead heading into the series finale, Oct. 25-26, at the Ironman GNCC in Crawfordsville, IN. The No. 311 Can-Am/Jack’s team took third in the XC2 ranks.
Can-Am 4x4 ATV racers won four classes and took 11 of the 12 total podiums in St. Clairsville, OH. Two of those racers, 4x4 Pro class racers Bryan Buckhannon (ATV Parts Plus/Can-Am) and Kevin Trantham (Can-Am X-Team) went 1-2 in their class and also stood on the 10 a.m. overall podium in second and third place, respectively. Both compete in the series on a Can-Am Renegade 800R X xc and are currently first and second in the class point standings. Jordan Phillips, who took the class holeshot and led two laps, ended up third to complete the Can-Am 4x4 Pro class sweep in Ohio. BNR/Can-Am pilot Rob Smith took fourth and maintained his third-place position in the class points standings.
“Midway through the race, I battled back and forth with Jordan (Phillips) and ended up making the pass stick and keeping the lead for the final lap,” said Buckhannon. “My Can-Am worked well. I am happy to be leaving with valuable points for the 4x4 Pro championship.”
Can-Am won all three 4x4 ATV amateur classes, swept both the 4x4 A/B and Senior (40+) class podiums, and had four additional ATV podium finishers at round 11 of the GNCC series as well. Cory Bartlett won his third consecutive 4x4 A/B class event. Nick Eichelberger notched his eighth win (sixth in a row) of the year aboard his Can-Am Renegade to capture the 4x4 C title. Forrest Whorton won Senior (40+) class and was joined on the podium by Chris Bragg and Glenn McConnell. Can-Am racers Rich Little II (4x4 C, second), Larry Lipley (4x4 C, third), Joe Sichelstiel (19+ C, second), Brian Foltz (Senior A/B 38+, third) also earned class podiums riding Can-Am.
TORN – Caddo Creek
Coming into round seven of TORN, Can-Am X-Team teammates Cody and Hunter Miller were in tight points races in both the UTV Expert and ATV pro classes. However, round seven belonged to Hunter as the elder Miller brother earned victories in both classes. It was his second UTV Expert class win of 2014. His third straight ATV Pro class win (fifth of the year) put him in the points lead with two races remaining. Cody trails by only eight points.
“TORN went well for me this weekend. The track was very open and fast,” said Hunter. “Only six points (counting drops) separates the UTV class leader, Cody and myself in the overall standings with two rounds remaining. We will be fighting hard for this championship.”
