Factory Can-Am racers had a great weekend at the annual John Penton Grand National Cross Country race in Millfield, OH. Can-Am won both the XC1 Pro UTV and 4x4 Pro classes, maintaining the class points lead in each prestigious off-road racing class.
Side-By-Sides
Miller Brothers/Can-Am pilot Hunter Miller has made huge strides since his XC1 Pro UTV class debut at the final GNCC race last year. Just four races in to his budding career, Miller now has three podiums (and one near-miss fourth) and a victory under his belt. His most recent success on the track was winning the Pro UTV class at the John Penton GNCC in Ohio, which also marked his first career overall GNCC victory behind the wheel of his Can-Am Maverick X xc side-by-side vehicle.
Miller’s 2017 results have led to a 73-point tally after three GNCC UTV rounds, giving the Texas native the XC1 Pro UTV class points lead. Hunter Miller beat his younger brother, Cody, who won the 2016 title in a Can-Am Maverick vehicle, to the finish line in Ohio. The elder Miller recorded an impressive five-lap time of 1:02:45.687 in muddy conditions to post his first win.
“I'm so pumped to be a part of the Can-Am team,” Hunter Miller said. “The Maverick side-by-side vehicle has proven time and again to be the top platform, and I hope to bring another title to the brand.”
Can-Am also earned another XC1 Pro UTV class podium finish, as factory Can-Am racer Tim Farr put his JB Racing/Can-Am side-by-side vehicle on the box in third, less than 30 seconds behind Hunter Miller. Also, Chaney Racing/Can-Am pilot Kyle Chaney, a two-time XC1 Pro UTV class champion, currently sits third in the class point standings after three rounds.
ATVs
Multi-time GNCC ATV champion Bryan Buckhannon earned his second 4x4 Pro class victory of the season, winning in the grueling mud in Ohio. Kevin Cunningham, the defending 4x4 Pro ATV class champion, joined Buckhannon on the podium, taking second. It was the seventh time in nine ATV rounds this year that Can-Am 4x4 racers have tallied a 1-2 finish. In fact, this was one of the closest races of the year for the two teammates, as Buckhannon and Cunningham swapped the lead during the race and ultimately were separated by less than a second at the finish line.
Cunningham, who has compiled 239 points thus far, is still in the driver’s seat in terms of the class point standings and in his attempt to repeat as champion. Buckhannon has notched 196 points, which is good for second overall in the standings.
Can-Am ATV racers also won four other 4x4 ATV classes at the John Penton GNCC, including the 4x4 A (Dwight Pollard), 4x4 B (Joseph Sichelstiel), 4x4 C (Jerry Richards) and 4x4 Senior 40+ (Ken Robey).
GNCC racing is in the midst of its mid-summer break. Four rounds (three for UTVs) remain on the 2017 schedule.
