Yokley Racing ATV and UTV Report: Powerline Park GNCC

National Guard Polaris Coastal DragonFire Yokley Racing Team driver William Yokley finished first overall and first in the Side by Side Open Modified Class at the Powerline Park GNCC in St. Clairsville, Ohio.

National Guard Polaris Coastal Yokley Racing Team driver Scott Kiger finished 31st Overall and 17th in the same class after being involved in a mishap. There were 45 total entries with 22 Open Modified teams in the race today. Yokley’s guest passenger was Steve Gieble, and Kiger’s passenger was Joe Waligora.

National Guard Coastal Yokley Racing Pro ATV Team rider Jarrod McClure finished sixth Overall and fifth in the XC1 Pro ATV class. There were 145 total entries with 14 XC1 Pro riders.

Summary – Side by Side

Powerline Park is always a popular venue with both riders and spectators. The course offers fast open-field sections, tight, technical trails with lots of natural elevation changes. Rain during the week made the course a little slick, but the competitors agreed that it was a blast to race on.

The National Guard Polaris Team started on the first row, and as they headed into the woods, Yokley was in third and Kiger a few positions further back. There was a brief bottleneck when one racer got crossed up in a tight section allowing all the others to close in bumper to bumper. Yokley finished lap 1 in third and Kiger was seventh. By lap 3, Yokley was in the lead with Kiger in third, and the team was looking good for podium finishes.

On lap 4, Kiger clipped a tree in a high speed, narrow part of the course. The impact directed him straight into another tree, resulting in a huge hit, and instant stop. The front wheel and A-arm received the brunt of the force, and were strung out along the trail. It was a tough way to end the day, but fortunately no one was hurt. Meanwhile, Yokley was cruising along in the lead, and other than getting caught up behind lappers in tight sections, he had a trouble free race. The win put Yokley back in the hunt for the GNCC season championship and Kiger a close third with just one race remaining.

The team will now prepare for the last GNCC race at the Crawfordsville Indiana Ironman in 2 weeks. They hope to finish the season on a positive note!

Summary – XC1 Pro ATV

National Guard Coastal Yokley Racing Team rider Jarrod McClure was happy to be racing in another GNCC for the second time in two weeks, and not traveling back and forth across the U.S. as he has been this year racing in two national series. He was looking for a good finish and was ready to go. The ATV course included a brutal mudhole section which made for quite a challenge.

McClure got a good start and was running in second for most of lap 1. He got stuck in the previously mentioned mudhole on lap 2, and several riders got by him as he tried to get out. Some ambitious fans tossed him a rope, and proceeded to help pull him out. He may still have been there if not for the help! Once out, he still had some problems from being partially submerged and covered in mud. His muddy goggles, gloves, pants and boots were making it difficult to hang on and get back up to racing speed.

Fortunately, McClure was able to hang on for fifth in the XC1 Pro class at the finish. He now is preparing for the Ironman GNCC in Crawfordsville, Ind. in two weeks. McClure is currently in seventh in GNCC season points and will try to move up at the next race.

Yokley Racing Team Sponsors: The Army National Guard, Polaris Industries, Coastal Racing, DragonFire Racing, Kenda Tires, Monavie, EXIT Suspension, Roll Design, XC Bobs.com, Douglas Wheel Technology, HMF Exhaust Systems, Moto Pro Training, SHIFT Riding Gear, Tsubaki Chains, IMS/Roll, CV4 Hoses, ATVRiders.com, Tireballs, Precision Racing Products, G-4 Graphics, SCOTT USA Goggles, IMS, Hygh Octane Designs, Bowers Motorsports, TanTerra Wines, Tusk Off-Road, Baldwin Motorsports, K&N Filters, RPM Axles, KG Clutches, PowerMadd and Fluidyn Powersports.