Can-Am Racers Win Two GNCC Pro Championships

At this weekend’s season-ending AMSOIL Ironman GNCC in Indiana, Can-Am X-Team racers won six classes and secured a pair of Pro class championships.

Can-Am Maverick 1000R pilot Kyle Chaney topped the XC1 Pro SxS class, while and Renegade X xc 800R racer Bryan Buckhannon wrapped up the 4×4 Pro ATV championship

“We ended the 2015 GNCC season on a definite high note, as Can-Am X-Team racers Kyle Chaney and Bryan Buckhannon both repeated as Pro class champions. Chaney finished fourth at Ironman to easily win the XC1 Pro SxS class title, while Buckhannon put a resounding exclamation point on his consistent, championship season with a victory aboard his Renegade 4×4 at the final round,” said Jeff Leclerc, Racing Project Leader, Can-Am. “Overall, the 2015 ended with Can-Am racers winning six class titles, and pure dominance in the XC1 Pro class, where our Maverick racers took the top four spots in the final standings.”

Chaney just needed to be steady and record a decent finish to maintain his points lead and capture his second straight XC1 Pro SxS title. He posted a strong rally and fourth-place finish to easily win the championship. This was Chaney’s third title of 2015 behind the wheel of the Can-Am Maverick 1000R.

Kyle Chaney and Chris Bithell celebrate their XC1 Pro SxS championship.

“Two in a row! I’d have liked to have finished on the podium here, but my co-pilot Chris Bithell calmed me down and helped me focus on finishing, so I could win the championship,” said Chaney. “The competition in Side-by-Side racing is super stiff these days. You used to be able to come out with a stock machine and compete, but those days are gone, so you have to be prepared. The Can-Am Maverick is the best woods machine, period!”

Can-Am / JB Racing / Gunk racer Tim Farr earned his second straight XC1 Pro class victory to finish the year in third place in the final standings behind teammate Larry Hendershot Jr. and Chaney. Farr has now won the Ironman event for three straight years in the Can-Am Maverick side-by-side vehicle. With Hendershot’s fifth-place finish, and Mouse Pratt’s (Jack’s Excavating) third-place run, Can-Am ended the year by sweeping the top four spots to dominate the final XC1 Pro class standings.

Tim Farr took the checkers in the XC1 Pro SxS class in Indiana.

Can-Am X-Team member Richard Travalena also scored a class championship, winning the UTV Amateur Limited class in a Can-Am. Dave Plavi ended the season strong by winning the XC2 Pro Sport class in Indiana, to finish second overall for the year in his Offroadmotorsports’ Wicked Bilt / Can-Am Maverick 1000R.

Buckhannon took matters into his own hands during the 10 a.m. session, winning the final round to give him his second consecutive 4×4 Pro class title. The multi-time GNCC champion had one of the most consistent seasons in history, winning three times and finishing on the class podium at all 13 rounds.

Bryan Buckhannon needed a win in the final race to secure the Pro 4×4 championship.

“It was no-holds barred and we knew it was going to be that way. There was a lot of pressure on us. I’m very hard on myself, but I calmed myself down before this race,” said Buckhannon. “This was a great year for us and for Can-Am. The Renegade has been flawless all season…this machine is built to win races.”

Can-Am 4×4 ATV racers also won three other amateur ATV class championships. Scott Day (4×4 A/B), Matthew Ewart (4×4 C) and Forrest Whorton (4×4 Senior 40+) were each crowned 2015 GNCC champions riding Can-Am ATVs.