2016
GNCC Racing Series
Round #1 - Wild Boar
Palatka, FL
March 5, 2016 |
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Wild Boar GNCC Morning ATV
Race Report
Michael Swift Takes Overall
Win at GNCC Racing Opener
| 2016
GNCC Racing
Wild Boar - Round 1
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Palatka, FL (3/11/2016) - Michael
Swift won the GNCC Wild Boar season opening race
in the ATV 4X4 Pro Class. Swift’s teammate Kevin
Trantham finished second, ahead of Kevin Cunningham.
Cody Miller and Zac Zakowski rounded out the top
five.
The race marked GNCC’s first 4X4 event featuring
1,000cc displacement ATVs. In the past, the class
was limited to 850ccs. The move to the higher
displacement engines was a definite benefit as
the entire podium comprised those running the
more powerful engines.
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GNCC Racing
Morning Overall ATV Podium (left to right)
Kevin Trantham (2nd), Michael Swift (1st),
John Glauda Jr (3rd)
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The Wild Boar course is known for it’s difficult
combination of mud, water and sand and it didn’t
disappoint. Swift took the lead at the start,
but was the course’s first victim as he flipped
his ATV into a mud hole. Cunnigham took over the
lead, but fell back when he was involved in another
hard crash.
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Michael Swift
battled with Kevin Trantham for the early
lead
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In the end, Swift’s patience paid off as he earned
the victory. But it wasn’t easy for Swift. His
four-wheel drive quit on the first lap after starting
fourth and he ran the entire race in two-wheel
drive, an impressive feat considering the difficulty
of the course.
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Michael Swift
claimed the Morning Overall & 4x4
Pro ATV win at the Wild Boar GNCC Season
Opener
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“I worked hard for it,” said Swift. “I took the
lead on the first lap, but the flip put me back
to fourth. I worked my way back up. I’m really
blessed to get this win. It was a rough day. I’m
excited for the season. We’re going to have a
good year this year.”
Trantham was pleased to finish second to his
teammate. Trantham and Swift charged to the front
and took the first two spots when Cunningham crashed.
“I’m tickled to death,” said Trantham I didn’t
get to do too much riding over the winter break
and I didn’t know how I’d do. I’m happy for my
teammate Michael. We’re glad, no doubt.”
Cunningham is running his first full GNCC season
this year. He rebounded to earn the final spot
on podium on his Can-Am.
“Swift got around me on the first lap and I put
the hammer down,” explained Cunningham. “I took
a hard spill and tore the bike up, but this is
a great way to start it off with a podium finish
in the first round.”
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