Interview:
Jarrod McClure - Honda TRX 450R GNCC Pro ATV
Racer
I
see you run ATVriders.com graphics on your quad,
so how long have you
been involved with ATVriders.com and Harlen
Foley?
I have been involved with Harlen since I began
racing. That 400ex I said that I picked up,
was actually Harlen’s! He sold me my first
race quad, and since then we’ve have always
been friends. We even raced together during
the 2005 GNCC season, and I got to share my
1st Overall win on Podium with Harlen finishing
2nd Overall at the Unadilla GNCC.
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| Jarrod
McClure & Harlen Foley finished
1st & 2nd at the Unadilla GNCC in
2005, which was a career first win for
Jarrod |
In
2005, Jarrod only finished 3 races out
of the Top 5 Overall, which earned him
the top Morning Overall number of 201 |
How do you feel about heading to your homestate
of Pennsylvania for the
final round GNCC Series before the summer
break?
I feel super-confident in myself. After finishing
on the podium I know I can do it again. I
know that I am going to have a lot of fans
at this race. Like Bryan Cook said in NC the
fans make you dig a little deeper and push
a little harder. That’s the truth and
I am hoping I can put together another great
race in front of a home crowd.
What
are you plans for the summer break?
I am going to run some local races
when I can, and on over the last weekend in
July I’m going to the MotoPro Training
summer camp to get a little faster! Then in
August, I plan on flying out with Harlen to
run a WORCS Race in Washington. Maybe sometime
in there I’ll be able to relax at the
beach with my girlfriend!
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| In
2006, Jarrod made the jump to ProAm
on a modified TRX 450R & finished
out the year in 4th place & earned
a Top 20 Overall number for 2006 |
In
2007, Jarrod made his GNCC Pro Debut
& secured a season best 7th Overall
at the Yadkvin Valley Stomp where he
secured his first Podium this past weekend |
The
WORCS racing series is a little different
than a GNCC, how do you feel about that format
of racing with some motocross involved?
I really just want to go out and meet some
knew people and race in different terrain.
I feel I will do well out there. Motocross
is not one of my strong points, but I think
the time I would lose on the MX track, I will
make up in the woods. The races are shorter
than a GNCC, so I don’t think getting
tired will be an issue, and I am really looking
forward to giving it a try.
What
are you hoping to accomplish this year in
the GNCC?
My main goal this year was to finish in the
single digits at the GNCC. When you place
in the top ten it just seems to open up more
opportunities for sponsorships.
When
you are not racing, what do you do for a full
time job?
I am still working at the same shop I was
working at in high school. Bowers Motorcycle
Supplies. They are one of my main sponsors,
and really help me out. At the shop, I do
anything from engine repairs to mounting tires,
and John even let’s me go riding in
the morning, and come in a little late. I
wouldn’t think of doing anything else.
(Except getting paid to race!)
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Jarrod
McClure & his dad (Jarrod) |
How
long have you been wrenching on ATVs?
My dad got me into wrenching when I was ten.
He used to show me how to fix anything I broke
on the Blaster. It made me respect it a little
more.
Do
you get a lot of support from family and friends?
Oh yeah! My dad goes to all the races. I work
at a motorcycle shop and my boss, he kind
of acts as my manager. He’s always there
and helps me out with everything from the
financial end of it to working on the bike.
I do a lot of wrenching myself, but he’s
like the go-to guy is I have any questions
or need a second opinion. He’s always
there for me.
Is
there anything else you would like to add?
I’d like to thank all of my sponsors:
Bowers Motorcycle Supplies, ATVriders.com,
Motoprotraining.com, Maxxis, Elka, HMF, SHIFT,
DWT, Team-Ind, Tag, IMS-Roll, Clarke, DP Brakes,
DBR Industrial services, Hinson, Laeger’s,
Maier, Rage ATV Racing, The Sligo Press, 317
Graphics, Leumas enterprises, and my parents.
