Can-Am Renegade 800R X xc racer Kevin Trantham won the inaugural running of the 4×4 Pro class and 10 a.m. session overall at round one of the 2014 AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country series in Florida. Can-Am 4×4 racers won a total of two morning classes and earned eight total 4×4 class podium finishes out of a possible 12 at the opening round of the national cross-country series.
“We’re extremely happy for Kevin Trantham and his victory in the first running of the new GNCC 4×4 Open class,” said Jeff Leclerc, Racing Project Leader, Can-Am. “To have him and Bryan Buckhannon go 1-2 is a great accomplishment for two proven champions and a fabulous way to start the season. We’re please with the numerous podium finishes and hope to carry this success over to this weekendÂ’s race in Georgia.”
The AMA-sanctioned 2014 GNCC series, presented by MAXXIS, kicked off its season at a new location, the Moose Racing Mud Mucker in Bunnell, Fla. The venue and Mud Mucker course proved to be a true fit for its moniker, offering a very wet and challenging course. Classes included youth, amateur and Pro and the 2014 opener also featured the debut of the new 4×4 Pro and WXC Premier WomenÂ’s classes.
Trantham, who won the 2013 4×4 Lites championship, completed all five laps on his Can-Am Renegade 800R X xc in a time of 2:01:00 to notch his first win of the year and first career morning overall finish. He also extended his GNCC 4×4-class winning streak to 13 races. Trantham has now won 44 4×4 class races since 2010.
“This is the sweetest win so far. The new 4×4 Pro class is great, going up against the best-of-the-best and coming out on top. I am just so happy for this,” said Trantham. “The Can-Am worked awesome and was pulling like crazy. My Can-Am was packed full of mud and it worked like a charm.”
Can-Am racer and multi-time 4×4 Open class title holder Bryan Buckhannon, who recorded a perfect season a year ago and then retired, came out of ATV retirement this year to do battle in the new 4×4 Pro class aboard a Renegade 4×4. He took second to Trantham by roughly a minute. Buckhannon has amassed 59 wins since 2006, but earned his first trip to the morning overall podium since round 11 of 2012. Can-Am X-Team and Renegade pilot Jordan Phillips finished fourth and BNR Motorsports / Rob Smith took sixth place.
The other Can-Am racer to win his class was Terry Whiteside who won the 4×4 Senior (40+) class. Whiteside had four wins a year ago to go along with seven podiums, but ended up sixth overall after missing six rounds. The GNCC veteran started the new season off with a bang, beating reigning class champion and fellow Can-Am racer Forrest Whorton by less than two minutes for the win in Florida. Can-Am 4×4 ATV racers also earned four other podiums. Tanner Bowles and Michael Edwards finished second and third in the 4×4 A/B class, while Willilam Dodson and Brent Tindall did the same, respectively, in the 4×4 C division.
The next stop on the GNCC series tour is March 15-16, at Aonia Pass MX in Washington, Ga. This event will also host round one of the six-round UTV series.
For more information on Can-Am racing, the entire 2014 schedule, the contingency program and all amateur racer support programs, please visit www.can-amxteam.com.
