Sight Lap: A Week from Sunday Creek

As final preparations are underway in Ohio for the American Suzuki Sunday Creek ATV National the anticipation continues to build. A lot of questions on everyone's mind will soon be answered. What will the track be like, will it rain and all the questions that plague the racers as they head into the great unknown of a new ATV MX venue.

 

One thing is for sure, the Russell's and Jeff Cernic have really put a lot of effort in to making this race a success and they have gone the extra mile to try and make it as ATV friendly racing as possible. If you read last week's Sight Lap with Jeff Russell you can see that even he has made extra time in an extremely busy schedule.

 

This week I am at the Motosport.com Snowshoe GNCC and for the second GNCC in a row AMA Pro ATV Rookie Derek Swartfager is lining up to go head to head with the world's best ATV motocross racers. Swartfager raced the Rock Run GNCC a few weeks ago and said he loved it finishing 10th in the XC1 Pro Class his first time out. Way to go Derek! He said he spent some time upside down and off the track but really found another form of ATV racing that he seems to be quite strong in. Swartfager stated that there was a good chance he would become more of a regular at the GNCC. I know one of his top sponsors Custom Axis Shocks are behind him all the way setting up his bike each race for each discipline. It will be interesting to see how "America's Toughest Race" treats Derek. I know he is running the same bike for each series so it is assumed that Derek will be very busy getting ready for Ohio.

 

I also saw another top ATV MX competitor who is also a top GNCC competitor from the youth ranks. Westley Wolf who did not make Millville a few weeks ago but is geared up for this weekend and then the trip to Ohio. Wolf is hoping to win a championship in both motocross and GNCC in the same year. He has had more than his struggles this season but even with that he and his family has a big smile. It is funny how bad they want to win but even in trying times continue to smile and just love being at the race track.

 

I had the opportunity to spend a little time with some of the Mushin Racing team. I spoke with Cam Covil, Chase Horton, Kodi Ward and Ashton Ward over the last week. These kids are all working out at their Ohio base camp and are currently working the Southeastern Ohio this weekend hanging posters, passing out Dirty Money and trying to generate excitement for the upcoming event. I also had an opportunity to interview them and get to know them a little better this past week and will have those in upcoming articles here in Sight Lap.

 

As impressed as I was with the hard work and dedication of these youth riders I think that Cam Covil's father Tracy made a lasting impression upon me. Tracy, like a number of fathers is one that basically lives his life for his kids. Tracy was an ATV racer himself for several years but after injury he moved into go-karts. He had opened and was running a successful race shop through that industry when Cam started racing ATVs they switched their focus back to the ATV world. Tracy started an ATV shop and sold the go-kart shop and the rest is history. He has dedicated his life to trying to help make his son's dream a reality at all costs. If you ever have a chance watch Cam ride, you will see why Tracy does what he does.

 

The Suzuki Sunday Creek ATV MX will also mark the return of #14 youth rider Chase Horton. Horton was injured at Ballance MX in round 3 this season. He said he had broken the bone in the back of his ankle and it was taking some time to heal but everything was looking and feeling good for his return to action in Ohio. Horton will be joined back at the track by his teammate Kodi Ward who has also been on the injured list.  Kodi broke his arm at Budds Creek and his hoping to get the cast off in time to run in his home state of Ohio.

A lot of action I hear is taking place up near Shreve Ohio as several riders have converged on the practice track of Cory Acker and a few other Ohio racers. It is amazing how many riders are from Ohio and this is the first time and an AMA ATV MX has ever been run there.

 

The Youth Contingency Program (www.ATVYCP.com) is planning another fund raiser to take place at Sunday Creek to help fund this year's Contingency give away at Loretta Lynn's Dirt Days. If you would like to help out in some way you can contact Frieda Rozelle, Debbie Bartosek or any other ATVYCP volunteers.

 

That will do for this week. Till next time, God Bless Your Heart and All Your Vital Organs.