Wisp GNCC, McHenry, MD 2004
- Updated: June 26, 2004
Taking the checkered flag, Bill Ballance had something to prove, after holding a two minute lead.
The Wisp GNCC
June 26, 2004
McHenry, MD
By Bonnie Hamrick
Coming into Round Ten at The Wisp Ski Resort in McHenry , MD , the racers were anticipating for the most talked about Race on the GNCC circuit. Sponsors dotted the parking lot in large semi’s and some still in smaller trailers. Parts Unlimited had two semi’s there to support the Golf Tournament being held on Friday to raise money for the GNCC ISDE program. The Pro pits were tight as they parked along the skate ramps on the pavement. Points leader, Bill Ballance was ready to get out on the tack and take the Overall. William Yokley, second place in the points was looking for another Overall as well; Yokley has been plagued with quad difficulties that have been keeping him from a repeat overall after Round One. Matt Smiley, third in the points, was sick of being Mr. Consistent and he wanted to put his Team Safari Quad up on the podium in Overall. Moving up to fourth overall from his Overall win in Petersburg , VA , Bryan Cook was looking for another great finish, to his point’s game alive. In fifth place, Chris Borich was looking for a repeat performance of last year, when he took the Champ by surprise and took the overall at the Checkered flag.
Brother’s Bill and Brandon Ballance sport the first parking section. These Yamaha quads are dressed up nice and ready to conquer the Wisp.
With just under twenty Pro’s on the starting line, Ricky Towery called “Ten Seconds.” When the green flag went up Bill Ballance put his Yamaha up front going up the face of the long ski slope. Matt Smiley chased right behind him, eager for the eleven mile track packed with rocks, dusty ski slopes, and the mile paved pit section.
After the race, the two Pro Am riders, Jeremy Rice and James Wahl, were so close, they slapped hands.
Lap One
After eleven miles and twenty-seven minutes of battling, Matt Smiley came through the pits with Chad Duvall, William Yokley, Bill Ballance, John Natalie, Chris Borich, Bryan Cook, and Johnny Gallagher, all within seconds of one another. Just over ten seconds back in ninth was Todd Knippenberg with Andy Lagzdins ten seconds back battling with Jeff Stoess for tenth. In the Pro Am Class, Jeremy Rice was battling Chris Jenks and James Wahl within seconds of one another in the top ten overall.
Lap Two
Taking over thirty minutes to complete lap one, Smiley still held onto the lead with Borich, Ballance, Duvall, and Yokley still within seconds of one another. Twenty seconds back, Cook held onto sixth. Knippenberg moved into seventh just over twenty seconds back. In eighth, Stoess was just under ten seconds behind Knippenberg. Lagzdins pulled into the pits just seconds after Stoess went through the pits, stood his quad up and started working on it. Forty-five seconds back, Gallagher held onto the top ten. In the Pro Am Class, Rice still held the lead over Jenks, just ten seconds back.
He was intent on coming to the Wisp and turning on the heat and there is no doubt it was accomplished.
Second to fourth overall was so close, they almost all fit into one picture. Second place, Matt Smiley held off Chris Borich, William Yokley, and Chad Duvall.
Lap Three
After not pitting on lap two, Ballance pulled into the pits holding a minute and twenty seconds over Smiley. Battling in second was Smiley, Yokley, Duvall, and Borich within seconds still. Cook stayed consistent as he rode in sixth, twenty seconds back. Stoess was forty seconds back with Knippenberg all over his rear tires battling for seventh.
Overall
Crossing the checkered flag all by himself, Bill Ballance mounted the podium and held his throttle wide open for over a minute, smoking his tires for the crowd. Ballance rode like he had something to prove, and whatever point he wanted to drive home, he succeed. Three minutes later, second through fifth battled their way down the ski slope to the checkered flag. Separated by two seconds a piece, Matt Smiley crossed the checkered as Chris Borich and William Yokley were side by side rounding the final turn with Chad Duvall just seconds behind the battling duo. In sixth place, Bryan Cook stayed in the fight just thirty seconds behind Duvall. Taking sixth overall, Jeremy Rice came in from the Pro Am Class with James Wahl just mere seconds, but with adjusted time, taking eighth overall behind Cook in the Pro Class. Less than a minute later, Todd Knippenberg took ninth overall with tenth overall to Chris Jenks from the Pro Am Class.
As Chris Borich’s dad helps him come untangled from the chest protector and camel back, he thinks about his third overall finish and last year’s Overall win here at the Wisp.
When the green flag went up for the 4 Stroke Stock Class, half of them got stuck on the face of the ski slope. Unfortunately, it was such a mess that the GNCC officials had to call a restart for the morning event.
“The day went great and I accomplished all the things I came here to do. After getting ticked off after crashing to get by William, I turned the throttle on and rode hard all the way to the end,” Ballance said with a smile on his face. With supporting sponsors, Ballance put in another Overall performance and makes one step closer to fifth Championship. Sponsors like: Troy Yamaha, Maxxis, HMF, Moose, ArsFx, Douglas Wheels, Smith, Regina Chains, Rebel Gears, GT Thunder, DP Brakes, Carb Parts Warehouse, Power Madd, Pro Armor, IMS, Klotz, tireballs, WER, and more.
Second Overall, Matt Smiley could not complain about his day. “I plan on taking a win this year, don’t worry. Bill rode great today, and I am glad we are all up here.” Smiley has sponsors like Team Safari, Maxxis, Big Gun, Moose, Custom Axis, Shoei, ArsFx, HiPer Wheels, IMS, GPR, Pro Armor, and more.
Third overall, Chris Borich was glad to take a podium finish here at the Wisp, although it was at the opposite place he wanted to be. The East Coast ATV rider plans to make more finishes like this for the remainder of the season.
See ya in two weeks at Millfield, OH before the summer break.
