Podium finish earned Miller his first career GNCC UTV class title
Can-Am Maverick X3 Turbo R racer Hunter Miller captured the 2018 Grand National Cross Country XC1 Pro Turbo UTV class championship with a solid second-place finish this weekend at the Ironman finale in Crawfordsville, Ind. The podium finish earned Miller his first career GNCC UTV class title and the last XC1 Pro Turbo UTV championship trophy in history. Can-Am pilot and XPS Lubricants athlete Kyle Chaney also made history, winning the final GNCC side-by-side vehicle race ever in his Maverick X3 Turbo R vehicle, but came up just six points shy of earning his third career GNCC title.
[caption id="attachment_63818" align="alignnone" width="650"]
Hunter Miller, the 2018 GNCC XC1 Pro Turbo UTV class champion (center), is joined on the final GNCC UTV racing podium by his friends, family and sponsors after securing the class title in his Can-Am Maverick X3 Turbo R side-by-side vehicle with a solid second-place finish this past weekend at the Ironman GNCC in Crawfordsville, Ind.[/caption]
“It was a banner weekend for Can-Am and our family of racers,” said Jeff Leclerc, Can-Am race department, team leader. “The battle this year between Miller, Chaney and McCoy was awesome and went down to the wire at Ironman. We are thrilled to add to the Can-Am GNCC legacy with Hunter’s championship and Kyle’s final victory. Our 1-2-3 finish and fourth title in five years is proof Can-Am is the most dominant performance brand for off-road racing.”
SSV — Can-Am Maverick X3 Reigns Supreme at Ironman
GNCC racing has discontinued side-by-side vehicle racing beyond this season, so the Ironman race was the ultimate finale for many racers, sponsors and fans. Can-Am Maverick drivers Hunter Miller, Kyle Chaney and Jamie McCoy all had a shot at winning the 2018 championship heading into the famed Ironman GNCC in Indiana. Miller, the frontrunner, just had to finish on the podium to secure his first-ever championship. And after finishing second overall in the class a year ago, the Texas native was more determined than ever to bring home the title. Miller earned second place — his fifth podium in six rounds — to secure the GNCC XC1 Pro Turbo UTV class championship.
“This has been one of the most intense seasons of my entire career and ending it with the championship was outstanding,” stated Miller. “By finishing 1-2-3 overall in the GNCC series, Can-Am has proved that they have the fastest and most dependable platform on the market.”
Chaney tried his best to thwart Miller’s championship hopes by winning an unprecedented fourth straight XC1 Pro Turbo UTV class event, but in the end had to settle for second place, just six points behind the very consistent Miller. Chaney ended his legendary GNCC career with two championships (2014-2015), two runner-up finishes (2017-2018) and 16 total class wins.
[gallery link="file" ids="63819,63820,63821"]
McCoy, who was sixth in class, ended up third overall in the XC1 Pro Turbo UTV class, giving Can-Am the top three finishers. Can-Am racers Jason Watt (UXC2 Pro UTV) and Ricky Zhorne (Sportsman UTV) both ended up third overall in their respective classes. Scottie Lawrence edged Jeremy Wallis to capture the UXC3 Pro-Am championship in his Can-Am side-by-side vehicle.
Photos by Phil Henderson, Can-Am
Hunter Miller, the 2018 GNCC XC1 Pro Turbo UTV class champion (center), is joined on the final GNCC UTV racing podium by his friends, family and sponsors after securing the class title in his Can-Am Maverick X3 Turbo R side-by-side vehicle with a solid second-place finish this past weekend at the Ironman GNCC in Crawfordsville, Ind.[/caption]
“It was a banner weekend for Can-Am and our family of racers,” said Jeff Leclerc, Can-Am race department, team leader. “The battle this year between Miller, Chaney and McCoy was awesome and went down to the wire at Ironman. We are thrilled to add to the Can-Am GNCC legacy with Hunter’s championship and Kyle’s final victory. Our 1-2-3 finish and fourth title in five years is proof Can-Am is the most dominant performance brand for off-road racing.”