Story: Kaeley Porter // Photos: Mark Kariya
September 16th, 2019 – The KENDA/SRT AMA National Hare & Hound Championship Series presented by FMF made its way to Lovelock, Nevada for the first point-to-point race in several years. Hosted by Rimbenders MC of MRANN, the club’s exceptional experience with the region and format made for the perfect National caliber event. With such an exciting offering of new terrain, and a race layout different than typical rounds on the circuit, all of our racers had a blast throughout the course of the weekend to say the very least.
Saturday morning kicked off weekend activities with youth racing. The banner dropped for the Pee Wee class and it was not long before we were watching our race leader, Maddix Park, come through the scoring chute off of lap one. Not too far behind Park, TJ Wasson was racing in a 2nd OA position, putting the pressure on Park as they both headed out onto their second lap. Walker Seagle-Van Dover was racing in a 3rd OA position behind Wasson. Our top three leaders would remain in these positions clear to the checkered flag. Maddix Park topped the Pee Wee podium next to TJ Wasson in 2nd and Walker Seagle-Van Dover in 3rd.The next race of the day saw the Micro Mini, Jr. Girls, and Girls classes. Racing longer than usual laps, our race leaders would get in 3 laps total in the span of 1 1/2 hours. The first racer through the scoring chute was Brennen Watson with Caleb Tate only seconds behind him in 2nd OA. Both Tate and Watson stopped to pit, but it was Watson who would leave the pits first, remaining in the lead, while Malcolm Pearson raced in a 3rd OA position behind the two. Watson gained some time in 2nd OA, Caleb Tate, to retain his lead in the race while Tate and Pearson raced not too far apart. The Micro Mini podium was topped by Brennen Watson next to Caleb Tate in 2nd and Malcolm Pearson in 3rd.
The Girls class in this race saw another win from Ari Myrdal after she led the entire race in her class. Behind Myrdal in 2nd was Allie Stambaugh and Rhianna Bingham in 3rd. These girls remained in these top 3 positions throughout the race, holding their own pace, and finishing in some well earned podium spots. The Junior Girls class saw Addison Myrdal in 1st next to Jacie Levie in 2nd to round out the Junior Girls podium.
Bright and early Sunday morning in Lovelock, NV., racers prepped their bikes, got all three of their pits dialed in and lined up on the starting line prepared to race 130 miles point-to-point. The banner dropped on the first row of racers, and the cloud of dust filled the bomb run. Unfortunately, this is when the JCR Factory Honda backed Kendall Norman ended his race day early due to a crash while out front on the bomb run just before the hole shot flags.It was not long before the first 25 miles was wrapped up and our leaders were coming through Pit 1. 3Bros/SRT/Husqvarna backed Dalton Shirey was our current race leader ahead of Factory Beta’s Joe Wasson in 2nd and Chance Fullerton in 3rd. Not far behind Fullerton, racing in a 4th OA race position coming into pit 1, was Off-Road Support’s Jacob Argubright who was busy making up time from a near dead last start. Purvines Racing backed teammates Nick Burson and Axel Pearson were racing ahead of Argubright, keeping a steady pace and remaining near one another until they took a line that pointed them in the wrong direction, allowing Argubright to make the pass on the two of them and securing a 4th OA position through pit 1.
As for the Pro 250 class, Chidester Transport Racing backed Daemon Woolslayer was in the lead ahead of Corey Fletcher and JCR Factory Hondas Preston Campbell coming through pit 1. Current class points leader, Factory Beta rider, Zane Roberts found himself in an unfavorable position on the start that ended his day early.
The Women Pro class saw a major lead from Brandy Richards, per usual, coming through pit 1 with around a 4 minute lead on 2nd in class, Factory Beta’s Morgan Tanke. Rachel Stout was currently racing in a 3rd in class position and knew she was racing behind Tanke and Richards. She put her head down and powered through the dust to try and catch up to the two before they reached the finish.
Shirey remained in the lead with Wasson in 2nd coming into pit 2 while Fullerton and Argubright had now swapped positions, and Argubright had landed himself a 3rd OA position in the race heading towards pit 3. Although there was a switch up in the leaders of the Pro class, the Pro 250 class seemed to have no major battles, with all three class front runners remaining the same.
The Pit 2 finishers would see an OA win from James Miller, taking home 1st in the Masters 60+ class as well. Ty Woolslayer would finish 2nd OA and 1st in the Women C class, next to Ted Unsworth finishing 3rd OA and 2nd in the Masters 60+ class.
The crews in the final pit, Pit 3, seemed to be calm as they had finally reached the last pit of the day and would no longer have to relocate their pits to catch racers. Everyone awaited as they expected to see Shirey come through the pit flags in the lead,but unfortunately Shirey suffered damage to his bike and gave up the lead to Wasson. Coming through the pits in the lead of the race, Wasson seemed untouchable, even with Argubright only seconds behind him. Burson was now in 3rd OA and this was seeming to be an exciting turnout for the day as the racers headed out onto the remainder of the race course.
With visibility of the final stretch of course leading into the finish, the crowd was surprised to see a new leader. At the end of the near 130-mile race, the checkered flag was thrown for Off-Road Support’s Jacob Argubright who had taken over the lead after first stopping to check on Factory Beta’s Joe Wasson, who was pulled off of course momentarily with bike difficulties. Wasson was able to get back at it, finishing right behind Argubright within seconds; remaining in the points lead for the series. Burson came through not long after looking strong as he claimed 3rd overall. The Pro podium was topped by Off-Road Support’s Jacob Argubright next to Factory Beta’s Joe Wasson in 2nd and Purvines Racing backed Nick Burson.
The Women Pro podium was topped by Brandy Richards next to Factory Beta’s Morgan Tanke in 2nd and Rachel Stout in 3rd.
The Masters 60+ podium saw James Miller on top, now having the 2019 AMA National Hare & Hound Masters 60+ Championship wrapped up, next to Ted Unsworth in 2nd and Greg Ekins in 3rd.
The Pioneer 70+ podium saw yet another win from Larry Barlage in 1st.
The Vet A class was topped by John Levie in 1st next to Will Stambaugh in 2nd and Mark Griffiths in 3rd.
The Women A class saw Kari Erickson on top of the podium next to Ashlee Gage in 2nd and Liz Karcz in 3rd.
The Open A class saw a 1st place finish from Daron Rahlves next to Geoffrey Buscho in 2nd and Patrick Miller in 3rd.
The Open B podium was topped by Jared Prosser in 1st next to Dustin Burrell in 2nd and Travis Eynon in 3rd.
The Open C podium was topped by Cory Francies next to Dawson Fettie in 2nd.
The NHHA appreciated all of the racers who came out for Round 7 in Lovelock, NV. for our point-to-point race hosted by the Rim Benders MC. We can’t wait to see everyone is a few short weeks at Round 8 in Lucerne Valley, CA.
