(NEWS RELEASE)

Masontown, WV (May 17, 2012) – Preston County is no stranger to hosting large events. However, instead of a music festival, Marvin’s Mountain Top in Masontown, W. Va., will become the mecca of motorsports. Over 1200 GNCC Racers and their families are set to come into the community Memorial Day Weekend, May 26 and 27, for Round 7 of the 2012 Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series.

Masontown’s Mountaineer Run GNCC will bring the world’s top talent in off-road motorcycle and ATV racing to the all-new facility. Professional racers will include top international talent, such as U.S. National Champions and World Champions from Europe, Australia and New Zealand, while hosting a full slate of classes for amateur racers all weekend long.

Top-level racing competition isn’t the only positive aspect the Can-Am GNCC Series plans to bring to the community. As a part of GNCC Racing’s “Help Students Stay on the Right Track Program,” professional athletes travel to local schools and afternoon programs to speak to students about the importance of positive living. Topics include: goal setting, anti-bullying, perseverance and motorcycle and ATV safety. The group will head to the Mountaineer Boys and Girls Club in Morgantown on Friday, May 25, as one stop on their positive living tour.

“We are pretty fortunate as professional racers to be able to do nothing but train and race for a living,” said Pro ATV racer Adam McGill, Clarksburg. “It’s always fun to have a race close to home like this and be able to hang out with the kids and share some of our experiences in a positive way.”

The inaugural Mountaineer Run GNCC is expected to draw several thousand spectators to the Marvin’s Mountain Top facility, in addition to the approximate 1200 racers, without the previous burden to community residents.

The event will ultimately bring an estimated $3 million in revenue to the surrounding communities through lodging, restaurants and fuel needs. GNCC families are dedicated to the sport of off-road racing and they strive to spend local dollars in order to continue attending premiere racing events in the communities that host GNCC events.

Four-wheeled ATVs will compete throughout the day on Saturday, May 26, and dirt bikes will race on Sunday, May 27. Local riders are invited to race the event, as GNCC racing offers classes for riders of all skill and experience levels. The amateur racer entry fee is $40 and riders can sign up at the track.

Spectator passes run $15 for the full weekend, with pro pit access and pro autographs at no additional charge. On both Saturday and Sunday, youth riders race at 8 a.m., amateur riders race at 10 a.m., and the top amateurs and the pros race at 1 p.m.

To get to the track, take I-68 Morgantown WV, Sabraton exit, take RT.7 east approx. 11 miles to Masontown, WV – make left at main pharmacy – follow signs 3 miles to Marvin’s Mountain Top.

For more information, visit the official series website at www.GNCCRacing.com or call 304-284-0084.

About GNCC Racing:
The Can-Am Grand National Cross Country series is America’s premier off-road racing series. Founded in 1975, the 13-round championship is produced exclusively by Racer Productions. Cross-country racing is one of the most physically demanding sports in the world. The grueling three-hour GNCC races lead as many as 1,500 riders through tracks ranging in length from ten to 12 miles. With varied terrain, including hills, woods, mud, dirt, rocks and motocross sections, GNCC events are tests of both survival and speed and draw talent from all over the U.S., Europe, Australia and New Zealand. GNCC Racing is televised and airs every week on NBC Sports Network. For more information, please visit http://www.gnccracing.com.