OXC Round 2
March 1, '08
Copyright 2008 - ATV Racin' Extra / www.atvproracing.com - All rights reserved
Martin Makes A Statement
Article and Photographs by Stephanie Hulsey
OXC Rd. 2 - March 1, 2008 - Lincoln, MO
Once again Missouri weather played havoc on race preparations the week leading up to Round 2 of the Ozarks Cross Country ATV Racing Series, but Mother Nature came through with another gorgeous race day. Spectators were in for a treat as 133 racers, from four states, launched off the line for the afternoon race, following the 18 women and youth competitors from the morning session.
With OXC Round 1 top five finishers Donald Ockerman, Duane Johnson, and Bryan Baker soaking up the sun at the GNCC season opener in Florida and Jody Estes suffering from a shoulder injury, 13 Pro racers competed for a chance to grace the stage in Lincoln, MO. Just over nine miles, the course was muddy during practice and the early laps of the race. About one mile into the lap, racers tackled the Stairway to Heaven uphill, offering multiple lines, both easy and hard for those up to the challenge. As these fierce competitors came to the close of the lap, it was the opportunity to show what your quad had as a slight uphill combined with a long, wide straight stretch offered a drag racing opportunity. A quick s-turn slowed racers down as they approached the scoring lane and then rocketed down pit row past a large crowd of spectators.
When the OXC Racing Trophy Girls dropped the 15 second card, it was Kyle Martin aboard his Dirt Works Motorsports prepped Honda TRX450R, who moved to the front of the pack in the first turn and grabbed the hole shot award. Todd Senger took control of the second place spot and kept a strong lead ahead of the fierce battle that ensued for third place.
At the end of lap one, it was Bryan Hulsey with the third place spot, coming up from last place off the start. Hulsey found himself out of the race due to mechanical problems leaving Carson Coffman to close out the top three after the second lap. The battle continued in the final two laps of the race, as Kentucky’s Jake Yates moved up from fifth, to put more pressure on Coffman. The clash continued in the final laps, as Coffman and Yates switched between third and fourth places multiple times. As they came through the scoring lane after lap three, Yates was a mere two seconds ahead of Coffman. It was Yates who hung on to third as the checkered flag dropped, giving Coffman a fourth place finish in Round 2 and second place in the series points standings.
Zac Johnson finished out the top five. But it was Martin who continued to dominate the four lap race, taking the checkered flag three and a half minutes ahead of second place and moving up to the series points leader. >>> STANDINGS >>>
At the Pro holeshot, Kyle Martin, on the inside, took the winning line around the pole and held his first place position for the entire race, leading the 13 Pros from green to checkers.
Martin burns it "Up and Out" both on the track and on the podium at OXC
