6/22/02

Traci Cecco Emerges as the 2003 Powerline Park GNCC Champion

Friday afternoon's walk of the 10 mile track showed beautiful skies all day that one would wonder when the projected afternoon showers would show up. The St.Clairsville, OH track showed Racer Productions plans of possible bad weather with the course layout staying as much as possible out of the low lands that was still very wet and muddy from showers that had plagued the track earlier in the week. Friday night heading back to the hotel the rain show started but never let up until early Saturday morning which turned the clay based track into the 5th major mud race in the GNCC schedule this year.

Off the start Traci Cecco is left behind by the swarming pack after stalling her engine on the line, but she quickly starts her Alba Action Sports YFZ450 to take chase of the early frontrunners. By the 6th turn of the start Cecco moves her way up to 4th place as the Women's class enters the woods. Within 3 minutes the Women's class bursts out of the woods passing the 1 mile marker with Cecco now running in 2nd place only 10 seconds behind the Honda of Troy's Stephanie Parton. At the end of the first lap Cecco crosses the start finish line with a minute lead over Parton in second to be unchallenged for the remainder of the race to take the win by a 2 minute margin.

"I was ready for today more than I have been all year", said Traci. " After stalling on the line and watching my class round the first turn as I finally pulled off of the line - I really surprised myself that I was not phased charging for the first mile until I saw Parton ahead of me - then I settled into second place"

She continued, "After passing Stephanie in a long field section I never got a chance to see her again today. My Alba Yamaha YFZ450 was basically untouchable today - this quad is a rocket - it is very exciting to race knowing that you have all the power you need to make a pass if you want too. I needed this win today as much as I did in Sparta, KY - But I still need one more to win the Championship. I'm ready for the Ironman"