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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1545091
Lipscomb Wins Coal Miner AWRCS T he Kioti Armstrong Truck & Tractor American Woods Racing Championship Series (AWRCS), presented by Lo- jaks Cycle Sales, an AMA East Regional Championship, headed to Kittanning, Pennsylvania, for round three of the DBY Motor- sports and K2 Investing LLC Coal Miner off-road race. A weekend of rain showers left slick conditions and a course that continued to deteriorate throughout the day, transforming from technical and challenging to a deeply rutted and punishing test by the final lap. Deep mud, difficult lines, and ever-changing track conditions tested riders from start to finish, but when the checkered flag flew, Jay Lip - scomb claimed his first victory of the 2026 season. Sawyer Carratura launched off the line to claim the XC-Pro holeshot aboard his Yamaha, but it was Lipscomb and Joshua Conner who led the way into the woods. After the opening lap, Lipscomb held the advantage, while Conner remained within striking distance, trailing by just four seconds. As the race wore on, Lipscomb began to pull away from the rest of the field. With rain continuing to af- fect the course and conditions worsening with each lap, race officials ultimately decided to shorten the event for rider safety. When the checkered flag flew, Lipscomb had built a com- manding 55-second advantage, securing his first overall victory of the 2026 season. Behind the leader, Carra- tura moved into second place after the opening lap and held a strong pace for the rest of the race. Despite his efforts to close the gap, the defending champion could not match Lipscomb's late-race speed in deteriorating conditions and finished sec - ond overall. Conner completed the overall podium aboard his Honda, running near the front throughout the event. Meanwhile, the XC-Pro-Am class delivered some of the day's most exciting racing. Easton Uplinger grabbed the holeshot aboard his Beta and ap- peared to be in complete control, building a 14-second lead over Ruger Morgan on the opening lap and stretching it to 27 sec- onds by the end of lap two. However, Morgan was not done. The Kawasaki rider mounted a relentless final-lap charge, reel - ing in Uplinger and making the pass on the final straightaway before the finish line. With the WIND IN THE P54 Sawyer Carratura (1), Jay Lipscomb (707), and Colton Sybert (1422) led the start of the XC-Pro class at the Coal Miner round of the American Woods Racing Championship Series (AWRCS) in Pennsylvania. PHOTOS: CAMMI KUNSELMAN