OFF ROAD
AMSOIL AMA GRAND NATIONAL CROSS COUNTRY SERIES PRESENTED BY MAXXIS
ROUND 1/MARCH 9, 2014
MUD MUCKER OFF-ROAD PARK/BUNNELL, FLORIDA
P88
underwent surgery last summer
and the N-Fab/AmPro Yamaha
rider came out swinging at the
season opener. Whibley held
on to the early lead until Mullins
injected himself into the battle.
Whibley proved his recovered
strength as he battled back and
forth with Mullins for the lead all
afternoon.
"We actually were never too
close on the track," said Mullins
of his battle with Whibley. "Each
time I would pass him, I would
make a mistake and he would get
back by. Moments later he would
make a mistake and then I would
move around him. It was a rough
track but nothing compared to
what the previous Florida GNCC
was."
Mullins also won the opening
round of the National Enduro Se-
ries a week earlier.
Mullins seemingly got his mis-
takes out of the way early on and
made his final pass on Whibley for
the lead with two laps to go. From
there, the 2011 GNCC champ
made a strong charge towards
the finish, checking in nearly two
minutes ahead of Whibley in the
end.
"I'm definitely a lot stronger
than I was last year and it makes a
big difference starting off healthy
like I am," said Whibley. "I'm hap-
py with a second-place finish at
the season opener and I'm look-
ing forward to a great season."
One of the most exciting bat-
tles of the afternoon came be-
tween RideMPS.com/AMSOIL/
Honda's Thad DuVall and 2011
GNCC Champ Josh Strang for
the final podium spot. Strang put
himself in a favorable position
early on but a couple of mistakes
afforded DuVall the opportunity
to close the gap in the second
hour. After a brief showing from
the hard-charging Russell, who
(Above) Shan Hufford left
nothing on the table en route to
a second-place finish in XC2.
(Right) Josh Strang got on the
podium for a good start to the
season.
