Chad Wienen Extends Point Lead with Fourth Win of ATVMX Season
at Spring Creek
Joel Hetrick and Thomas Brown Complete AMA Pro ATV Podium

The anticipated return of the Mtn. Dew ATV Motocross National Championship, sanctioned by AMA (ATVMX), to Spring Creek MX Park was a spotlight event for 2014 with an exciting festival-like atmosphere surrounding the sixth round of the season. In the end, the same man who stood atop the podium at the previous visit to Millville, Minnesota, in 2011 walked away with the overall victory as Wienen Motorsports/SSi Decals/Walsh Yamaha’s Chad Wienen won his fourth race of the championship to extend his AMA Pro ATV points lead at the Mtn. Dew Spring Creek ATV National.

Despite the threat of thunderstorms, conditions were great for racing and following practice for the AMA Pro ATV Class, it appeared as though it could be anyone’s race to win as JB Racing/Cheerwine Can-Am’s Jeffrey Rastrelli emerged with the ATVRiders.com Top Qualifier Award. That fast lap was the first of Rastrelli’s career and granted him first gate pick for the moto.

Veteran Josh Upperman put his Baldwin Motorsports/PEP/Upperman Racing Honda up front early in the opening moto by grabbing the SSi Decals Holeshot Award. The Ohio native opened a small margin over BCS Performance Can-Am’s Josh Creamer and Wienen, and was able to set the pace for the first couple laps. Wienen began his charge to the front early, passing Creamer for second and then applying pressure on Upperman for the lead. By the time the field came around to complete the second lap, Wienen was out front and proceeded to open a multi-second gap over the field.

Behind Wienen, the competition was stellar with Upperman and Creamer going wheel-to-wheel for several laps in second and third. JB Racing/DWT/Mtn. Dew Live Wire Can-Am’s Joel Hetrick soon joined the duo, overcoming a fifth-place start to put himself in the hunt for the podium. From Lap 3 to Lap 6 Hetrick picked off a rider a lap until he ultimately moved past Creamer for the second spot. Wienen cruised to the moto win by over six seconds on Hetrick, with Creamer putting forth a great ride to finish third. Rastrelli was impressive in his climb from sixth to fourth, while Wienen Motorsports/SSi Decals/Walsh Yamaha’s Thomas Brown rounded out the top five. Upperman dropped multiple positions at the halfway point and finished sixth.

The start of Moto 2 featured a surprise out front early as H&M Motosports’ David Haagsma raced to the SSi Decals Holeshot Award. The California native and WORCS racer made the trip to try his hand in ATVMX the last couple rounds and he went on to lead the first lap with Rastrelli and Motosport.com/RRR/Ford/DWT/Walsh/Fox Honda’s John Natalie hot on his rear fender. Brown crossed the line in fourth, Hetrick fifth, and Wienen all the way back in sixth.

Rastrelli’s best outing of the 2014 continued when he took the lead from Haagsma. Behind him, Brown was on a charge, jumping from fourth to second in a single lap and applying pressure on Rastrelli for the lead. Rastrelli paced the field for a few laps but gave way to Brown on Lap 4. While Brown was moving his way forward, so was his teammate Wienen, picking off riders one-by-one until he slotted into second behind Brown the same lap he took over the lead.

The lead pair maintained their advantage out front, while Hetrick made an impressive charge from his fifth place starting spot to keep the Yamaha duo in his sights throughout the moto in third. This trio soon opened a double-digit margin on their competitors and checked out on the field. Brown took the checkered flag by just over two seconds on Wienen, while Hetrick secured third another few seconds behind. Creamer crossed the line in fourth with Rastrelli in fifth.

Wienen’s 1-2 finishes easily secured the overall and he now boasts four wins and two runner-up finishes in six rounds of action. Hetrick’s 2-3 results landed him second overall while Brown’s moto win vaulted him to third overall (5-1). Creamer tied his season best in fourth (3-4) while Rastrelli did the same in fifth (4-5).

Wienen’s control of the ATVMX standings increased to 46 points over Hetrick, who distanced himself from Natalie in third (-59). Brown continues his surge in fourth (-66), while Upperman rounds out the top five (-85).

The Mtn. Dew ATV Motocross National Championship will take a week off before returning to action for the seventh round of the 2014 season on July 12-13. Legendary Unadilla in New Berlin, New York, will be the host site of the NYCM Insurance Northeastern ATV National.

AMA Pro ATV Overall Results (Moto Finishes)

1. Chad Wienen, Galena, Illinois, Yamaha, 1-2
2. Joel Hetrick, Seneca, Pennsylvania, Can-Am, 2-3
3. Thomas Brown, Sanger, Texas, Yamaha, 5-1
4. Josh Creamer, North Stonington, Connecticut, Can-Am, 3-4
5. Jeffrey Rastrelli, Palm City, Florida, Can-Am, 4-5
6. John Natalie, Warriors Mark, Pennsylvania, Honda, 7-6
7. Josh Upperman, Louisville, Ohio, Honda, 6-8
8. David Haagsma, Jr., Bakersfield, Calif., Honda, 8-7
9. Beau Baron, Atascadero, Calif., Honda, 9-9
10. Ronnie Higgerson, Cutler, Illinois, Can-Am, 10-10

AMA Pro ATV Championship Standings

1. Chad Wienen, Galena, Illinois, Yamaha, 283
2. Joel Hetrick, Seneca, Pennsylvania, Can-Am, 237
3. John Natalie, Warriors Mark, Pennsylvania, Honda, 224
4. Thomas Brown, Sanger, Texas, Yamaha, 217
5. Josh Upperman, Louisville, Ohio, Honda, 198
6. Josh Creamer, North Stonington, Connecticut, Can-Am, 177
7. Jeffrey Rastrelli, Palm City, Florida, Can-Am, 151
8. Ronnie Higgerson, Cutler, Illinois, Can-Am, 148
9. Tyler Hamrick, Cortland, Ohio, Honda, 119
10. Sean Taylor, Montezuma, Iowa, Honda, 105

Specialty Awards

ATVRiders.com Top Qualifier Award – Jeffrey Rastrelli

SSi Decals Holeshot Championship

1. John Natalie – 9 points
2. Josh Upperman – 8 points
3. David Haagsma – 2 points
4. Chad Wienen – 1 points

 Catch all nine rounds of AMA Pro ATV Class racing action on MAVTV. For more information on the series, visit www.atvmotocross.com and join the conversation on the series Facebook page or follow on Twitter @ATVMXdotcom and #ATVMX.