It is hard to think that only one week ago today the ATV Racin' Nation began it's pilgrimage into Daytona International Speedway. For the first time ever ATV racers and families made their way through the hallowed gates of racing history. To say that you did not feel it when you rolled out of the tunnel into the home of speed you must not be alive or you simply did not recognize what this meant to our sport. Daytona International Speedway is the site of the most historic races in history and ATV racing finally found it's "Super Bowl of Motocross" and it's home for Bike Week with the Inaugural Fly Racing ATVSX. 

It was everything and more anyone could have ever hoped it could be for it's first time. The entire racing community stepped up and showed their best. Racers and fans from all over the world were on hand competing or watching and many more watched live on RacerTV.com. It was the 2nd highest rated live show RacerTV has produced and so much interest that I hear it even crashed the server and the show did not archive. If you missed it do not fear though. There will be a full HD version uploaded by midweek next week and we can all relive this amazing day.

As far as the racing goes, it was certainly some of the best front to back, top to bottom racing I have ever seen. Nearly every rider came prepared and or psyched up to the point that racing could not have been much better. There were battles in every class and a lot of passing. The injuries were few and the track could not have been any better thanks to Randy Poulter and Red Bud's Tim Ritchey. The minor changes to slow things down in a few of the faster sections coupled with better quad option lines made lines open up all day long. It was a spectacle for sure.

Congratulations to "The Ironman" John Natalie and his new team owner Mark Baldwin on taking such an unprecedented win. The two made some big claims when the news of their partnership as announced and they backed them up at this historic event. John joins the elite of racing being a Daytona race winner as Mark joins an elite group of team owners to have it done under their guidance. If karma plays a role in our sport then Mark just got back a lot of good he has been handing out for decades and the same can be said for John with his relationships with so many amateurs and programs over the years. The win may not have gone to a more deserving pair.

Heading into the race it was said many times that it may be a surprise and maybe experience could win as much as speed. This was a different race with a different format and if you got out of sync it was hard to find your way back. Two prime examples are Chad Wienen and Josh Upperman. Their first turn heat race get together kind of set a tone for the rest of the day and anyone who knows Chad knows he wasn't going to let that bother him. He figured like all winners do that he would make up for it by winning the main and staking his claim into history. 

However, it did not turn out that Chad was able to overcome and conquer but it wasn't for a lack of trying. Chad was to say the least disappointed he did not take that win. You could see it on his face and in his body language. Chad looked nearly in shock, as I am sure that he like many thought it was all but a done deal knowing his history and speed. After the race and podium celebrations died down Chad was so angry and upset he literally ran home on foot to where he was staying a few miles from the speedway in Daytona. He had to expel that frustration and clear his head before being around anyone. The final word about it though, it is said that Chad was so angry that all he could say about it was "I'm going to destroy them at round one!" 

The ATVSX also offered we fans a glimpse of what the New Year could be like. We saw the incredible speeds of Joel Hetrick, Thomas Brown, Ronnie Higgerson, Jeffrey Rastrelli and a few others. We saw the resurgence of not only a nearly 40 year old John Natalie but also the grit and determination of another veteran in the 42 year old Joe Byrd. Byrd was able to post great lap times during qualifying and ever qualified straight to the main quite convincingly. Joe has been on the scene for a long time. He has won 2 AMA ATV Pro Motocross championships and countless races over the years. Don't be surprised this season to see Joe on the podium and even in the winner’s circle because from what I seen and heard from Joe this past weekend he is more serious about it than ever. He said he does not want to go out with his head down and he is going to fight with everything he has to show he can still win. I for one will say it though; regardless if Joe Byrd ever wins another race he has absolutely no reason to hang his head. We as a racing family should thank him for all he does and has done and cheer him on whether you like him personally or not because he has done more for our sport than can ever be measured. 

One of the most pleasant surprises for me was to see the heart, determination and flat out speed that Jeffrey Rastrelli brought into this race. He looked better off the bike than he ever has and he was faster than he has ever been. Heck, he was the fastest rider there all day but could not get the start to get the win. Rastrelli was riding a hard 2nd place battle but a lost contact lead to a misjudgment in the rhythm section and he clipped the top of a jump causing him to endo and thrown from the bike. What could have been is now what's it's going to be. The switched has flipped in this young rider and wins are without a doubt I the future for #728.

One last observation before I go. The mad amount of changes that unfolded this off-season left a lot of questions. The hopes and expectations were and are that each one has done something better for all involved. In my opinion if this ATVSX is any indication then this may be the best and most competitively championship season in history but everyone knows it will be hard no matter to beat Chad Wienen for this title. The future is bright ATV Racin' Nation, grab your shades and bask in the glory of it all.

In the Loop with Gloop 

Chad Wienen had to run the LCQ?  Yes that’s right, Chad and Josh Upperman got tangled up in the second turn at Daytona sending them straight to the last chance qualifier. Now that he is back into his training routine let's here how his weekend went. Chad said, "The weekend was a roller coaster of a ride.  Started off shaky and was able to pull off a podium finish.  Greatly looking forward Georgia to compete"

Nick Gennusa had a solid 5th place finish at Daytona in his pro debut and was on the gas! I checked in with him to see how he thought this firs pro race went.

Nick told us, "I really didn't know what to expect for Daytona, being it was my first time racing a supercross track layout and my first Pro race. I am super happy with a 5th overall and looking forward to a great race season" 

Catching up with Ken Hill: 

Success, Fantastic, Outstanding, Awesome, Unbelievable and a few words not fit to print here all summed up the inaugural Fly Racing ATVSX at Daytona International Speedway! It was an amazing day for the series, its fans and for the racers who made the trek to sunny Florida to bust this season wide open! A few years back when I began writing for site lap I spoke of setting goals, taking baby steps and moving forward together and this event is indeed the culmination of all of those things and a ton of hard work and money to make it all possible.

When John Natalie crossed the finish line to take the win, he fist pumped not only for himself but also for everyone who races and for those that have raced and for those that will race into our future! He became the first rider on a quad to climb on the Daytona podium EVER for winning an ATV race and folk, which is HUGE! He stood in the place of so many of racings greatest legends and cemented his name forever in not only the history of ATV racing but also the world of racing! I have watched trike and quad racing since I was a teenager and I am still in awe of all of this, it really is that big of a deal! 

Now things are not official, but I bent the ear of the series biggest boss and it sure sounds like this will become an annual event! Talk was already underway about improvements, changes, additions and how to leverage Daytona bike week into marketing next year’s event. Is that crazy or what! This could become the crowned jewel of the series and something to drive us into the mainstream in ways those of us push for and have pushed for since the very beginning! “It’s time” is what I heard and that was followed by the discussion of how all of this just worked!

A very large part of this, and I am proud to say I have claimed it to be the vehicle that takes us to the next level and beyond, is RacerTV! As this event was looked at for the start to the 2014 season, RacerTV was on the cusp of being able to knock it out of the park but wasn’t as sharp as the head honchos wanted it to be. The additional season of learning and developing it’s programming really added to making the Daytona ATVSX not only a home run but also a GRAND SLAM! Fans from all over the world tuned in to catch the action as well as everyone industry related and that is what we need to help get us where we want to be in the coming seasons. Nothing happens overnight but it would not surprise me if the coming seasons open up a new world to ATV racing.

This sport has been the redheaded stepchild for decades and it has taken a reshaping, new thinking and great ideas to get us to this point and we have to have trust that those leading the charge can and will do what is needed so we all can transition into a new era of ATV racing. It will take more hard work and sacrifice but we have proven we can overcome every challenge thrown at us! We had fans lining the fence and filling the stands, we had the world tuned in and the racing was flat out insane! I am so proud of everyone behind the scenes and on the track and deep in the pits! I also am proud of those at home who work tirelessly to keep racers moving forward! 2015 and the future has never looked brighter!

Now the racing itself, wow, what can you say! The one-day format was a tough one but every class dug deep and the competition was fierce! The Pro heat races were just crazy! I literally jumped up and down cussing like mad when Jeffrey Rastrelli crashed. I have been telling you that kid is going places and there he was claiming the fast lap and in contention when he planted himself! I heard he lost a contact a few laps in and was racing while battling that so his intensity and fortitude is among the best we can offer. That man is tough. 

The battle between Joel Hetrick and John Natalie looked to be getting hot but time ran out. A last lap charge just wasn’t enough to give the Ironman a fight! Natalie sealed the deal on this race and I cannot express how stoked he was! On the same hand, series champion Chad Wienen was a bit non-plussed as the podium celebration commenced. I am not sure if it was sheer exhaustion or the mental aspect of not winning slammed home. These guys take to the track with one goal in mind and it can be devastating when things don’t go the way you envision them! It doesn’t matter, they all gave 100% and those who came up short will have to seek redemption as the season rolls on!

I could probably spend another 5000 words talking about this race but will cut it off here. You are all champions, you are all winners and you proved that Saturday on the historical grounds of Daytona!