The 2016 ProX ATV Motocross National Championship presented by CST Tires rolls into one of America’s premier racetracks at Ironman Raceway in Crawfordsville, Indiana. It’s round 3 for the amateurs and round 4 for the AMA Pro ATV class, and the racing is expected to be at an all time high as we head into the heart of the season. The weekend holds a lot of surprises as the competition is being raised across the board, and one may say we could be on the threshold of one of the greatest seasons on record. Time will tell that tale and the ATV Racin’ Nation waits patiently to write the next chapter for this season.

The Ironman ATVMX will be the second visit for ATV racers at this pristine facility. It is one of the most famed places on the tour that may have only began actual motocross racing in the last three years, but the 20 years leading up to now has produced some of the world’s largest off road races with the GNCC. It may be famed mostly for GNCC, but now that the moto track is in full swing hosting AMA Pro Motocross Nationals, ATVMX Nationals and even Loretta Lynn’s qualifiers. Though it is new in the moto world it became and instant classic and an event that will grow too monumental proportions.

This weekend will also mark the second live streaming ATVMX event of the season on RacerTV.com, so make sure you are following @RacerTV on your social media to keep up to date on broadcast times and such. There will also be a couple of contests where you can win $250.00 in AMSOIL products in the AMSOIL Podium Predictions contest on Twitter. Then also on Instagram we will be asking you to send us photos of how you are watching #ATVMXLive. All you will have to do is hashtag your predictions and pictures with #ATVMXLive to be entered. So make sure if you can’t make it to log on around 1:30 or so as we get ready for moto one of the AMA Pro ATV race.

Last year the Ironman Raceway welcomed the ATV racing with what many may consider an honest Ironman embrace. The Ironman GNCC often times is noted for being one of the most challenging events of the year with the unpredictable Indiana weather. There have been perfect days weather wise, but somehow there always seems to be a twist. As far as weather is concerned the forecast at the moment is calling for sunshine and 78 degrees Saturday, which will be rather warm for the pro racing, but cooling down for Sunday with sunshine and temperatures around 68. So make sure you are hydrated well and prepared for whatever may come but with a forecast like that it looks to be a perfect weekend. Oh and if you are wondering about Friday practice we are looking for sunshine then too with the temp around 73 degrees.

As far as the racing goes it should be some of the best. The Ironman facility offers a big track with lots of options and plenty of passing room. The famed “Godzilla” jump will be the feature jump for the pros and the spectacles that jump brings will once again be a highlight of the event. The amateur racing will be equally as exciting, especially if the first few rounds were any indication. A lot of eyes will be on the youth classes again but I recommend lining the fences for the amateurs as well. The A and B class racing has definitely been notable racing that is building in intensity.

One has to think with the great weather conditions and great racing leading into this round that this will be a must attend event. If it is one of those must attend events and the numbers increase then qualifying will be a big thing and will mix the results up quite a bit. Muddy Creek produced a few more qualifiers than what we see as a norm lately. The hope is to see this trend continue and see numbers like were seeing in the mid-2000s before things went south with the economy. I realize that a race or two with good numbers is nothing to get too excited about but it is something to build on. If the trend continues things could reach an even more fever pitch than I am expecting.

It is hard to narrow down what classes are “the ones to watch,” because it can now be said for nearly every gate drop. Even though there has not been a lot said about them, the age classes for the amateurs has really seen some increase in competition this year. The 25, 30 and 40 plus classes have all yielded some great battles and knowing the hearts of many of these riders only tells me it will get better. It may not be the pro class and these guys may have to go to work Monday morning, but they still are laying it on the line like every class out there. So I encourage you to check them out if you haven’t yet and if you have then I don’t have to remind you.

Again make sure you help promote the live coverage this weekend on RacerTV.com and be looking forward to more of that as we are scheduled to be live at High Point and again at Loretta Lynn’s. So post it up on your walls, timelines and feeds to get the word out to as many as possible. As well be sure and play along and be creative for the Instagram contest and think about your podium choices for the win in the AMA Pro ATV class for the Twitter contest. And most import make sure you use #ATVMXLive and #ATVMX to keep things all trending together this weekend.

That’s it for me for now. Let’s check into Gloop’s Loop and with Ken “locked and loaded” Hill. Till next time, God Bless Your Heart and All Your Vital Organs.

In The Loop with Gloop:

If you can’t make it to Ironman this weekend make sure to tune into RacerTV.com on Saturday at 11am for the live broadcast.

David Haagsma seems to be getting ready to hit the track this weekend. Don't forget to hashtag #ATVMX everytime you post about ATV Motocross, you may just end up featured one week!

Keeping up with Ken Hill:

Well here we go again as we look toward another round of racing this coming weekend at one of the best tracks in the circuit, IRONMAN! I explained that to my wife and she replied by stating how fast it became a “big” round because to her it was just a cornfield a few years ago and she has spent the night with me and the children there many times as we raced the infamous Ironman GNCC. So what makes it such a good track or round? The track is pretty cool, but nothing really stands out as a selling point for a must attend event. It is plenty big that is for sure, and is a good looking layout-giving fans a ton of options to kick back and watch the action but that still isn’t the reason or the only reason Ironman is such a cool round. How about the name “Ironman”? I’ve watched enough history flow through the land with the GNCC series, but the MX series here is relatively young so a history is indeed building so that can’t be it. On the bike side, the first race there was a mud fest making it one incredibly tough event that was a badge of honor to those who tried to tackle it but as ATV racers, we are used to being tough and facing adversity so an “Ironman” attitude is just built into those who race and support the series.

Could it be just the timing of this round that sets it apart? Riders are starting to see their season come together and are getting into a groove or the complete opposite as teams and riders struggle to salvage their season after the opening rounds may have been way off and cost them points.

It could be a little of everything above but in my opinion; it is the people that make this round such a success. The Ironman attitude that follows this race indeed is carried over from the long history of the GNCC series not just to our racers but to the town, its people and the Shaver’s themselves. The region is steeped in racing culture and as we add to that every year we have a chance to continue to build on what has been started and hopefully get the fans packed in here so we can stand on our own merits and create the following the GNCC series has built in Crawfordsville. The weather was a factor last year here so I am hoping spectator turn out is up and each season we get more and more of that Crawfordsville love that exists. If you do not know those that own the ground we race on, you owe it to yourself to meet them. They will make you feel like you belong there and are family more than someone they see once a year and it is this heartfelt caring that they have for the racing world that for me makes this round so special.

I had a message from them waiting on me this morning asking if I had a room for the race and as of now, I have not received my confirmation but no worries, I was told they had a room for me at there house. I honestly think if they could, we all would just make our way over to the farmhouse and crash and they wouldn't think twice about inviting us all in for some good food and the type of hospitality that makes you want to be there. You aren’t just a person handing the gate money to get in, you are family and that attitude extends into the surrounding area. A few years ago, I was driving home after a race and still had my “Event Team” shirt on as I pulled in to get fuel. I saw several race trailers and such and before I even went inside, people were waving, thanking me and one even asked me if they had missed the race! You can’t buy that type of attitude, the “I do not want to miss” Ironman, and we can get there with the ATVMX round you wait and see!

So looking to this weekends race has me holding my money and scratching my head as to who to pick for the pro podium. I think my safe bet would be Hetrick, Wienen and Thomas Brown but the actual order could be different. If the track were rough and gnarly I would have to go with Wienen but if it were fast Hetrick would get the nod for a win. Brown is my wild card only because he wants it bad, I could see it in his eyes at Muddy Creek. The same holds true for Natalie and I do believe Rastrelli wants another go at proving he has more fortitude than the track that nearly ended his season after his crash here last year. Could we see someone new in the center of the box? Very possible here at Ironman and for fans that can make for some exciting racing!

That is all from me this week as I pack up and get ready to head to what should be a very intense and exciting round of ATVMX racing. Be safe, have fun and good luck this weekend to all of our racers! God bless!

#ATVMXLIVE on RacerTV.com

Don't miss the online coverage from the Ironman National, Round 4, of the 2016 ProX ATV Motocross National Championship presented by CST Tires this Saturday, May 7, starting at 11 a.m. ET on RacerTV.com. The AMA Pro ATV motos will be live online at 2 and 4 p.m. ET. After the races, the show will be archived for your viewing pleasure. Don't forget to hashtag #ATVMXLIVE this weekend!