VAN LEER, TN

Round five of the MSXC Youth Winter Series, sponsored by Pirelli, Answer, MSR, Pro Taper and Maxxis, kicked off in some really cold weather. Reminding all in attendance that this is a winter series, the early morning temperature reading was showing a frigid 18 degrees. Signup began at 7 a.m. sharp, and not only were the ears and hands of the parents frozen, but the pens for writing down names were as well.

Daniel Spurgeon (91, above) suited up for battle with the cold and his fellow 50cc (7-8) racers. The frigid temperatures didn't seemed to bother Spurgeon, or his fellow racers. As they took off, each one had high hopes of ending Spurgeon's four-race winning streak and his apparent lock on first place in the series points chase.

The Turn One Graphics/One Vision Motorsports-backed and Cobra-mounted Spurgeon grabbed the MSXC holeshot. On lap one, a duo of KTM riders, Cole Echols and round-one winner Nathan McCoy, put some much-needed pressure on Spurgeon. Echols was only three seconds behind and McCoy was fighting through the roots and ruts in third place. With 30 minutes of racing time total, there would be plenty of room for mistakes, as well as time for the cold weather to become a factor.

On lap two, Spurgeon began to stretch out his lead a little on Echols and McCoy. He seemed to be in command of the race. The battle would now be for second place, between Echols and McCoy.

On laps two through four, Tiplersville, Mississippi, native McCoy had strong lap times while Echols struggled fighting the ruts, roots and rocks, but on laps six through nine Echols began reeling McCoy back in.

After 10 full laps of racing, the checkered flag fell, with Spurgeon having lapped everyone in his class and securing his fifth win in a row. This puts Spurgeon well on his way to a MSXC championship. McCoy held back Echols for second, and Echols would settle in for third place on the day.

"Wow, look at that - I have a front flat tire!" Spurgeon said after the race. "It was fun, and I want to thank my mom and dad and all my sponsors for their support."

In the 50cc (4-6) class, Dylan Proffitt came all the way from Tiplersville, Mississippi, to brave the cold weather and try to win his fourth race in a row. The only young gun able to stop him would be Hot Springs, Arkansas, native Cole Echols. Proffitt put in six strong laps aboard his Cobra and secured the win. KTM rider Echols battled the elements and put in a fine ride for second place on the day.

Results

P/W(4-6): 1. Dylan Proffitt (Cob); 2. Cole Echols (KTM).

P/W (7-8): 1. Daniel Spurgeon (Cob); 2. Nathan McCoy (KTM); 3. Caleb Echols (KTM); 4. Ty Gallimore (Cob); 5. Garrett Elrod (Cob).

MINI A: 1.Brett Gourley (KTM); 2. Ben Jones (Kaw); 3. Sam Thurman (KTM); 4. Spencer Winter (KTM); 5. Caleb Hagen (KTM).

MINI B: 1. Matthew Harris (KTM); 2. Kruz Sampson (Cob); 3. Landon Morrison (KTM); 4. Wesley Hardin (Kaw); 5. Leighton Tittle (KTM).

JR A: 1. Colin Brasher (Hon); 2. Austin Lee (KTM); 3. Jake Froman (Kaw); 4. Luke Chilman (Kaw); 5. Blake Clark (KTM).

JR B: 1. Andrew Clark (KTM); 2. Tanner McCoy (KTM); 3. Kelly Adkins (Yam); 4. Hunter Hutchinson (KTM); 5. Dalton Riddle (Suz).