Mid-South Hare Scrambles Series Cross-Country Motorsports Championship

Round 6,The Battle of Iuka

Gibson Gets Glory

BY DEBBIE ALLEN

Iuka, MS, Dec 18

Some think tight battles are centered around the AA class, but that wasn’t the case for the sixth round of the Mid-South Hare Scramble Series. The AA Battle of Iuka was pretty much non existent among its tribe of top riders, so Dustin Gibson stepped up through the ranks and garnered his second win for this season. He was fast and smooth, and the Sarge’s Cycles / KTM / Maxxis / Enduro Engineering / Fox backed Gibson got all the glory of being Mid-South’s top rider near the mid-season stretch.

So, what happened to his Iuka, AA competition? Up front, Plessinger Cycles supported Charles Mullins got the holeshot and blew everyone away on the first two laps. While Team Green Kawasaki / Pro Circuit / Shift’s defending Mid-South Champion, P.A. Allen, blew a shock and rode near the back of the pack. Mullins DNF’d while Allen finished the Pirelli / Moose / Maxxis / American Patriot Getaways sponsored series in fifth place.

Mullins literally spanked the Mid-South riders with over a two minute lead. He was fast! Unfortunately for him, big trees don’t move, and he hit one hard. By the end of his third lap, he pulled out of the race, giving Dustin Gibson an easy ride into first, John Maschino into second, and Jeff Cregg into third.

Now, all three riders: Allen, Mullins, and Gibson, have two wins notched into their belts. With eight races left, it’s going to be a battle to the Hazzard Hill finish, every inch of the way. And sure enough, it’s anyone’s game because Jeff Cregg and John Maschino will also be gunning for the championship.

Gibson said, " After Mullins pulled out, I kept telling myself that there was someone in front of me because once I get the lead, I tend to slow it down. But this time, I just kept charging."

Meanwhile a true Battle of Iuka opened up in the 200 B class. Once the Cross Country Motorsports Championship announced its American Patriot Getaway’s give away vacation, the camouflage revealed a different view.

Geoffrey Vermilyea and Jacob Patterson were on a mission, and they cleared the Mississippi trail with one thing on their minds - Gatlinburg. Needless to say, the adrenaline was pumping as these two, young racers took it to the finish.

The Team Green battle merged about a half of a mile from the start when Patterson flushed into lead. From that point on, the two swapped until Vermilyea finished in first place in 200 B class and twenty-fifth place Overall while Patterson got second.

"He got by me on the third lap," said Patterson. "We were neck and neck, so I tried to push him into making a mistake. But, he was stiff and wouldn’t budge."

As far as the dream vacation, Vermilyea’s got big plans. He’s got the gift of giving because it went under the Christmas tree as a present for some special people, his parents. Nice Guy! He said, "I’d like to thank my parents, America’s Motorsports, and the Lord Jesus Christ for keeping us all safe."