Page 26 - MPG-AUGUST

THE USUAL SUSPECTS
DAXTON
BENNICK
Daxton Bennick has accumulated
a total of two Loretta Lynn Amateur National Championships throughout his young career, winning a number one plate in 2013 and 2016. The North Carolina native was slated to repeat the feat last year in the 65cc (10-11) Limited class, but an unfortunate mechanical failure in the final laps of the third moto after winning the first two left him out of contention for the championship. Bennick clearly had the speed and the skills to make it happen, but he’s since graduated full-time to the 85cc ranks. The Orange Brigade rider will be aiming to close down his third number one plate at the Ranch and it was obvious that he means business after his performances at the Muddy Creek Southeast Regional Qualifier. The Team Dunlop Elite rider swept
all of his motos and punched a ticket
to Loretta’s in the 85cc (9-11) Limited class as well as the 85c (9-12) class, working his way through treacherous and challenging conditions that put the riders through the paces. After winning number one plates at Freestone and Spring A Ding Ding at the beginning of the season, Bennick is looking to put the cherry on top of an already suc- cessful year when the engines fire up in Hurricane Mills.
CADEN BRASWELL
Caden Braswell has collected a total of four overall podiums throughout his career of racing at the Loretta Lynn Amateur National Cham- pionship, but the South Carolina native has never made it to the top step of the podium. His best stretch of results came in 2015 and 2016 as a part of the 85cc divisions, complet- ing a trio of consecutive second place overall finishes. Braswell showed the same level of consistency last year at the Ranch, finishing sixth overall in 85cc (9-12) and fifth overall
in the Mini Sr. 1 division, but the Floridian
is eager to make improvements this year in Tennessee. Braswell proved to be one of the top competitors in the Mini Sr. division at the Southeast Regional Qualifier at Muddy Creek Raceway, battling through waterlogged condi- tions in order to qualify for the big show in both Mini Sr. 1 and 2 -- even winning the overall
in the Mini Sr. 2 division. The Team Dunlop Elite rider accumulated a strong collection of podiums throughout the first half of the season, finding success at Monster Energy Amateur Supercross as well as the JS7 Freestone Spring Championship. He’s one of the few lucky riders that has been chosen to repre- sent Team USA at the 2018 FIM World Junior Motocross Championship in Australia following Loretta’s and he’ll surely be determined to prove that he’s among the nation’s best at the Ranch.
26 MPG • AUGUST • 2018