Still chargin': Gary Denton on the past, present and future of GNC racing.(Grand National Championship )(Interview)

Publication: ATV Sport

Publication Date: 01-MAY-05

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COPYRIGHT 2005 Ehlert Publishing Group

There isn't much that can be written about Gary Denton that hasn't been written before. The "Chino Charger," as he is affectionately called, is a legend in ATV racing. His eight national Pro GNC championships from 1987 to 1994 have not been equaled, and probably never will. The award given to each Pro GNC champ is called the "Denton Cup" for good reason.

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We figured what better way to kick off our coverage of the 20th GNC Championship year than with an interview with Denton to get his views on the past, present and future of ATV racing.

ATV Sport: Give us an update on what you've been doing since retiring.

Gary Denton: It's been a crazy ride. I started Denton Racing in a garage 10 or 12 years ago. That has blossomed and now we just put up a store on the freeway in July last year. We have a retail store front. My wife and son run the store and business. I currently work for Weekend Warrior Trailers. That is where I concentrate the majority of my time--as VP of Sales. It's grown so much in the time I have been here.

ATV Sport: How did you get involved with Weekend Warrior?

Denton: Mark Warmoth [head of Weekend Warrior] sponsored me by giving me a trailer back in the day and we struck up a friendship. We played racketball together and one day he asked me to work for him. I wasn't ready at the time and he kept romancing me about it. One day he made me an offer I couldn't refuse and I was ready to retire from racing. In the ending years, I raced part time and worked at Weekend Warrior. When I retired, I started full time. Now we are the No. 1 toyhauler in the nation and we have 50-percent growth each year. That is huge in the RV business.

ATV Sport: Has it been nice to see the company grow?

Denton: Absolutely. We were a 3.5 million dollar company when I started now we are 100 million. I've been there about 10 years. Mark always jokes that I used to race ATVs now I race trailers! Competition doesn't end for me. We have a great team here at...

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