K&N-Sponsored Pro ATV GNCC Racer Jordan Phillips Busy On and Off the Track
- Jul 25, 2017
The racing part of the Jordan Phillips story began over a decade ago. The obsession was planted while the then 15-year-old was paging through a powersports magazine. “One day back in early 2006, I was flipping through a Dirt Wheels Magazine and noticed a GNCC event close to home,” Phillips told K&N. “The event was located in Morganton, North Carolina, which was roughly an hour from our home. My dad and I went to the event, and once I saw the 4x4 classes I was hooked!”
“I was only 15 at the time so I had to wait until I turned 16 before I was allowed to race,” said Phillips. “In 2007, I ran my first GNCC at the Snowshoe round and had a blast! I placed 5th in the 4x4 Limited class. I also ran the Yadkinville, North Carolina GNCC and placed 4th in the 4x4 Limited class. My first full season in the GNCC series was in 2008. I've been competing every year since then.” Racing has always been a true family affair for the Phillips clan. It became even more so when Phillips was married in 2014. Now Jordan’s mother, father, and wife are all an integral part of the racing effort. “My family is very involved with my racing career,” Phillips said. “My dad is my mechanic. We all travel to the races together. It's like our second family when we arrive at the races. Emilee, my wife, is very understanding about my racing lifestyle. With the training, traveling, and extra time in the shop, it definitely makes for a busy lifestyle!”
“I graduated from East Tennessee State University in December of 2013 with a degree in Engineering Technology,” Phillips said. “I actually started working for Evinrude in January of 2014. Between racing and my full-time job, it's basically like having two full-time jobs, but I wouldn't change it for anything!” Pro racing has its ups and downs. In the 2014 GNCC season, Phillips had a nice run of podium finishes and several wins. The next two seasons had a number of encouraging stretches, but 2017 has been a bit of a struggle for Phillips. However, he still sits in position to make a run at a top 5 season finish, especially with his strong showing in recent rounds. “This season has been tough,” Phillips said. “We had some mechanical problems early in the season and that pushed us back in points. We have still put on five top-five finishes out of nine races so far. We are currently in sixth place in the point standings with fourth and fifth in our sights. “My last race was my best of the season with a fourth place finish. I think we have the bugs almost worked out and we are looking to make a run at the top five overall for the year. We have four races left starting back at New York in September.”
“Looking into 2018, we are planning on doing the GNCC series again in the 4x4 Pro class,” says Phillips. “We are trying to take everything we have learned this year and apply it to our 2018 race machines. My ultimate goal for next season is consistency and ultimately winning a championship.” K&N’s sponsorship of Phillips’ spans four years, and we are proud to be a continuing part of his ascent in the Pro ATV racing ranks. | ||||
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