GNCC Round 1 Coverage: Big Buck

The 2025 GNCC season has begun.

The Progressive Insurance Grand National Cross Country (GNCC Racing) Series presented by Specialized, an AMA National Championship, kicked off Saturday, February 15, 2025, with the VP Racing Big Buck GNCC in Union, South Carolina. Chilly and wet conditions filled the atmosphere on Saturday after a sunny, warm day greeted the facility to start the 50th year celebration.

After a four-month hiatus, anticipation was at all-time high when the famed “10 seconds” was called and the green flag waved for the VP Racing Big Buck GNCC season opener. JMR/GBC/Elka/Moose Off-Road’s Jarrod McClure would get a good jump off the line earning the $250 XC1 Pro Holeshot Award, but the rest of the XC1 Pro racers were behind him and eager to get into the lead.

WFR/Kenda/Fly Racing/BNR Motorsports’ Walker Fowler would make the pass into the lead on the opening lap, and he would not look back. Fowler continued to lead from the opening lap until the checkered flag flew. Fowler earned his 78th overall win, and heads into the second round in the points lead. Defending Champion, Phoenix Racing Yamaha’s

Brycen Neal started his day back in the pack, but he would race forward throughout the remaining laps. When the white flag came out Neal would make the pass into second and hold that until he came through to see the checkered flag waving.

After getting a good jump off the line and holding down the second place position for the majority of the race was Action Off-Road/Maxxis/Lonestar Racing’s Austin Abney. Abney continued to push himself for the duration of the two-hour race, but he would be unable to hold off Neal who charged past him on the last lap. Abney would hold onto third to earn his first career XC1 Pro overall podium.

HHR/Fly Racing/QuadTech’s Hunter Hart would come through to earn fourth overall on the day after running in the top five for the duration of the race in South Carolina. BNR Motorsports/Fearless/Kenda Tires’ Steven Harrell rounded out the top five overall and within the XC1 Pro class finishers. Merritt Racing/BNR Motorsports/GBC’s Joshua Merritt would come through to take sixth overall and in the class, while the holeshot award winner, McClure, finished seventh overall on the day.

Coming through to earn eighth overall on the day was Phoenix Racing Yamaha/Action Off-Road/Pierce Performance’s John Glauda Jr., while ninth overall at the season opener went to Action Off-Road/AMSOIL/CB Racing’s Chris Borich. Action Off-Road/Kenda/Custom Axis’ Jay Shadron rounded out the top 10 overall and in the XC1 Pro class.

Stewart Boys Racing/GBC/Pierce Performance’s Wyatt Wilkin would unfortunately be unable to complete the race after making two laps and having a mechanical issue. The OBOR/Moose Racing/Parts Unlimited/Lonestar Racing-backed racer, Adam McGill is not in the results as he was penalized for an off-track incident.

The XC2 Pro-Am defending National Champion, BNR Motorsports/Pierce Performance/GBC Tires’ Alex Thieman came out swinging as he battled his way up through the pack after a mid-pack start to the race. Thieman would sit second as the white flag flew but would push himself just enough to make the pass stick for the lead before coming into the finish line. Thieman takes the win at round one, and stats the season off strong to defend his number one plate. Elijah Edmondson would run in the top three all day, and finish second overall in the XC2 class, while Andrew Banovsky grabbed the $100 BNR Motorsports XC2 Holeshot Award and took off for the first couple of laps. Banovsky would lead the way for the majority of the race, but he would be unable to hold off a hard-charging Thieman and Edmondson on the last lap. Banovsky would cross the line third in XC2.

Cole Lykins would come through to take the Top Amateur honors at the VP Racing Big Buck as he finished 19th overall and first in the College A (16-19) class. Talan Stout came through in 22nd overall, and second in College A (16-19) to stand second overall on the Top Amateur podium. Harrison Lindsey rounded out the Top Amateur podium as he finished 24th overall and third in the College A (16-19) class at round one.

The 4×4 Pro class would be the first class off in the AM ATV race, and it would be Kenda/KMK/Ryco Electric’s Cody Collier earning himself the $100 BNR Motorsports 4×4 Pro Holeshot Award as he made his way through the first turn. Defending 4×4 Pro Champion, Pro Row 784/TMS/Edgewood/DeRisi’s Brandon Frazier, would be close behind in second on lap one. However, Collier would continue to push himself out front and place a substantial gap over the rest of the field. As the checkered flag flew, Collier would grab the round one win, with Frazier coming through a little over a minute behind him to finish second on the day.

250 All-Star (14-17) racer, Noah Lykins, pushed himself for the duration of the race, making it all the way up to third overall in the race while also taking home his class win to start the season. Moose Racing/Full Throttle Heating & Cooling/Kenda’s Gavin Jenkins battled his way back from seventh place to finish third in the 4×4 Pro class and fourth overall on the day.

When the WXC class took off the line it was JMR/Action Off-Road/GBC/Moose Off-Road’s Katelyn Osburn grabbing the $100 BNR Motosports WXC Holeshot Award to start off the race. However, as the race continued on Kenda/Moose Racing/Teixeira Tech’s Hannah Hunter would come through with the lead on the opening lap.

On the second lap of the race, defending National Champion, Elioff Racing/BNR Motorsports/GBC Tires’ Jessica Elioff would strike at the front of the pack and make the pass stick on Hunter. Elioff would hold the lead for the remainder of the race, earning the season opener win in South Carolina. Hunter would hold on to finish second in the WXC class, while Osburn rounded out the top three WXC finishers after a race long battle with Hunter.

The 2025 Progressive Grand National Cross Country Series presented by Specialized continues on March 1-2, with the Moose Racing Wild Boar GNCC in Palatka, Florida. To check out the full 2025 GNCC Series schedule, click HERE.

VP Racing Big Buck GNCC Results and Points Standings
Union, South Carolina
Round 1 of 13
Saturday, February 15, 2025

XC1 Pro Event Results:

1. Walker Fowler (YAM)
2. Brycen Neal (YAM)
3. Austin Abney (YAM)
4. Hunter Hart (YAM)
5. Steven Harrell (YAM)
6. Joshua Merritt (YAM)
7. Jarrod McClure (HON)
8. John Glauda Jr. (YAM)
9. Chris Borich (YAM)
10. Jay Shadron (YAM)

Overall National Championship Standings:

1. Walker Fowler (30)
2. Brycen Neal (25)
3. Austin Abney (21)
4. Hunter Hart (18)
5. Steven Harrell (16)
6. Joshua Merritt (15)
7. Jarrod McClure (14)
8. John Glauda Jr. (13)
9. Chris Borich (12)
10. Jay Shadron (11)

XC2 Pro-Am Event Results:

1. Alex Thieman (YAM)
2. Elijah Edmondson (YAM)
3. Andrew Banovsky (YAM)
4. Andre Williams (YAM)
5. Keaton Henderson (YAM)
6. Jeremiah Wolf (YAM)
7. Danick Paquin (YAM)
8. Alex Elioff (YAM)
9. Braxton Grosse (HON)
10. Daulton Keyes (YAM)

XC2 Pro-Am Series Standings:

1. Alex Thieman (30)
2. Elijah Edmondson (25)
3. Andrew Banovsky (21)
4. Andre Williams (18)
5. Keaton Henderson (16)
6. Jeremiah Wolf (15)
7. Danick Paquin (14)
8. Alex Elioff (13)
9. Braxton Grosse (12)
10. Daulton Keyes (11)

For more information on the GNCC series, visit the official website at www.gnccracing.com