GNCC Round 3 Coverage: Talladega
Talladega nights.
Round three of the 2026 Progressive Grand National Cross Country (GNCC Racing) Series, an AMA National Championship, brought racers to the rugged terrain of Talladega, Alabama for another demanding weekend of off-road competition. Known for its fast sections, technical woods and constantly changing track conditions, the Talladega course tested racers from start to finish as they battled for position and valuable championship points. With deep competition across every class and intense battles unfolding throughout the race, the Alabama round delivered another exciting chapter in the 2026 GNCC ATV season.
Phoenix Racing Yamaha’s Brycen Neal captured his third consecutive GNCC overall victory in impressive and demanding fashion at Round 3 of the GNCC Racing Series in Talladega, Alabama. Neal battled through the tough, rough Talladega terrain and maintained control as the race wore on. With another strong and calculated ride, Neal showcased both speed and endurance, continuing his early-season dominance and extending his win streak to three rounds in a row. The victory further solidifies Neal’s momentum as a championship contender as the GNCC series heads deeper into the 2026 season.
Stewart Boys Racing/Kenda/Pierce Performance’s Wyatt Wilkin put together a strong ride at Round 3 in Talladega, battling at the front of the pack and ultimately securing second overall on the day. Wilkin remained consistent throughout the demanding race, navigating the rough Alabama terrain and staying in contention from start to finish to earn another impressive overall result.
Sturdivant Racing/Maxxis/Moose Racing’s Branden Owens rounded out the overall podium with a third-place finish, marking a major milestone as he earned his first-ever XC1 Open Pro overall podium. Owens delivered a determined performance, holding his pace against the top racers in the class and capping off a memorable day with a career-best GNCC finish.
At Round three of the 2026 GNCC Racing Series in Talladega, Alabama, a tight battle for position saw several top racers round out the front of the overall results. Merritt Racing/BNR Motorsports/GBC’s Josh Merritt earned a strong fourth overall finish after maintaining a steady pace through the challenging Talladega terrain. Just behind him, Action Off-Road/Maxxis/Lonestar Racing’s Jay Shadron secured fifth overall with a solid ride in the demanding conditions. BNR Motorsports/Fearless/Kenda Tire’s Steven Harrell completed the group with a sixth overall finish, putting together a determined performance to remain among the top contenders throughout the race in Alabama.
Duroy Motosport/Varin Yamaha/Teixeira Tech’s Danick Paquin would battle back through the Alabama trails to earn his first XC2 Pro-Am class win of the season, as well as finish seventh overall on the day. Paquin would continue to push himself throughout the race, taking the lead on the second lap and maintaining control until the checkered flag flew.
Phoenix Racing Yamaha/Action Off-Road/Pierce Performance’s John Glauda Jr. would come through to earn eighth overall and seventh in the XC1 Pro class as he had a consistent race at round three. Action Off-Road/AMSOIL/CB Racing’s Chris Borich would make his way up to ninth overall and eighth in the class after starting further back in the pack. Borich would push himself as the laps wore on, making a final stride in the last two laps of the race.
Finishing second in the XC2 Pro-Am class was Nine2 Racing’s Layne McCormick as he came through to finish tenth overall in the afternoon race. McCormick would put his head down early in the race and push on – making the necessary passes to move himself through the pack. With three laps to go, McCormick would hold that second place position in XC2 until he saw the checkers. Hilltop Motorsports/Precision Trenching/Action Off-Road’s Daulton Keyes would battle back to take third in the XC2 Pro-Am class at round three of the 2026 Progressive GNCC Racing Series.
Earning the Top Amateur honors at the Talladega GNCC was Bryce Pullen who came through 21st overall and first in the College A (16-19) class, while Christopher Kirby would come through to take the Vet A (28+) class win, and finish 23rd overall on the day. Harrison Lindsey would round out the top three Top Amateurs as he came through 24th overall and second in the College A class.
The morning ATV race at the Talladega GNCC saw an impressive overall podium led by Pro Row 784/Victory Golf Cart’s Brandon Frazier, who powered his way to the overall win while also taking the 4×4 Pro class victory after a strong and consistent performance on the demanding Alabama course. Finishing second overall and second in the 4×4 Pro class was Kenda/KMK Off-Road/Ryco Electric’s Cody Collier, who continued to try and apply the pressure throughout the race and secured himself another solid finish in the highly competitive division. Stetson Owens rounded out the overall podium in third, earning the 250 All-Star class win with an impressive ride that placed him among the fastest racers of the entire morning race. Rounding out the top three 4×4 Pro finishers on the day was Kaden Wharff Racing/OBOR/Action Off-Road/KMK’s Kaden Wharff. Together, the top three trio set the pace in Talladega, highlighting the depth of talent across multiple classes in the GNCC ATV ranks.
At Round 3 of the GNCC Racing Series in Talladega, the WXC class delivered another exciting battle among the top women in off-road racing. Elioff Racing/BNR Motorsports/GBC Tire’s Jessica Elioff powered her way to the top step of the podium, putting together a strong and consistent ride to secure the class win. BNR Motorsports/Kenda/Lonestar Racing’s Avery Collins pushed hard throughout the race to claim a solid second-place finish, continuing to show impressive speed and determination. Rounding out the podium in third was Fearless/Teixeira Tech/BNR Motorsport’s Hannah Hunter, who fought through the challenging Talladega course to earn a well-deserved top-three finish. The trio showcased the depth of talent in the WXC class as they battled through tough conditions to cap off an exciting round of GNCC competition.
In celebration of Women’s Month, nearly 80 women and girls lined up to compete during Saturday’s racing at the GNCC event in Talladega, showcasing the continued growth of female participation in off-road racing. From youth riders to the premier WXC class, the track was filled with talented competitors pushing through the challenging Alabama terrain and representing the strength of the GNCC women’s racing community.
For more information on the GNCC series, visit the official website at www.gnccracing.com
Talladega GNCC Results and Points Standings
Talladega, Alabama
Round 3 of 13
Saturday, March 7, 2026
XC1 Pro Event Results:
- Brycen Neal (YAM)
- Wyatt Wilkin (YAM)
- Branden Owens (YAM)
- Joshua Merritt (YAM)
- Jay Shadron (YAM)
- Steven Harrell (YAM)
- John Glauda Jr. (YAM)
- Chris Borich (YAM)
- Adam McGill (HON)
- Jarrod McClure (HON)
XC2 Pro-Am Event Results:
- Danick Paquin (YAM)
- Layne McCormick (HON)
- Daulton Keyes (YAM)
- Jeremiah Wolf (YAM)
- Braxton Grosse (HON)
- James Glauda (YAM)
- Keaton Henderson (YAM)
- Talan Stout (YAM)
- David Witt (YAM)
- Chase Allison (YAM)
XC2 National Championship Standings:
- Braxton Grosse (76)
- Jeremiah Wolf (64)
- Layne McCormick (61)
- Daulton Keyes (52)
- James Glauda (45)
- Keaton Henderson (45)
- Cole Lykins (40)
- Talan Stout (36)
- Danick Paquin (35)
- Kenny Shick (27)
Overall National Championship Standings:
- Brycen Neal (90)
- Wyatt Wilkin (68)
- John Glauda Jr. (54)
- Steven Harrell (51)
- Joshua Merritt (44)
- Jay Shadron (44)
- Hunter Hart (42)
- Branden Owens (39)
- Adam McGill (31)
- Chris Borich (31)
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