GNCC Round 5 Coverage: Old Gray

Round 5 sees ideal conditions.

The Progressive Grand National Cross Country (GNCC Racing) Series presented by specialized, an AMA National Championship, held its fifth round of racing, The Specialized Old Gray, in Monterey, Tennessee at The Old Gray Entertainment Venue. The day saw beautiful sunny skies with temperatures rising throughout the day.

When the green flag flew and the XC1 Pro class took off, it was JMR/GBC/Elka/Moose Racing’s Jarrod McClure living up to his nickname of “sneaky snake” when he grabbed the $250 WildSide XC1 Pro Holeshot Award and led the pack into the woods.

However, it didn’t take long for Phoenix Racing Yamaha’s Brycen Neal to make his way into the lead. Neal would continue to lead the way for the rest of the race, crossing the finish line with a 12 second lead over the rest of the field.

WFR/Kenda/Fly Racing/BNR’s Walker Fowler did not get off to the start he wanted as he came through seventh on the opening lap, however, he would put his head down and push on making his way to second with a couple more laps to go. Fowler would close the gap that was once over 50 seconds to just 12 seconds by the time the checkered flag flew.

Coming through third overall on the day was Phoenix Racing Yamaha/Action Off-Road’s John Glauda Jr. as he battled his way up from a mid-pack start. Glauda steadily worked his way from sixth to third throughout the two hour race.

Stewart Boys Racing/GBC/Pierce Performance’s Wyatt Wilkin came through fourth overall at round five after battling his way from a ninth place start to the day. Merritt Racing/ BNR Motorsports/GBC’s Josh Merritt rounded out the top five overall finishers after running a consistent race throughout the day.

After a good start to the race, and running second on lap two, Action Off-Road/Kenda/Custom Axis’ Jay Shadron would cross the line sixth overall. BNR Motorsports/Fearless/Kenda Tires’ Steve Harrell did not get the start he was hoping for as he came through 10th on the opening lap, but he would continue to look ahead and make his way up to seventh overall on the day.

Action Off-Road/Maxxis Tires/Lonestar Racing’s Austin Abney made his way into the top 10 as he crossed the line eighth overall on the day after starting back in the 14th place position on the opening lap. HHR/Fly Racing/QuadTech’s Hunter Hart’s race did not go as he would have liked or planned. Hart came through ninth overall on the day after having to battle his way inside the top 10. Action Off-Road/AMSOIL/CB Racing’s Chris Borich rounded out the top 10 overall finishers as he battled back-and-forth for the majority of the race.

In the XC2 Pro-Am class it was BNR Motorsports/Pierce Performance/GBC Tire’s Alex Thieman battling through to earn his third win of the season. Thieman would have his work cut out for him as he started back in the fourth place position and would have to face some hard battles to get into that XC2 lead.

After earning the $100 BNR Motorsports XC2 Holeshot Award, CST Tires/LMR Motors/Elka/Fly Racing’s Braxton Grosse would take the early lead and hold that position for the first three laps of the race. Grosse would be unable to hold off Thieman on the last lap but would hold on to finish second in the class. Earning his second podium of the season was Ryland Johnson Racing/SSi Decals/Maxxis Tire’s Elijah Edmondson came through to finish third in the XC2 class in Tennessee.

When the first row took off for the AM ATV race, it was KMK Off-Road/OBOR/FXR’s Kaden Wharff earning himself another $100 BNR Motorsports 4×4 Pro Holeshot Award. However, it wouldn’t take long for Pro Row 784/TMS/Edgewood/DeRisi’s Brandon Frazier to move into the lead position. Fraizer would continue to push himself, but he would have Kenda/KMK Off-Road/Ryco Electric’s Cody Collier right on his heels by the time the white flag flew, indicating one more lap. Collier would be able to make a pass while out on the last lap and come through to take the morning overall win and the 4×4 Pro class win.

Frazier would hold on to finish second overall, and in the 4×4 Pro class, while Bryce Pullen would once again battle his way to earning a spot on the overall podium as he came through to take home the 250 All-Star class win as well. Wharff would push himself throughout the last lap to hold onto that third place finishing position in the 4×4 Pro class.

As the second row of the AM ATV race got underway, the $100 BNR Motorsports WXC Holeshot Award would go to Osburn Off-Road/Pierce Performance/Moose Racing’s Chloe Harper. When the group of riders emerged coming through timing and scoring, Harper would continue to lead the way in the WXC class. As the race continued on, Harper would continue to push herself further away from her competition. Harper would cross the finish line first with almost a one minute lead over the rest of the WXC competitors. This was Harper’s third-straight win of the season, where she now sits tied with fellow racer, Elioff Racing/BNR Motorsports/GBC Tire’s Jessica Elioff, for the points lead.

Elioff would make her way into second place early on in the race, and she would continue to look ahead to try and make a run for the win. Unfortunately, time would run out, and Elioff would cross the line second in the WXC class at round five. Osburn Off-Road/Fearless/Kenda’s Hannah Hunter also made her way into the final podium position of third early in the race. Hunter would put her head down and push forward, but she would also be unable to catch Harper or Elioff to battle for a better finishing position.

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

The Specialized Old Gray GNCC Results and Points Standings
Monterey, Tennessee
Round 5 of 13
Saturday, April 12, 2025

XC1 Pro Event Results:

Brycen Neal (YAM)
Walker Fowler (YAM)
John Glauda Jr. (YAM)
Wyatt Wilkin (YAM)
Joshua Merritt (YAM)
Jay Shadron (YAM)
Steven Harrell (YAM)
Austin Abney (YAM)
Hunter Hart (YAM)
Chris Borich (YAM)

Overall National Championship Standings:

Brycen Neal (145)
Walker Fowler (126)
John Glauda Jr. (85)
Hunter Hart (81)
Steven Harrell (77)
Joshua Merritt (75)
Wyatt Wilkin (68)
Jay Shadron (65)
Austin Abney (58)
Chris Borich (51)

XC2 Pro-Am Event Results:

Alex Thieman (YAM)
Braxton Grosse (HON)
Elijah Edmondson (YAM)
Kenny Shick (YAM)
Andre Williams (YAM)
James Glauda (YAM)
Daulton Keyes (YAM)
Andrew Banovsky (YAM)
Keaton Henderson (YAM)
Dylan Walraven (YAM)

XC2 Pro-Am Series Standings:

Alex Thieman (129)
Braxton Grosse (118)
Andre Williams (80)
Jeremiah Wolf (78)
Elijah Edmondson (77)
Keaton Henderson (66)
Daulton Keyes (64)
Danick Paquin (59)
Kenny Shick (54)
James Glauda (52)