GNCC Round 7 Coverage: Kenda Powerline Park

Round 7 saw some flying Ohio mud.

The Progressive Grand National Cross Country (GNCC Racing) Series presented by Specialized, an AMA National Championship, held its seventh round of racing, Kenda Powerline Park GNCC, in St. Clairsville, Ohio. Rain early on in the day made for some slick conditions throughout the day.

After a slight delay the racing got underway as Action Off-Road/GBC/BNR Motorsport’s Josh Merritt shot off the line and grabbed the $250 Kanati Tires XC1 Holeshot Award. As the pack of racers made their way through the course on the opening lap, Phoenix Racing Yamaha’s Brycen Neal made his way into the lead position. Neal would battle at the front for the first couple of laps with WFR/GBC/Fly Racing/BNR/Yamaha’s Walker Fowler right behind him. However, on lap three, both Neal and Fowler would fall back to sixth and tenth in the XC1 class.

Merritt would make his way into the lead with two laps remaining in the race, as Action Off-Road/GBC/Houser’s Wyatt Wilkin would make his way into second place. Neal would continue to fight after falling back to sixth, however he would be unable to make a push for the win. Merritt would come through to earn his first-ever GNCC National Overall win, while Wilkin and Neal would round out the top three overall finishers.

JMR/GBC/Elka/Moose Racing’s Jarrod McClure had his best race thus far in the season as he came through fourth overall on the day. McClure would battle between fourth and third throughout the duration of the day but was unable to clinch the last spot on the podium.

Coming through fifth overall on the day was Action Off-Road/AMSOIL/CB Racing’s Chris Borich. As the race got underway Borich would find himself back in ninth on the opening lap, but he would put his head down and charge forward for the next three laps. Action Off-Road/Maxxis/Fly Racing/Lonestar’s Austin Abney battled his way up to sixth overall after battling through the slick conditions.

McGill Mafia/OBOR Tires/Moose Racing’s Adam McGill did not have the day he hoped for as he came through seventh overall on the day. The muddy conditions proved to be unfavorable to McGill in Ohio as he could not put on a hard charge. BNR Motorsports/Fearless/Kenda Tires’ Steven Harrell came through to finish eighth overall on the day after making his way up from a tenth place start to the day. Fowler unfortunately could not regain many positions after falling back on the third lap of the race. He would come through ninth in XC1 and eleventh overall on the day. Rounding out the top ten in the XC1 Pro class was Sturdivant Racing’s Branden Owens.

The XC2 Pro-Am class would see some battles shape up throughout the race as Phoenix Racing Yamaha’s Grayson Eller grabbed the $100 BNR Motorsports XC2 Holeshot Award to start his day. However, as they emerged out of the woods into the timing and scoring zone it would be BNR Motorsports/GBC/Pro Graphx/Nine 2 Goggles’ Kevin Yoho holding onto the early lead in the race. Yoho would continue to hold the lead for the first two laps, as Eller would once again find himself battling for the number one spot.

Eller would make the pass stick on Yoho and continue in the lead for the remaining two laps of the race. This is Eller’s second win of the season, but after consistent finishes throughout the season he remains the points leader in the XC2 class. Mountain Motor Works/BNR Motorsports/Jett Boots USA’s Christopher Howard battled his way up to the front of the pack as he emerged in third on lap two, and he would continue to battle for an even better position. Howard would also make the pass on Yoho as Eller did to take over second place in the XC2 class. Yoho would remain third to round out the top three in the XC2 Pro-Am class at round seven.

Earning the Top Amateur honors at the Kenda Powerline Park GNCC was Nick Davidson as he came through 13th overall, while also earning the Vet A (28+) class win. Jeremiah Wolf would be second atop the Top Amateur podium as he came through 15th overall, while also earning the College A (16-18) class win. Nicholas Dearing would round out the Top Amateur podium with a 16th overall finishing position and a second place in the College A (16-18) class.

In the 4×4 Pro class it would be Pro Row 784/TMS/Edgewood/DeRisi’s Brandon Frazier jumping off the line first to earn himself the $100 BNR Motorsports 4×4 Pro Holeshot Award to start the race. From there Frazier would continue to push forward and not look back as he continued to lead the duration of the race, earning his fourth win of the season and taking over the points lead. Kenda/KMK/Ryco Electric’s Cody Collier would hold the number two spot for the entire four laps of the race, as KMK Off-Road/OBOR/FXR’s Kaden Wharff would hold onto third at seven in Ohio.

As the WXC class took off it was JMR/Action Off-Road/GBC/Moose Racing’s Katelyn Osburn grabbing the $100 BNR Motorsports WXC Holeshot Award to start off her day in Ohio. Osburn continued to lead the way in the WXC class as the rain continued to fall on the morning racers. As the race wore on Osburn would continue to find herself in the lead placing a gap over the rest of the WXC field. After four laps of intense racing and muddy conditions, Osburn would find herself crossing the finish line to earn her first win of the season. Kenda/Moose Racing/Teixeira Tech’s Hannah Hunter would have her work cut out as she made her way around in second and then back in the fourth place position. Hunter would put her and down and push on through the conditions making the necessary passes to get back up to second by the time the checkered flag flew. Osburn Off-Road/Pierce Performance/Moose Racing’s Chloe Harper would make the pass for third on the second lap of the race continue to hold that position until she came through to see the checkered flag waving at the Kenda Powerline Park GNCC.

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

Kenda Powerline Park GNCC Results and Points Standings
St. Clairsville, Ohio
Round 7 of 13
Saturday, May 11, 2024

XC1 Pro Event Results:

Josh Merritt (YAM)
Wyatt Wilkin (YAM)
Brycen Neal (YAM)
Jarrod McClure (HON)
Chris Borich (YAM)
Austin Abney (YAM)
Adam McGill (HON)
Steven Harrell (YAM)
Walker Fowler (YAM)
Branden Owens (YAM)

Overall National Championship Standings:

Brycen Neal (192)
Walker Fowler (161)
Joshua Merritt (144)
Wyatt Wilkin (130)
Adam McGill (107)
Steven Harrell (87)
Hunter Hart (84)
Austin Abney (84)
Chris Borich (79)
Jarrod McClure (65)

XC2 Pro-Am Event Results:

Grayson Eller (YAM)
Christopher Howard (YAM)
Kevin Yoho (YAM)
Alex Thieman (YAM)
Daulton Keyes (HON)
Alex Elioff (YAM)
Kenny Shick (YAM)
James Glauda (YAM)
Keaton Henderson (YAM)
Dylan Walraven (YAM)

XC2 Pro-Am Series Standings:

Grayson Eller (165)
Alex Thiemans (150)
James Glauda (118)
Braxton Grosse (113)
Christopher Howard (103)
Daulton Keyes (97)
Dylan Walraven (95)
Alex Elioff (90)
Kenny Shick (81)
Keaton Henderson (78)