GNCC Round 8 Coverage: Watkins Glen

Round 8 sees an all new venue.

The inaugural AMSOIL Watkins Glen International GNCC got underway on Saturday, June 6, as the Progressive Grand National Cross Country (GNCC Racing) Series, an AMA National Championship, made its highly anticipated return to New York for the first time since 2019. Set against the backdrop of the legendary Watkins Glen International, riders from across the country tackled a challenging and unique course that blended the venue’s rich motorsports heritage with GNCC’s signature off-road racing action. Fans received a full day of intense competition, exciting battles for championship points, and a historic moment as the series launched an all-new event at one of America’s most iconic racing facilities.

Phoenix Racing Yamaha’s Brycen Neal found himself locked in an intense battle with Sturdivant Racing/Maxxis/Moose Racing’s Branden Owens during the opening half of the race, as the two frontrunners traded the lead multiple times while navigating the challenging Watkins Glen terrain. Owens kept the pressure on Neal through the early laps, matching his pace and refusing to let the defending champion break away. The duo separated themselves from the rest of the field, creating an exciting head-to-head contest that had fans watching closely as they raced wheel-to-wheel through the New York course.

As the race wore on, Neal began to claim control at the front of the pack. After finally creating some breathing room, Neal steadily increased his advantage over Owens and the chasing racers, putting together a series of fast, consistent laps. With clear track ahead, Neal focused on extending his lead and minimizing mistakes, ultimately crossing the finish line first overall once again. The victory marked another dominant performance for Neal, who continued to strengthen his championship campaign. Owens would hold onto second overall in the race, his second pro podium finish of the season.

HHR/Fly Racing/QuadTech’s Hunter Hart put together one of the most impressive rides of the day in front of his home-state fans, charging from eighth place on the opening laps to earn the final overall podium position by the checkered flag. Hart carefully worked his way through the field, breaking into the top five before moving into fourth and battling for a podium spot as the race entered its latter stages. With momentum on his side, the New York native continued to push forward, making the pass for third and securing a hard-fought podium finish at the inaugural AMSOIL Watkins Glen International GNCC. Competing just a short distance from his hometown, Hart gave the local crowd plenty to cheer about as he capped off a remarkable comeback ride with a podium finish in front of family, friends and supporters.

Action Off-Road/Maxxis/Lonestar Racing’s Jay Shadron and Stewart Boys Racing/Kenda/Pierce Performance’s Wyatt Wilkin remained in the mix at the front of the pack throughout the duration of the race, putting together strong and consistent rides as they fought to secure top five overall finishes. Both racers kept themselves within striking distance as the laps unfolded, navigating the Watkins Glen course while battling among the lead group. When the checkered flag flew, Shadron came through to claim fourth overall, with Wilkin rounding out the top five in fifth on the day, capping off solid performances for both racers at the inaugural AMSOIL Watkins Glen International GNCC.

Coming through to finish sixth overall on the day was Merritt Racing/BNR Motorsports/GBC’s Josh Merritt as he continued to push himself throughout the race. Merritt would have a consistent day running seventh for the majority of the race, until making a last lap push to make the pass for sixth overall in New York. Phoenix Racing Yamaha/Action Off-Road/Pierce Performance’s John Glauda Jr. was unable to hold off Merritt on the last lap, losing his sixth overall position that he had ran in for much of the race and finishing seventh overall at round eight.

JMR/GBC/Elka/Moose Racing’s Jarrod McClure had a good start to the race as he got off the line and earned the $250 BNR Racing XC1 Holeshot Award. As the race continued, McClure would continue to push himself in the XC1 Pro class. McClure would battle alongside his fellow racers coming through to secure eighth overall and in class.

The XC2 Pro-Am class featured a thrilling battle at the front of the pack as Nine2/Ryland Johnson Racing/Gregs ATV and Cycle’s Layne McCormick grabbed the $100 Osburn Off-Road Holeshot Award and set the pace through the opening laps of the inaugural AMSOIL Watkins Glen International GNCC. McCormick looked strong from the start, navigating the demanding New York terrain with confidence while building a small advantage over the rest of the class. However, Maxxis Tires/Sunoco Fuel/Fly Racing/TDR Motorsports’ Braxton Grosse remained within striking distance, carefully managing the gap as the two frontrunners separated themselves from the chasing riders.

As the race wore on, Grosse began to close in on the leader and eventually made his move for the top position during the latter half of the race. Once out front, Grosse put down a series of consistent laps to create some breathing room and maintain control of the XC2 Pro-Am lead. McCormick continued to battle hard until the checkered flag, but it was Grosse who earned the class victory in New York, with McCormick securing a well-deserved second-place finish after leading much of the race. Together, the pair delivered one of the day’s most exciting class battles at Watkins Glen International.

Coming from the back of the pack to round out the top three XC2 finishers was TDR Motorsports/Elak/ATV Four-Play’s Jeremiah Wolf. As the race got underway Wolf would come through seventh on the opening lap, but he would continue to push himself for the duration of the two-hour race and make the necessary moves up to finish on the podium as the checkered flag flew in New York.

The morning ATV Overall podium was led by Pro Row 784/Victory Golf Cart’s Brandon Frazier, who put together a dominant performance to earn the overall victory at the inaugural AMSOIL Watkins Glen International GNCC. Frazier maintained a strong pace throughout the race and successfully navigated the demanding New York course to secure the top spot in the race and in the 4×4 Pro class. Kenda/KMK/Ryco Electric’s Cody Collier also enjoyed a standout ride, battling near the front of the field from start to finish before crossing the line second overall. DeRisi Racing/GBC Tires/Spider Graphic’s Dylan Walraven rounded out the AM ATV Overall podium with a solid and consistent effort of his own, earning third overall and completing an impressive day for the amateur ranks at Watkins Glen.

In the 4×4 Pro class, the battle for the podium remained intense throughout the race as the class frontrunners pushed through the challenging terrain and changing conditions. The division once again showcased the determination and endurance that has become synonymous with 4×4 Pro competition, with riders battling for every position until the checkered flag. The class podium finishers delivered strong performances at the inaugural event, adding another exciting chapter to the first-ever GNCC race weekend at Watkins Glen International.

The WXC class saw Pierce Performance/Moose Racing/Lonestar’s Chloe Harper lead the way in New York, after grabbing the $100 Osburn Off-Road WXC Holeshot Award she would come through earning the class victory after a strong and consistent ride at the inaugural AMSOIL Watkins Glen International GNCC. Harper navigated the challenging course conditions with confidence, maintaining her pace throughout the race to secure the top spot on the podium. Fearless/Teixeira Tech/BNR’s Hannah Hunter also put together an impressive performance, battling near the front of the class all day long before crossing the finish line second in WXC.

Rounding out the WXC podium was Lojak Cycle Sales/BNR Motorsports/MSR Racing/GBC’s Hannah Venesky, who delivered a determined ride to claim third place in front of the New York crowd. Venesky remained in contention throughout the race and capitalized on her consistency to secure a podium finish at one of the most anticipated rounds of the season. Together, Harper, Hunter and Venesky completed the WXC top three and showcased the depth of talent in the women’s division at the first-ever GNCC event held at Watkins Glen International.

After an exciting inaugural visit to Watkins Glen International, the Progressive Grand National Cross Country Series will now turn its attention to one of the most iconic events on the schedule, the Yamaha Racing Snowshoe GNCC at Snowshoe Mountain Resort in Snowshoe, West Virginia, June 26-28, 2026.

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

AMSOIL Watkins Glen International GNCC Results and Points Standings
Watkins Glen, New York
Round 8 of 13
Saturday, June 6, 2026

Overall Pro Event Results:

Brycen Neal (YAM)
Branden Owens (YAM)
Hunter Hart (YAM)
Jay Shadron (YAM)
Wyatt Wilkin (YAM)
Josh Merritt (YAM)
John Glauda Jr. (YAM)
Jarrod McClure (HON)
Braxton Grosse (HON)
Layne McCormick (HON)

XC2 Pro-Am Event Results:

Braxton Grosse (HON)
Layne McCormick (HON)
Jeremiah Wolf (YAM)
James Glauda (YAM)
Keaton Henderson (YAM)
Cory Vandelinder (YAM)
Talan Stout (YAM)
Steven Covert (YAM)
Jared Stermer (YAM)
Logan Steele (YAM)

XC2 National Championship Standings:

Layne McCormick (192)
Braxton Grosse (185)
Jeremiah Wolf (157)
Daulton Keyes (136)
James Glauda (133)
Keaton Henderson (111)
Talan Stout (102)
Danick Paquin (75)
Kenny Shick (69)
David Witt (66)

Overall National Championship Standings:

Brycen Neal (217)
Wyatt Wilkin (186)
Hunter Hart (159)
Jay Shadron (137)
John Glauda Jr. (126)
Branden Owens (122)
Josh Merritt (116)
Steven Harrell (107)
Chris Borich (79)
Layne McCormick (73)