However, Russell’s decision to race the 150XC at the final two rounds is more than just an exciting venture. The Factory FMF/KTM racer is currently hosting a public raffle where one lucky winner will receive the exact bike that he’s competing on this month. All proceeds from the raffle will be split to help benefit injured GNCC Racer Rory Mead with his ongoing spinal injury rehabilitation, while also helping to fund Russell’s trip with Team USA to the International Six Days Enduro in Argentina later this year. 

Following yet another podium finish last round, N-Fab AmPro Yamaha’s Jordan Ashburn vaulted himself into second place in the championship standings, where he sits one point ahead of Rocky Mountain ATV*MC/N-Fab AmPro Yamaha’s Josh Strang with two rounds remaining. Ashburn has put forth one of his best seasons to date, highlighted with a spectacular performance at the last round where the Tennessee native led four of the six laps in a close battle with Kailub Russell. Ashburn looks to take his success one step further this Sunday with an overall victory at Powerline Park. 

Strang dropped one position to third in the championship standings following a rough day at round 11, where he was forced to DNF the race due to fuel spillage on his lap during a pit stop. The 2010 GNCC National Champion is still looking to capture his first victory of the season, in addition to reclaiming the second place position with two rounds remaining.

Factory FMF/KTM’s Charlie Mullins is prepared to make his return to GNCC this weekend after missing the last four rounds with a double wrist injury. The 2011 GNCC National Champion was on track to contest this year’s title before his injury, scoring three race wins through the first seven rounds. With only two rounds remaining, Mullins has nothing to prove as he sits six points behind Strang for fourth place in the championship standings, where he looks to “have fun and get back into the swing of racing.”

With a commanding lead over second place, KTM Support rider Grant Baylor looks to wrap up his second straight XC2 Pro Lites championship this weekend at Powerline Park. Baylor enters round 12 with a four-race winning streak behind him and a potential win this weekend could be big for the South Carolina native as he prepares to line up for his final XC2 Pro Lites career race before moving into XC1 for the season finale in Indiana. 

With Raines Riding University/Atlas Cycles’ Ricky Russell out with injury for the rest of the season, XC2 Pro Lites rookie Trevor Bollinger has indefinitely moved into the second place position in the class standings. Bollinger secured his first career XC2 victory earlier this season and the North Carolina native has been consistently up front ever since. With his biggest competitor preparing to move to the front row, Bollinger has his sights set on conquering the center of the podium. 

Since making the move to XC2 around mid-season, KR4 Arrive-N-Ride’s Nick Davis has made a mark with a consistent string of podium finishes. Davis sits back in ninth in the class standings but his results show that he will be a solid contender in the 2015 championship bid.