N-Fab/AmPro Yamaha’s Cole Richardson and six-time GNCC champion Chris Borich followed in tow at the completion of the first lap.  It wouldn’t be until the midway point of the race when the action would begin to really heat up. Borich’s clutch would eventually begin to give him trouble, where he had to make some adjustments during a pit stop.

Richardson’s wrist would end up causing too much pain to continue, which resulted in making the tough decision to end his race early. With Richardson’s absence, it was a three-way battle between CST/Induction Solutions/LSR/HiPer/Spider Graphix’s Adam McGill, Coastal Racing’s Brycen Neal and JMR/ATVriders.com-backed Jared McClure.

After a mid-pack start, McGill had secured a podium position by the completion on the third lap and once the white flag was waving McGill set his sights on chasing down Fowler. McGill became within striking distance of Fowler when he had a small bobble with a lapped rider. “The first three laps were smooth, but I ended up coming together with a lapped rider on the last lap and losing a little bit of time,” said Fowler. 

However, McGill found himself in the exact same situation just miles away from the finish line. Lapped riders blocked the entrance to the FMF Powerpoint and McGill had to dismount from his quad to get around them. Neal capitalized on McGill’s bad luck and made the pass for second and continued to hold it until the race was complete. With only a few miles remaining McGill had to settle for third. 

“It’s taken us a few races to get the momentum built up,” said McGill. “After a terrible start, I just went out and rode the best I could. We got to the FMF Powerpoint and caught some lappers in a big bottle neck, but it is what it is.”

“I went in the woods mid-pack and then took a bad line through the mud hole,” said Neal. “After I got back on track I gave it everything I had. Overall, I’m really happy to finish second.” 

McClure finished just off the podium in fourth, and Borich fought through his clutch issue to grab a top-five finish. GBC/Canyon Motorsports/Fly Racing’s Landon Wolfe had his best ride of the season with sixth overall, and Honda rider Tucker Wyatt also had a personal best finish in eighth.

Much like the XC1 Pro class and Fowler, M.R. Unlimited/Hygear Suspension/GBC Tires/Tire Spine’s Devon Feehan made it two-in-a-row in the XC2 Pro-Am class. Matthew Lindle and Ithaca Recreation/Maxxis/Quad Tech/Storm Peak Crossfit’s Hunter Hart took the remaining spots on the podium.

Perhaps the best battle of the day was the very last one in the 4 p.m. UTV race. Cohl Secoy reigned victorious at the end of the race, and while he wouldn’t cross the finish line first, his adjusted time earned him his first career overall win. Reigning champion and Miller Brothers Racing/AmPro Yamaha’s Cody Miller started off the season with second, and Can-Am/Chaney Racing’s Kyle Chaney finished third.

 The 4x4 Pro class controlled the 10 a.m. race, where Cunningham Racing/Can-Am/Maxxis-backed Kevin Cunningham took the overall and class win. Team UXC Racing’s Kevin Trantham and Can-Am/DJR/QuadBoss Bryan Buckhannon trailed in second and third.

The WXC class podium was made up of the exact group of riders that were at the VP Racing Fuels Big Buck GNCC podium presentation. Angel Knox, Yamaha’s Traci Pickens and Dillinger’s Celtic Pub’s Katelyn Osburn completed the podium.

 Truett Racing’s Collin Truett took the first Single Seat UTV overall win of the year. Team Ferraro’s Chis Ferraro and Ocean County Powersports/Cycle Pros/Dover Oil/HMF-backed Robert Boynton rounded out the overall podium.