When Fowler approached the FMF PowerPoint, McClure was on his rear wheels. The duo had a small gap between Coastal Racing’s Brycen Neal and Chris Borich. Just two miles after, Fowler checked into timing and scoring with McClure just a few bike lengths behind.

CST/Induction Solutions/LSR/HiPer/Spider Graphix’s Adam McGill caught up with Fowler and McClure on the second lap, and made the pass for lead for a few miles, until Fowler got back around him. Once the two-lap card came out Fowler found trouble on a creek jump where he cased it and had the wind taken from him.

Fowler quickly regained composure, but this bobble created a little breathing room for McClure who had possession of the lead. Fowler was able to work his way back past McClure on an inside line, but McClure stayed right with the three-time champ and was within striking distance of Fowler as they went up Ironman Hill. As they emerged on the final stretch of the race, it was anyone’s game between Fowler and McClure. Fowler would end up taking his 12th win of the season, with McClure finishing just one second behind him. McGill made his return to the podium in third. 

“A third place feels like a win after what we’ve had this year. We had a good race. I felt pretty good for the most part, I don’t feel like I could have won but I felt good for sure,” said McGill.

“This season has been incredible,” explained Fowler. “Ironman never lets us down. Getting that killer start in the beginning really helped out, because the hill climb was just as insane as always. It’s been such a crazy year that it’s going to be a hard to top it.” 

The XC2 Pro-Am championship was on the line once the green flag waved. Austin Abney jumped out to the early lead snagging the $100 All Balls Racing Holeshot Award along the way. Ithaca Recreation/Maxxis/Quad Tech/Storm Peak Crossfit’s Hunter Hart applied the pressure to Abney throughout the race where they swapped the lead multiple times, but Abney held together to take the class win in the end. Hart trailed in second, while M.R. Unlimited/Hygear Suspension/GBC Tires/Tire Spine’s Devon Feehan placed third. Feehan’s finish was just what he needed to clinch the XC2 Pro-Am title in his rookie season.

Jeffrey Pickens, John Glauda Jr. and Drew Landers filled the overall podium in the 1 p.m. race.

Miller Brothers Racing/AmPro Yamaha’s Cody Miller dominated the Side-by-Side UTV racing action where he led every lap from start to finish. Miller’s speed mixed with his consistency secured him his second consecutive UTV Overall National Championship. Can-Am/Chaney Racing’s Kyle Chaney and GForce-backed Jamie McCoy finished second and third.

In the 10 a.m. race, GBC/Canyon Motorsports/Fly Racing’s Landon Wolfe made a special appearance in the 4x4 Pro class. In his first-ever 4x4 Pro race, Wolfe stole the lead and the overall win over Team UXC Racing’s Kevin Trantham. Branden Owens took home the Schoolboy Sr. win and third overall. Tire Spine’s Dwight Pollard filled the 4x4 Pro podium. 

The fight for the WXC title came down to the final round between two former champions. Unfortunately, a mechanical issue took Pirate MX/Axis/Texiera Tech’s Angel Knox out of the race on the first lap, but Yamaha’s Traci Pickens rode a smooth race to finish on top and claim her 10th WXC National Championship. Ye Olde Cycle Barn’s Alicia McCormick and Heartland Racing’s Andrea Berger filled the class podium. 

The racing action really started to heat up in the Single Seat UTV race where Treavis Poynter took home his first-ever overall win. John Baughman and Collin Truett rounded out the overall podium. Truett’s third place finish vaulted him to the top of the championship standings, where he was presented with the No. 1 plate.

The first race to hit the woods of Indiana this morning was the Youth ATVs. Ye Olde Cycle Barn’s Layne McCormick capped off his championship season with the overall win. Casey Simmons finished a close second, and Colton Buck claimed the last spot on the podium with third.