This Sunday, September 30, FMF/KTM Factory Racing’s Kailub Russell is set to battle with the rest of the XC1 Open Pro field for his eighth win of the season. After earning the overall win at Snowshoe and extending his points lead, K. Russell currently has a 54-point gap over second place heading into the last three rounds of the 2018 GNCC season. 

However, Rockstar Energy/Factory Husqvarna Racing’s Thad Duvall, who currently sits second in the National Championship standings, is looking for redemption after battling for the win at round nine before a crash that ultimately injured his wrist. The last time GNCC Racing was on this property, Duvall and K. Russell were both in the youth division with Duvall winning the overall and K. Russell finishing 11^th overall.

JCR Honda’s Trevor Bollinger has been having a standout season thus far, with three podium finishes and finishing inside the top 10 at the first nine rounds. Bollinger even managed to try and battle for a win at the Tomahawk round in New York. This weekend Bollinger will be one to keep an eye on as he has shown he has the speed to run at the front of the pack, and since this is an all-new event the overall could be anyone’s to claim.

Currently sitting fourth in points is Tely Energy Racing/KTM’s Steward Baylor Jr., who had a strong start to the season by finishing on the podium at the first three rounds. After riding with an injured knee at the last round in June, S. Baylor Jr. is looking for a fresh start to the second half of the GNCC season this Sunday.

Rockstar Energy/Factory Husqvarna Racing’s Josh Strang heads into the last three rounds sitting in fifth overall. After a rough race at Snowshoe, Strang is looking to battle for his second podium finish of the season. AmPro Yamaha’s Ricky Russell sits eighth overall, hoping for some good luck late this season. R. Russell has had an up-and-down season with bad luck hindering his riding abilities early in the season. Hailing from Fairmont, West Virginia is XC1 Open Pro and KR4/Husqvarna rider, Layne Michael. Currently Michael sits in ninth overall after a rough start, but this Sunday he will be aiming to put his head down and battle for a top five finish with his family and friends cheering him on.

Leading the way in the XC2 250 Pro class is Trail Jesters/KTM Racing’s Ben Kelley. With four wins already, Kelley is hoping to earn his fifth this Sunday while extending his points lead. Sitting 13-points behind the leader is FMF/KTM Factory Racing Josh Toth. While Toth has earned five wins this season, he is hoping to gain valuable points in defending his XC2 250 Pro National Championship. Coastal Racing/Husqvarna’s Pascal Rauchenecker sits third in the XC2 250 Pro standings and will be looking to earn his first win of the 2018 season. Rauchenecker’s teammate, Craig Delong is a Pennsylvania native, and currently sits fourth in the class. Delong has been a top contender all season long and is aiming to earn his first win of the season in his home state. 

FMF/Maxxis/RPM KTM Jesse Ansley comes into the Mason-Dixon GNCC first in the FMF XC3 125 Pro-Am class. Ansley has earned four wins thus far in the season, but this Sunday afternoon he will be battling through the woods of West Virginia and Pennsylvania to take home his fifth win of the season. Sitting second is Raines Riding University/Atlas Sales Yamaha’s Jason Raines. While only having one win under his belt, Raines is aiming to change that this weekend.

Hailing from Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, a mere 25 minutes north of Mount Morris, is Coastal Racing/Husqvarna’s Alex Teagarden. Competing in the FMF XC3 125 Pro-Am class this season, Teagarden holds the third place position in the points standings. Teagarden has taken the class win three times thus far in the season and is aiming to earn his fourth in front of his hometown family and friends this weekend.

This event will also play host to GNCC's Fantic eMTB race on Friday September 28 at 6 p.m. Fantic eMTB Racing will feature 7 classes, with no pre-qualifying: Pro, Schoolboy (12-18), Junior (19-29), Vet (30-39), Senior (40-49), Masters (50+) and Women. Class 1 Pedal Assist Bicycles with a motor powered speed of 20 mph and motor wattage of <=750 watts eligible only. Bicycle helmet and eye protection are required. 

The motorcycles will take to the woods of Pennsylvania and West Virginia on Sunday, September 30, following the same race schedule of youth racing action starting the day off at 8 a.m., women and amateur riders’ race at 10 a.m. and the pros and top amateurs will start at 1 p.m. 

Local racers expected to compete on Sunday will be Alex Teagarden (FMF XC3 125 Pro-Am), Layne Michael (XC1 Open Pro), Ryan Lojak (FMF XC3 125 Pro-Am), Ian Flynn (250 B), Shawn Myers (200 B), Grant Curfman (250 B), Colin Keegan (FMF XC3 125 Pro-Am), Amber Hardman (Women C), Mason Atherton (XC1 Open Pro), Larry Hopper (Vet B 30+), Conner Keegan (4-Stroke A Lites), Willis West (Super Senior A 45+),Edward Lojak Jr. (Vet A 30+), Gino Bonacci (YXC1 Supermini Sr. 14-15), Ralph ‘Be’ Thorn (Masters A 50+), Dylan Ely (Sportsman A), Jared Hoffman (Vet A 30+), Joseph Cummings (250 C College 18-24), Ty Ely (85cc 7-11), TJ Fine (4-Stroke B Lites), Leo Jeziorski (Elite Masters 65+), Mark Proper (Senior B 40+), Brandon Keegan (4-Stroke A Lites), Ryder Leblond (200 A), Mark Michelini (Golden Masters (60+), Kara Parsons (Women C), Shawn Remington (Senior A 40+), Shawn Remington Jr. (50cc Jr. 4-6), Melissa Parsons (Women C), Linwood Patton (50cc Jr. 4-6), Chase Rutan (125 B/C), Elizabeth Sam (Women), Billy Seliga (4-Stroke B Lites), Cooper Stickley (Micro XC2 6-8), Jason Stickley (Senior B 40+), Peyton Whipkey (YXC1 Super Mini Sr. 14-15), Tucker Whipkey (65cc 10-11), Cole Whitmer (250 B) and Lane Whitmer (85cc 12-13).

All local riders are invited and encouraged to compete in the event, as GNCC Racing offers classes for riders of all skill and experience levels. The amateur race entry fee is $50, and riders can sign up at the track or pre-enter. To learn more about GNCC Racing, refer to the GNCC 101 webpage.