GNCC Racing

Walker Fowler Earns First Win of The Season at Wild Boar GNCC

Walker Fowler Earns First Win of The Season at Wild Boar GNCC

Sunday, March 10, 2019 | 7:00 AM
by:
Sunday, March 10, 2019 | 7:00 AM

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Kayla Bolton
(304) 284-0084
[email protected]

Walker Fowler Earns First Win of The Season at Wild Boar GNCC
John Glauda Jr. Victorious in XC2 Pro-Am 

PALATKA, Fla. (March 10, 2019) – Yesterday marked the start of the 2019 AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Series presented by Specialized, an AMA National Championship, in Palatka, Florida with the 5th Annual Moose Racing Wild Boar. It was WFR/GBC/Fly Racing/Yamaha’s Walker Fowler coming through the finish line first after the two-hour race. 

Fowler’s strive for five is off to a good start, however it was M.R. Unlimited/GBC Tires/RJR’s Devon Feehan who captured the Wiseco XC1 Pro holeshot award at the start of the event. Feehan would shoot off the start to capture the first holeshot of the season, and Fowler would find himself stuck mid-pack throughout lap one. Fowler knew he needed to get out front early and as the XC1 riders made their way through the Florida sand for the second time he did just that coming through timing and scoring in the first place position. Fowler would remain in the number one spot throughout all five laps, earning the first victory of 2019. 

Walker Fowler captured the first win of the season in Florida.
Walker Fowler captured the first win of the season in Florida. Ken Hill

Yamaha/AmPro/Action Offroad/GBC’s Cole Richardson started off the season strong with a second place finish. Richardson would come through on lap one in second, but would fall back to fourth place by lap three. However, Richardson put his head down and pushed throughout the last two laps, ultimately coming through the finish behind Fowler. 

After starting off in the sixth place position, Maxxis/Fly Racing/Ye Olde Cycle Barn’s Chris Borich would manage to round out the top three. Borich would have his work cut out for him as he maneuvered through the XC1 pack, but would manage to make crucial passes throughout the last lap to put him on the podium. Borich earned one win last season, and is looking forward to contesting for his seventh National Championship. 

Cole Richardson started the season off strong with a second place finish.
Cole Richardson started the season off strong with a second place finish. Ken Hill

OBOR/Moose Racing/Parts Unlimited/McGill Mafia’s Adam McGill came through timing and scoring on lap one in the first place position. After having Fowler take over the lead on lap two, McGill would find himself in the second place position during the next four laps. After an intense battle on the fifth and final lap, McGill would come to the finish line in the fourth place position.

XC1 Pro ATV rookie and Maxxis/Ithaca Recreation Sports/Fly Racing’s Hunter Hart had a great debut at the Wild Boar GNCC yesterday, finishing in the fifth place position. After coming through seventh on the first three laps of the race, Hart would make the necessary passes to find himself with a top five finish at round one. 

Ryland Johnson Racing/GBC Motorsports/Ye Olde Cycle Barn’s Westley Wolfe found himself inside the top five early on in the race, and after two hours of racing Wolfe would finish in the sixth place position. GBC/Fly Racing/HMF/Yamaha’s Johnny Gallagher found himself steadily working his way up after a tenth place start to the race. Gallagher would chip away at the positions each lap, ultimately finishing the day in seventh. 

Chris Borich has started the quest for his seventh National Championship off right with a third overall. 
Chris Borich has started the quest for his seventh National Championship off right with a third overall.  Ken Hill

Coming through in the eighth place position was BNR Motorsports/GBC Motorsports/HMF Racing’s Joshua Merritt, while holeshot award winner Devon Feehan came through ninth in XC1. Custom Axis/Goldspeed/Houser Racing’s Greg Covert would finish out round one 10th in his class, and 13th overall.

Pierce Performance/Maxxis/Waynesburg Yamaha’s John Glauda Jr. would pick up right where he left off last season, earning the first XC2 Pro-Am class win of the season. Glauda Jr. would get a great start to the day, coming through timing and scoring in the number one position on the first lap. Glauda Jr. would not look back, as he finished 52 seconds ahead of second place while also finishing eighth overall. 

John Glauda Jr. (center), Drew Landers (left) and Ben Kowalewski (right) rounded out the XC2 Pro-Am class podium. 
John Glauda Jr. (center), Drew Landers (left) and Ben Kowalewski (right) rounded out the XC2 Pro-Am class podium.  Ken Hill

LanMills XC/CST Tires/Moose Racing’s Drew Landers and Honda’s Ben Kowalewski rounded out the XC2 Pro-Am podium. Landers, who missed the last couple rounds in 2018, came back this season aiming to contest for his class championship. Kowalewski found himself on the podium at the season opener last year, but this year he is hoping to remain there and keep improving. 

In the 10 a.m. race it was Can-Am/OBOR Tires/Derisi Racing’s Landon Wolfe coming away with the overall win as well as the first 4x4 Pro win of the season. Behind Wolfe, Can-Am/CST Tires/Tire Spine’s Dwight Pollard came through second in 4x4 Pro and overall. Third overall would be captured by Michael Relyea racing in the Super Senior (45+) class, while Robert Smith would round of the 4x4 Pro class podium in third.

Landon Wolfe earned the 4x4 Pro class win, followed by Dwight Pollard in second and Robert Smith in third.
Landon Wolfe earned the 4x4 Pro class win, followed by Dwight Pollard in second and Robert Smith in third. Ken Hill

Action Offroad/Moose Racing/GBC Motorsports’ Katelyn Osburn came out swinging in round one, earning the WXC win ahead of Honda’s Megan Shepherd. Last season Shepherd would manage to finish on the podium three times, however this year’s round one finish of a second place is her best finish since 2016. Ye Olde Cycle Barn/Pierce Performance/Hammer Nutrition’s Alicia McCormick made her way through the pack earning the third and final podium position in the WXC class, just 2 seconds ahead of 11-time WXC Champion and GBC Motorsports/Yamaha/Fly Racing’s Traci Pickens. 

The 8 a.m. youth race kicked off the day with Cooper Stewart taking the overall win and YXC1 Super Mini Sr. (13-15) class win. Parker Henderson and Bryce Husband rounded out the overall and YXC1 class podium. Cooper Stewarts brother, Charlie Stewart would finish seventh overall in the youth race, but take home his YXC2 Super Mini Jr. (12-13) class win. Kaden Lambruno and Connor Walker rounded out the YXC2 top three. Andrea Rodgers finished 10th overall, and earned the first Girls (8-15) class win of the season.

Katelyn Osburn took home the first WXC win of the season. 
Katelyn Osburn took home the first WXC win of the season.  Ken Hill

This season the Micro (50cc) racers will have a 12-round series, and yesterday at 9:15 a.m. the micro ATV riders took off. Coming to the checkered flag first was Khyler Davis, followed by Zander Rogers and Ryder McCormick. Rogers would finish first in the 50 Sr. class and McCormick also finished first in his class, while J.P. Pickens Jr. took home the 50 Jr. class win. 

In the bike micro racing, it was Maddox Moretz taking the overall win and MXC2 (6-8) class victory. Colby Goodman finished second overall, while also earning the MXC1 (8-9) class win. Brian Poindexter came through third overall, second in his class, followed by Nash person and Sawyer Clayton rounding out the top five bike micro racers. 

The 2 p.m. ATV Pro race was broadcast LIVE in its entirety on RacerTV.com and can be viewed as archived video online by visiting the GNCC LIVE page online. A highlight show featuring the event will be aired on the NBC Sports Network on Saturday, May 25 at 1:30 p.m. EST.  

The 2019 AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Series resumes in one week, March 16 and 17, in Washington, Georgia with The Specialized General GNCC. This event will also feature round one of the Specialized Turbo eMTB GNCC National Championship.

Walker Fowler (center), Cole Richardson (left) and Chris Borich (right) rounded out the Wild Boar's overall podium.
Walker Fowler (center), Cole Richardson (left) and Chris Borich (right) rounded out the Wild Boar's overall podium. Ken Hill

For more information on the GNCC series, visit the official website at www.gnccracing.com or call (304) 284-0084. Join the conversation on the series Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and be sure to always hashtag #GNCC.

Moose Racing Wild Boar
Palatka, Florida
Round 1 of 13
Saturday, March 9, 2019

XC1 Pro Event Results:

  1. Walker Fowler (YAM)
  2. Cole Richardson (YAM)
  3. Chris Borich (SUZ)
  4. Adam McGill (HON)
  5. Hunter Hart (YAM)
  6. Westley Wolfe (SUZ)
  7. Johnny Gallagher (YAM)
  8. Joshua Merritt (YAM)
  9. Devon Feehan (HON)
  10. Greg Covert (YAM)

*Overall National Championship Standings:

  1. Walker Fowler (30)
  2. Cole Richardson (25)
  3. Chris Borich (21)
  4. Adam McGill (18)
  5. Hunter Hart (16)
  6. Westley Wolfe (15)
  7. Johnny Gallagher (14)
  8. Joshua Merritt (13)
  9. Devon Feehan (12)
  10. Greg Covert (11)

*Indicates that the Overall National Championship Standings will determine the 2019 National Champion.

XC2 Pro-Am Event Results:

  1. John Glauda Jr. (YAM)
  2. Drew Landers (YAM)
  3. Ben Kowalewski (HON)
  4. Matthew Lindle (HON)
  5. Jordon Poplaski (YAM)
  6. Tanner Walker (YAM)
  7. Boedy Lamoreaux (HON)
  8. Pierreyves Deneault (HON)
  9. Ronnie Rusch (YAM)
  10. Lance Kope (HON)

XC2 Pro-Am Series Standings:

  1. John Glauda Jr. (30)
  2. Drew Landers (25)
  3. Ben Kowalewski (21)
  4. Matthew Lindle (18)
  5. Jordon Poplaski (16)
  6. Tanner Walker (15)
  7. Boedy Lamoreaux (14)
  8. Pierreyves Deneault (13)
  9. Ronnie Rusch (12)
  10. Lance Kope (11)

About GNCC Racing

The AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Series presented by Specialized is America's premier off-road racing series. Founded in 1975, the 13-round championship is produced exclusively by Racer Productions. Cross-country racing is one of the most physically demanding sports in the world. The grueling three-hour GNCC races lead as many as 2,400 riders through tracks ranging in length from eight to 12 miles. With varied terrain, including hills, woods, mud, dirt, rocks, and motocross sections, GNCC events are tests of both survival and speed. The series draws talent from all over the U.S., Central America, South America, Europe, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. GNCC Racing is televised weekly on NBC Sports and RacerTV.com. For more information, please visit www.gnccracing.com.

About eMTB Racing

The Specialized Turbo eMTB GNCC National Championship brings off-road racing and pedal-assist or electric bicycles together for an eight-round championship produced by Racer Productions. Much like a typical cross-country racing event, these races feature varied terrain featuring hills, rocks, roots, and more but are limited to electric, or pedal assist model mountain bikes only. For more information, please visit www.gnccracing.com.

How to Watch

Racer TV and NBC Sports Network (NBCSN) are the official homes for coverage of the AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) events. All 13 rounds, from the season opening Big Buck GNCC in South Carolina to the finale at Ironman Raceway in Indiana, will air in 30-minute, taped-delayed telecasts on NBCSN, while Racer TV provides live streaming coverage of the 1 p.m. ATV and motorcycle races from each event. Catch all the action at http://www.nbcsports.com/ and http://www.racertv.com/.

About the American Motorcyclist Association

Founded in 1924, the AMA is a not-for-profit member-based association whose mission is to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. As the world's largest motorcycling rights and event sanctioning organization, the AMA advocates for riders' interests at all levels of government and sanctions thousands of competition and recreational events every year. The AMA also provides money-saving discounts on products and services for its members. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, the AMA honors the heroes and heritage of motorcycling. For more information, visit www.americanmotorcyclist.com. Not a member? Join the AMA today: www.americanmotorcyclist.com/membership/join.