GNCC Racing

AMSOIL Buckwheat 100: ATV Race Report

AMSOIL Buckwheat 100: ATV Race Report

Sunday, October 10, 2021 | 7:00 AM
by:
Sunday, October 10, 2021 | 7:00 AM

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AMSOIL Buckwheat 100: ATV Race Report
Fowler Takes Overall Win While Rusch Earns XC2 Championship

NEWBURG, W.Va. (October 10, 2021) – This weekend’s AMSOIL Buckwheat 100, round 11 of the 2021 Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Series presented by Specialized, an AMA National Championship, kicked off on Saturday, October 9, 2021, in Newburg, West Virginia. Overcast skies, and raining conditions made for a somewhat muddy start to the race weekend.

In the afternoon pro race, it was WFR/GBC Tires/Fly Racing/Yamaha’s Walker Fowler getting a great jump off the line earning the $100 All Balls Racing XC1 Holeshot Award and taking off into the woods first. Fowler would continue to lead throughout the race as he pushed for the entire two-hours. As the checkered flag flew, Fowler would come through with over a minute lead on the rest of the pack.  Fowler earned his eighth win of the season.

Walker Fowler grabbed the $100 All Balls Racing XC1 Holeshot Award. Photo: Mack Faint
Walker Fowler grabbed the $100 All Balls Racing XC1 Holeshot Award. Photo: Mack Faint

West Virginia’s own OBOR/Moose Racing/Parts Unlimited-backed rider Adam McGill battled his way back to the podium in his home state. McGill would grab a great start to the day and continue to push in the second place position. However, McGill would have to push throughout the race as his competitors would stay close. Then on the last lap McGill would find himself stuck in a muddy bottleneck with a handful of his competitors all trying to make their way into a podium spot. McGill would manage to grab traction and make his way out of the bottleneck and cross the finish line second overall.

After starting the day back in seventh it was Action Off-Road/Kenda/Tely Energy’s Cole Richardson crossing the finish line third overall on the day just .5 seconds behind McGill. Richardson would battle up to fifth until hitting the bottleneck on the last lap, making his way through the muddy section and moving into third before heading to the finish line for the day.

Coming through to finish fourth on the day was Hunter Hart Racing/Maxxis/Fly Racing’s Hunter Hart. As he started out the day in third, and then running in fourth for majority of the race, Hart would battle back to third place as the white flag flew. However, this infamous muddy bottleneck would not work in Hart’s favor as he remained buried trying to find some traction as Richardson made his way through and around him. Hart would come through 43 seconds behind him for his fourth place finish on the day.

Adam McGill battled through to earn second in his home state. Photo: Mack Faint
Adam McGill battled through to earn second in his home state. Photo: Mack Faint

JMR/GBC/Elka/Moose Racing’s Jarrod McClure would come through to round out the top five overall finishers on the day. McClure did find himself up to third at one point in the race, but he would have to battle not only his competitors but the terrain and conditions throughout the last lap.

Earning sixth overall at the Buckwheat 100 was Feehan Racing/GBC Tires/Fly Racing/Nine 2’s Devon Feehan. After finishing on the podium at the previous two rounds, Feehan found himself trying to make up ground on the rest of the field for much of the day. Chris Borich Racing/GBC/Action Off-Road/Fly Racing/AMSOIL’s Chris Borich came through to earn seventh overall after making his way up front a ninth place starting position.

Pierce Performance/GBC Tires/Fly Racing/Action Off-Road’s John Glauda Jr. would cross the line eighth in the XC1 Pro class, while Merritt Racing/BNR Motorsports/GBC Tires’ Josh Merritt came through to grab the ninth place spot. Action Off-Road/Maxxis/Demaree Motorsports/Fly Racing’s Austin Abney would round out the top 10 in the XC1 Pro class. 

In the XC2 Pro-Am class it was PirateMX.com /OBOR Tires/Moose Racing’s Branden Owens coming through to earn his fifth class win of the season. Owens would battle throughout the two-hour race, making the move into the lead on the second lap. Owens would begin to place a gap over the rest of the field, coming through 11 seconds ahead of second place. 

Ronnie Rusch clinched the XC2 Pro-Am National Championship. Photo: Ken Hill
Ronnie Rusch clinched the XC2 Pro-Am National Championship. Photo: Ken Hill

DIRTNASTY/GBC/Focus X’s Wyatt Wilkin made his fourth appearance on the XC2 podium finishing second on the day. Wilkin would have a very consistent day of running in the second place position for the duration of the race. BNR Motorsports/Yamaha’s Ben Kowalewski would come through to earn third in the XC2 class after running at the front of the pack on lap one, and as far back as fourth place on the second and third laps of the race. 

However, a lot of eyes were on the No. 714 machine of BNR Motorsports/Senge Graphics/Houser Racing’s Ronnie Rusch as he came through to earn sixth in XC2, which would be enough to clinch the 2021 XC2 Pro-Am GNCC National Championship. Rusch has earned three wins this season, and he has remained a consistent figure at the front of the class throughout the year.

Earning the Top Amateur honors in the afternoon race was College A winner, Layne McCormick with a 19th overall finishing position. Alex Thieman would come through 20th overall and second in College A, earning him second on the top amateur podium. Junior A class winner, Jeremy LeDonne would battle back to finish 21st overall and land the third spot on the top amateur podium.

Cody Collier earned his fifth 4x4 Pro class win of the season. Photo: Mack Faint
Cody Collier earned his fifth 4x4 Pro class win of the season. Photo: Mack Faint

With OBOR/Can-Am/DeRisi Racing’s Landon Wolfe earning the 4x4 Pro National Championship at the previous round, Wolfe would not compete in this weekend’s race as he and his wife are approaching the welcoming of their first born, which would make way for a new battle at the front of the 4x4 pack. As the green flag waved it was Can-Am/Tennessee Towing/BNR Motorsports’ Robbie Pecorari grabbing the $100 holeshot award courtesy of BNR Motorsports.

However, it wouldn’t take long for Kenda/BNR Motorsports/Nine2/Custom Axis’ Cody Collier to make his way into the lead position with HMR Engineering/GBC Tires/BNR Motorsports’ Brandon Frazier right behind him. Collier and Frazier would battle as the two front-runners for majority of the race. Frazier would find himself in the lead on the lap three, but he would ultimately be unable to hold off Collier. Collier would come through to earn his fifth 4x4 Pro and overall win of the season. BNR Motorsports’ Robert Smith would cross the finish line third in 4x4 Pro, his first podium finish of the season.

Jessica Elioff (center) earned the WXC class win. Hannah Hunter (left) and Katelyn Osburn (right) rounded out the top three. Photo: Ken Hill
Jessica Elioff (center) earned the WXC class win. Hannah Hunter (left) and Katelyn Osburn (right) rounded out the top three. Photo: Ken Hill

In the WXC class it was BNR Motorsports/GBC Tires/HMF Engineering’s Jessica Elioff and Hannah Hurricane Hunter/OBOR Tires/Fly Racing’s Hannah Hunter swapping the lead position throughout the duration of the race. Elioff would make a last lap pass stick on Hunter, earning her second WXC class win of the season. Elioff is currently ranked third with just one more race remaining. Hunter would come through to earn second. 

Action Off-Road/Moose Racing/GBC Motorsports’ Katelyn Osburn rounded out the WXC class podium with a third place finish on the day. Osburn continues to lead the WXC Championship points, with a six-point gap back to Hunter in second.

In the Youth ATV race it was Brody Lee racing through to earn his eighth overall win of the season, clinching the Youth ATV Overall National Championship. Lee has also earned 9 YXC1 Super Mini Sr. class wins with just one more round remaining. Andre Williams and Harrison Lindsey would battle throughout the day, earning second and third overall and in the YXC1 class.

Tavin Cook and Cody Whitaker would round out the top five finishers in YXC1. In the YXC2 Super Mini Jr. class it was Bryce Pullen taking the win, with Levi Burkemper and Wyatt Curfman taking second and third in the class.

Brody Lee earned the Youth ATV Overall National Championship (photo 1)
Hunter Hawkinberry earned the Micro Bike Overall National Championship (photo 2)
Kody Buckahnnon earned the Micro ATV Overall National Championship (photo 3)

Klaiton Sampson of the MXC2 class made his way up through the Micro ATV pack to earn his first overall Micro ATV win. However, it was West Virginia’s Kody Buckhannon earning the MXC1 and Micro ATV Overall National Championship. Jace Griffie and JP Pickens Jr. rounded out the top three MXC1 finishers.

Jase Strouse and Stratton Weddle rounded out the top three MXC2 class finishers on the day. Brantley Slack came through seventh overall to earn the 90 Stock class win.

Coming through to take his eighth Micro overall win of the season was Hunter Hawkinberry in the MXC1 class. Hawkinberry also wrapped up the Micro Bike Overall National Championship, while earning his class championship too. Making the move up to MXC1 was the MXC2 Champion, Karson George. George would come through to earn second overall, while Trason Landum would take the MXC2 class win and third overall on the day.

Jace Mitchell battled back to earn fourth overall and the 50cc Sr. class win with Brody Haugh coming through fifth overall and second in 50cc Sr. Brody McClaughlin would earn third in the MXC1 class with Paisley Harris and Traytin Hovatter rounded out the MXC2 class top three. 

This year’s Ironman GNCC will follow an amended race schedule, along with revised race times. One significant change is due to the high number of entries in the Bike Amateur Race, there will now be two separate Bike Amateur races on Sunday morning.

Another important change to the weekend’s race schedule is that the Youth Bike race will be held on Saturday afternoon at 4 pm to further accommodate the two separate bike amateur races. Click HERE to view the complete Competition Bulletin.

Walker Fowler (center), Adam McGill (right) and Cole Richardson (left) rounded out the top three overall winners. Photo: Ken Hill
Walker Fowler (center), Adam McGill (right) and Cole Richardson (left) rounded out the top three overall winners. Photo: 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.

Buckwheat 100 Results and Points Standings
Newburg, WV
Round 12 of 13
Saturday, October 9, 2021

XC1 Pro Event Results:

  1. Walker Fowler (YAM)
  2. Adam McGill (HON)
  3. Cole. Richardson (YAM)
  4. Hunter Hart (YAM)
  5. Jarrod McClure (HON)
  6. Devon Feehan (YAM)
  7. Chris Borich (SUZ)
  8. John Glauda Jr. (YAM)
  9. Joshua Merritt (YAM)
  10. Austin Abney (YAM)

*Overall National Championship Standings:

  1. Walker Fowler (327)
  2. Hunter Hart (241)
  3. Jarrod McClure (217)
  4. Cole Richardson (197)
  5. Adam McGill (172)
  6. John Glauda Jr. (161)
  7. Joshua Merritt (148)
  8. Devon Feehan (138)
  9. Brycen Neal (133)
  10. Chris Borich (129)

*Indicates that the Overall National Championship Standings will determine the 2021 National Champion.

XC2 Pro-Am Event Results:

  1. Branden Owens (YAM)
  2. Wyatt Wilkin (YAM)
  3. Ben Kowalewski (YAM)
  4. Tanner Walker (YAM)
  5. Grayson Eller (YAM)
  6. Ronnie Rusch (YAM)
  7. Dylan Walraven (HON)
  8. Kristian Meyer (HON)
  9. TJ Barrett (HON)
  10. Noah Gengler (YAM)

XC2 Pro-Am Series Standings:

  1. Ronnie Rusch (259)
  2. Ben Kowalewski (234)
  3. Branden Owens (217)
  4. Tanner Walker (215)
  5. Kenny Shick (180)
  6. Wyatt Wilkin (178)
  7. Grayson Eller (152)
  8. Dylan Walraven (142)
  9. Kristian Meyer (128)
  10. TJ Barrett (124)

To get the latest GNCC Racing clothing and merchandise visit https://www.mototees.com.

How to Watch

Racer TV and MAVTV are the official homes for coverage of the Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) events. All 13 rounds, from the season opener in South Carolina to the finale at Ironman Raceway in Indiana, will air in taped-delayed telecasts on MAVTV, while Racer TV provides live streaming coverage of the 2 p.m. ATV and 1 p.m. motorcycle races from each event. Catch all the action at http://www.mavtv.com/ and http://www.racertv.com/. 

About GNCC Racing

The Grand National Cross Country Series presented by Specialized is the World’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 two and three-hour GNCC races lead as many as 2,400 riders through racetracks 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 live on RacerTV.com. For more information, please visit www.gnccracing.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

Media Contact:
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