As Rodney Tomblin announced “TENNNN SECONDS” and the green flag flew, it was WFR/GBC/Fly Racing/Yamaha’s Walker Fowler jumping off the line to earn the $100 All Balls Racing XC1 Pro Holeshot Award and take over the early lead in the race. Fowler would have company from JMR/GBC/Elka/Moose Racing’s Jarrod McClure as he and Getter Nissan/Kenda/Action Off-Road/Richardson Racing’s Cole Richardson snuck in behind him with just 1.4 seconds separating them.

Pierce Performance/GBC Tires/Fly Racing’s John Glauda Jr. and Magna1 Motorsports’ Brycen Neal would come through fourth and fifth on the opening lap, with just mere seconds separating themselves from the lead pack as well. Fowler would continue to lead the way through the second lap, but as they emerged on lap three it would be the number three machine of McClure holding the number one spot. Fowler would come through in second .8 second behind him and Neal making the move up to third just .4 seconds behind both of them.

As the group headed out for the last lap, it was unclear would come through to take the first win of the season. As the fans gathered around the finish line to see the action unfold, they would see the Neal and Fowler appear almost simultaneously. Neal would have the upper hand coming into the final corners, taking the round one victory. Fowler would come through second with McClure rounding out the top three overall finishers of the day.

Coming through to earn fourth was GBC/Fly Racing/Nine 2/BNR’s Devon Feehan. After starting the day off in eighth place Feehan would put his head down and push throughout the race, making the necessary moves to battle with the lead back for the last couple of laps. Glauda Jr. would cross the line rounding out the top five overall and in the XC1 Pro class. After running third on the opening lap, Richardson would battle back-and-forth from fifth to sixth, ultimately finishing sixth on the day.

OBOR/Moose Racing/Parts Unlimited/McGill Mafia’s Adam McGill would hold onto the seventh place position for the duration of the race, while Chris Borich Racing/GBC Tires/Action Off-Road/Fly Racing/AMSOIL’s Chris Borich made his way to finish eighth on the day after a 10^th place start. Merritt Racing/BNR Motorsports/GBC Tires’ Joshua Merritt would cross the finish line ninth in XC1, with Abney Racing/Action Off-Road/Maxxis’ Austin Abney rounding out the top 10 XC1 Pro riders.

Unfortunately for The Original Formula 88/Ithaca Recreation Sports/Maxxis/Fly Racing Hunter Hart, he would suffer a mechanical issue early on in the race, finishing 12th in XC1 and unable to make a push for podium. The XC1 Pro rookie, Nine2 Goggles/BNR Motorsports/Senge Graphics Ronnie Rusch would finish 11th at round one, with the veteran GBC/Fly Racing/Yamaha’s Johnny Gallagher earning 13th.

When the green flag waved for the XC2 class to take off it was Nine 2 Goggles/BNR Motorsports/GBC Tires’ Tanner Walker grabbing the $100 BNR Motorsports Holeshot Award. However, as the group made their way through the woods it was Action Off-Road/Pro Graphx/Pierce Performances’ Jay Shadron making the pass stick to take over the lead. Shadron would put his head down and push throughout the two-hour race, coming through to earn the class win by over two minutes. Nine2/Moose Racing/Pirate MX Powersports’ Branden Owens would battle back to earn second after starting his day off back in fifth place. Coming through to take third in the class was Action Off-Road/DIRTNASTY/Twizted Vision’s Wyatt Wilkin.

Earning the Top Amateur honors in the afternoon race were James Glauda, Kevin Yoho and Layne McCormick. Glauda would come through to earn 21^st overall and first in the College A (16-21) class, while Kevin Yoho would come through 22^nd and first in Vet A (30+). McCormick rounded out the top three amateurs with a 23^rd overall finish and second in College A (16-21).

Before the racing got underway, Method Race Wheels presented a check to one lucky winner from the 2021 raffle. Last season, each racer that entered the Method Race Wheels giveaway on social media were placed in a drawing for the grand prize of $10,000. The winner, Todd Moskala from Uniontown, Pennsylvania was announced at the start of the afternoon race.

As the 11 a.m. race got underway, it was Pro Row 784/GBC/BNR/Victory Golf Carts’ Brandon Frazier getting a good start and earning himself the $100 BNR Motorsports 4x4 Pro Holeshot Award. As the group of 4x4 Pro riders made their way into the woods it would be OBOR/Can-Am/Action Off-Road’s Landon Wolfe coming through first on lap one with Pierce Performance/Moose Racing/Five Six O Graphics’ Cody Collier just five seconds behind him. Collier would make the pass on the lap two, holding the lead until the white flag flew.

Left Photo: Haedyn Mickelson on his way to earn the 4x4 Pro Overall win.
Right Photo: Hannah Hunter battled back to take the WXC class win.
Photos: Ken Hill

However, on the last lap of the race, it would be Stewart Boys Racing/Action Off-Road/DeRisi/HMF’s Haedyn Mickelson making a comeback from fourth place to take over the lead after Collier would make a mistake and fall back to fourth, and Wolfe missing a turn on the track. Mickelson would cross the line just had of Wolfe to take the victory in South Carolina. Frazier rounded out the top three overall.

As the WXC class took off it was Team Pickens/Fly Racing/GBC/Yamaha’s Traci Pickens grabbing the $100 BNR Motorsports Holeshot Award. However, it wouldn’t be long until the defending champion, Hannah Hurricane Hunter/OBOR Tires/Fly Racing’s Hannah Hunter made her way into the number one position. Hunter and Pickens would battle for the first couple of laps before Hunter was able to place a sizeable gap over the field. Pickens would begin to feel the pressure from Elioff Racing/BNR Motorsports/GBC Tires’ Jessica Elioff, and the two would battle for the remaining laps of the two-hour race. Elioff would make the pass on Pickens during the last lap of the race and would cross the line second behind Hunter with Pickens holding on for third on the day. 

The Big Buck AMSOIL Moto Hero was awarded to Simpsonville, South Carolina’s Allen Carpenter. Allen has served in the Army for 19.5 years, is currently a Staff Sergeant and set to retire on December 4, 2022. He has served on four deployments to Poland, Kuwait and Afghanistan. Last season Carpenter finished third overall in the Warrior ATV National Championship. Carpenter will receive a $250 AMOSIL Shopping Spree, set of Kanati Truck Tires courtesy of GBC, 100% camouflage goggles and a commemorative American Flag from Columbia Sign & Co. along with a $200 Gift Certificate from them.

Caden Spires would jump out to the early lead in the Youth ATV race, and after four laps of racing would come through to earn the overall and YXC1 Super Mini Sr. class win. Wyatt Curfman would come back from a sixth place start on the day, to finish second overall and in YXC1. Jesse Styles would cross the line third overall on the day and in his class. Bryce Pullen would claim the YXC2 Super Mini Jr. class win with Quinn Bergman and Noah Lykins finishing second and third.

Taking the ATV micro overall win was Jase Strouse in the MXC1 class as he led the race from start to finish. Kody Buckhannon and Bryson Dickerson would battle behind Jase as they rounded out the top three overall ATV micro and MXC1 class finishers. In the MXC2 class it was J.P. Pickens Jr. coming through to take the first win of 2022, while Torque Ton and Michael Stringfellow rounded out the top three.

In the bike micro race, it was Jase Jackson in the MXC1 class battling back to take over the lead and earn the season opener win. Karson George would come through in second overall with Hunter Jones from the MXC2 class rounding out the top three overall finishers. Jace Mitchell would fight until the end earning third in the MXC1 class, while Trason Landrum and Carter Rombout rounded out the MXC2 top three finishers.

GNCC Racing continues on Saturday, March 5 and Sunday, March 6 with round two, the Moose Racing Wild Boar in Palatka, Florida.

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.

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