As the final green flag waved for the 2023 season it was Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Craig DeLong jumping off the line first to grab the $250 All Balls Racing XC1 Holeshot Award. However, DeLong knew what he needed to do throughout the race to secure the number one plate, and on a fast-paced terrain he was not going to push himself over the limit. DeLong would finish eighth overall at the conclusion of the three-hour race, which would be enough to secure his first-ever XC1 Open Pro GNCC National Championship. 

“It still hasn’t sunk in that’s for sure,” said DeLong. “Just a great year, crazy year, I mean how many winners we had this year and to be able to stand up here with the number one plate, it’s awesome.”  

The season finale race at Ironman saw an abundance of battles happening throughout the duration as Magna1 Motorsports/Husqvarna’s Jordan Ashburn held the lead for four laps. The Babbitt’s Online/Monster Energy/Kawasaki Team Green’s Josh Strang was pushing himself though as he started out in third. Strang would continue to push, making the pass for the lead and continuing to hold that position until the checkered flag came out.

“It was kind of a fast track and hard to pass,” said Strang. “But I was able to make some passes and then the last two laps were just all out. It’s fun, I enjoyed it, and it was definitely fast paced but I felt comfortable, and it was good.”  

Rocky Mountain/Tely Energy/KTM Racing’s Steward Baylor came into the season finale needing some help if he wanted to earn that National Championship. As the race got underway, Baylor was on a mission to get to the front of the pack and do what he needed to do. Baylor continued to push for the duration of the three-hour race, never giving up. Baylor ultimately crossed the finish line second overall, and he would earn second overall on the season. 

Steadily making his way through the pack was FMF/KTM Factory Racing’s Jonathan Girroir as he came around eighth on the opening lap. Girroir would continue to make the necessary passes to get towards the front, and by lap four he would be running in the third place position. As the race continued on, Girroir would chase down the leaders and a race to the finish would ensue. Girroir would come away with third overall on the day. 

Babbitt’s Online/Monster Energy/Kawasaki Team Green’s Grant Baylor would put in the work throughout the race as he started back in tenth on the opening lap. Baylor would steadily move through the pack each lap and came through fourth overall on the day as the checkered flag flew. AmPro Yamaha’s Ricky Russell would finish fifth overall at the season finale after having a consistent race in Indiana. 

After moving into second early in the race, FMF/KTM Factory Racing’s Ben Kelley would struggle to hold the pace of the leaders after a halfway pit stop. Kelley would come through to finish sixth overall on the day. Ashburn would come through seventh overall after running in the lead position for the first half of the race. 

Babbitt’s Online/Monster Energy/Kawasaki Team Green’s Lyndon Snodgrass and Enduro Engineering/Seven/GASGAS’ Josh Toth would round out the top 10 finishers in the XC1 Open Pro class. Snodgrass would earn 12th overall, while Toth came through 14th overall on the day. 

The XC2 250 Pro class would see a heated battle for the championship as well, with FMF RPM KTM Racing’s Angus Riordan and AmPro Yamaha’s Liam Draper. After Liqui Moly Factory Beta Racing’s Jonathan Johnson grabbed the $250 Steel City Men’s Clinic XC2 Holeshot Award, Phoenix Racing Honda’s Cody Barnes would lead the way on the opening lap. It wouldn’t take long for Riordan to make his way into the lead with Draper right on his back wheel. 

Riordan would continue to hold the lead for the duration of the race, but Draper would not falter either. As they emerged from the woods and headed towards the finish line, Riordan would get the race win, but Draper would come through in second and clinch the 2023 250 Pro Sport GNCC National Championship. 

Trail Jesters KTM Racing’s Grant Davis would put in a great ride as he came through to round out the top three finishers in the XC2 class and 11^th overall on the day.

Hall’s Cycles/Enduro Engineering/Moose Racing’s Jhak Walker earned the FMF XC3 125 Pro-Am class win after leading for the entire six laps of the race. Drew Callaway and Matthew Sims rounded out the top three finishers in the XC3 class at the season finale in Indiana. 

Taking home the Top Amateur honors at the Yamaha Racing Ironman GNCC was Kawasaki Team Green’s Joseph Cunningham of the 250 A class as he came through 16^th overall on the day. Another Kawasaki Team Green racer, Nicholas DeFeo, would come through second on the Top Amateur podium with a second in the 250 A class as well. Rounding out the Top Amateur podium in third was Yamaha’s Michael Delosa, who also finished third in the 250 A class. 

The 10 am morning race AmPro Yamaha’s Rachael Archer earning the WXC class win to end her 2023 season. Trail Jesters KTM Racing’s Korie Steede and Bonecutter GASGAS/Scott/Fly Racing’s Prestin Raines would round out the Ironman WXC podium after both having consistent races. 

The 8 am morning race saw the Warrior, and majority of C classification classes run. Ethan Harwell of the 250 C (18-24) class earned the overall win, while TJ Brown finished second overall and first in the 4-Stroke C Lites class. Haden Jones would round out the top three overall finishers from that race and earn the win in the Open C College (16-24) class. 

In the Youth Bike race, which was held on Saturday afternoon at 4 pm to accommodate Sunday’s Amateur Races, it would be Ryan Amancio coming through to earn the overall race win and the YXC1 Super Mini Sr. class win. It would be Brody Amos and Caleb Wood battling back to round out the top three overall finishers and YXC1 class finishers of the day. Caleb Wood would come through to clinch the Youth Overall GNCC National Championship, as he would win is from racing the YXC2 Super Mini Jr. class throughout the season before moving up to YXC1 just two rounds ago. 

Doc Smith would take home the YXC2 class win with Travis Lentz and Kade Heilman rounding out the top three in the class. Colton McQuarrie earned the 85 Big Wheel (11-15) class, while Ryder Reick earned the 85 (12-13) class win. Hayden Dupuis would come through to take the 85 (7-11) class win, followed by Beau Garetson earning the 65 (10-11) class win, Trason Landrum would win the 65 (9) class and Tripp Lewis won the 65 (7-8) class win. In the Girls Super Mini (12-16) class it was Zoey Kimble earning the class win, and Cassie Fairfield coming through to take the Girls 85 (7-13) class win. Aubrey Tsakanikas would earn her second win in the Girls 65 (7-11) class, and Traven Brummett earned the Trail Rider (7-15) class win. 

Sunday’s AMSOIL Moto Hero was awarded to Charles Stout from Lexington, Kentucky. His grandson and wife nominated him for the award. Taylor works for Rocky Mountain ATV/MC as an activation specialist. Charles was in the United States Navy from 1961 until 1966. He was with the Attack Squadron VA85 until 1965 and made several short deployments. He was deployed for 11 months to the Mediterranean Sea where he was stationed on the USS Foresstal. When he returned home he was extended to four months due to the Vietnamese conflict, and was transferred to be put in charge of a top secret vault. Charles was honorably discharged on March 8, 1966.

Catch GNCC Pro ATV and Motorcycle Racing free via RacerTV.com all season long. Pro ATV Racing starts Saturday’s at 2pm ET, with the exception of Big Buck, Snowshoe and Ironman events where they will start at 1pm ET. GNCC Pro Motorcycle Racing will begin at 1pm ET on Sunday’s. Later in the year GNCC Racing will premiere on MAVTV with event highlight episodes.

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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