The XC2 class also looks to be a stacked class this season as Phoenix Racing Yamaha’s Grayson Eller is looking to battle for the class championship, and wins, but he will also have to race his competitors including, James Glauda, Nine2Crew/Kenda/BNR Motorsport’s Tanner Walker and the XC2 class Rookie’s Alex Thieman and Tavin Cook. This class is looking to have some various winners this season, as some riders are moving up to XC1, while others are returning from injury. 

In the morning race, Kenda/KMK/Ryco Electric’s Cody Collier will look to defend his number one plate in the 4x4 Pro class. However, Collier will definitely have his work cut out for him as Pro Row 784/TMS/Edgewood/DeRisi Racing’s Brandon Frazier is aiming to battle for the number one spot every weekend. LW Racing/OBOR/DeRisi Racing’s Landon Wolfe may be looking at racing a modified schedule, but when he does come to a race, he will continue to be a threat at the front of the pack. Other racers in the 4x4 Pro class including Hayden Mickelson and Robbie Pecorari will also be ones to keep an eye on as the green flag waves in South Carolina. 

Also in the morning race, the WXC class will kick off as Elioff Racing/BNR Motorsports/GBC Tires’ Jessica Elioff is hopeful to continue battling at the front of the pack to get that overall win. Hurricane Hannah/Fly Racing/OBOR Tires’ Hannah Hunter and Osburn Off-Road/Pierce Performance/Moose Racing’s Chloe Harper are two other WXC top contenders that are looking to put a stop to Elioff’s winning ways early in the season and contest for that National Championship in 2024. 

Then on Sunday, the XC1 Open Pro class will take to the track at 1 pm. Rockstar Energy Factory Husqvarna Racing’s Craig DeLong will sport the number one plate and look to start the year off strong with an overall win in South Carolina. However, runner-up, Rocky Mountain Red Bear Kawasaki’s Steward Baylor, is aiming to get back to the center of the podium aboard his new team to kick off the 2024 season. FMF/KTM Factory Racing’s Ben Kelley will be out for the start of the season due to a lingering injury that required surgery in January, so that will bring Dante Oliveira from the west coast to race the beginning of the GNCC season on the east coast.

Coastal GASGAS Factory Racing’s Jordan Ashburn is another rider who made a switch in the off-season and will be looking to battle at the front of the pack this season, while AmPro Yamaha’s Ricky Russell continues on with the same team for the 2024 season. Russell and Ashburn both earned a win and handful of podium finishes last year and look to be hopeful that they can put a whole season together and contest for a National Championship Another notable change for the 2024 season is Josh Strang aboard his own program with backing from Sherco as he looks to debut his JS Sherco Racing team in South Carolina.

In the XC2 250 Pro class, AmPro Yamaha’s Liam Draper and FMF KTM Factory Racing Team Landers’ Angus Riordan will be two of the top favorites in the class as they battled for the XC2 National Championship last season. The Phoenix Racing Honda team will be one to keep an eye on as they have Cody Barnes, and Ruy returning to race in the XC2 class for the season. Both riders had good GNCC season last year and are aiming to battle at the front of the XC2 pack once again.

After last year’s champion, Bells Electric Race Team’s Toby Cleveland, made the move up to the XC2 25 Pro class it looks like Jhak Walker, Dakoda Devore or Kibuk Cycles/Steel City Medical Clinic/Josh Lojak’s House of Speeds’ Sawyer Carratura could be front runners in the FMF XC3 125 Pro-Am class this season.

In the 10 am race on Sunday, Rocky Mountain Red Bear Kawasaki’s Rachael Archer will compete aboard her new team and look to kick off where she left off at the front of the pack. Rockstar Energy Factory Husqvarna Racing’s Korie Steede will also be aboard her new team, and she is more hopeful than ever that she can contest for the overall win and WXC National Championship this season. Sherco USA/Moose/Rachel Gutish Racing’s Rachel Gutish also made an off-season move to race a Sherco motorcycle and will be looking to put her new team on the box at round one.

Before the event kicks off this weekend, be sure to check out the Progressive GNCC Kickstart Party powered by Monster Energy on Thursday evening, February 15. Come meet your favorite GNCC racers and get their autographs from 6 – 8 pm while there will be giveaways, food, beer and more from 5 – 10 pm at Magnetic South Brewery located at 701 Easley Bridge Road, Greenville, South Carolina.

Please don’t forget that the VP Racing Fuels Big Buck GNCC will run a modified schedule with ATV Youth racing at 8 am, Bike Micro at 8:30 am, ATV Micro at 9:15 am, ATV Amateur at 10 am, ATV Pro at 1 pm and Bike Youth at 4 pm on Saturday, February 17. Then on Sunday, February 18, Bike Amateur Race 1 will race at 8 am, followed by Bike Amateur Race 2 at 10 am and Bike Pro at 1 pm. For a full weekend schedule, and list of classes in each Bike Amateur race, check out the Big Buck Event Page. Make sure to check the dropdown menu for different tabs and information on the event.

The 2024 Progressive Grand National Cross Country Series presented by Specialized will kick off this weekend on February 17-18, 2024, with the VP Racing Fuels Big Buck GNCC in Union, South Carolina. To check out the full 2024 GNCC Series schedule, click HERE.