After a four-month hiatus, anticipation was at all-time high when the famed “10 seconds” was called and the green flag waved for the VP Racing Big Buck GNCC season opener. JMR/GBC/Elka/Moose Off-Road's Jarrod McClure would get a good jump off the line earning the $250 XC1 Pro Holeshot Award, but the rest of the XC1 Pro racers were behind him and eager to get into the lead.

WFR/Kenda/Fly Racing/BNR Motorsports’ Walker Fowler would make the pass into the lead on the opening lap, and he would not look back. Fowler continued to lead from the opening lap until the checkered flag flew. Fowler earned his 78th overall win, and heads into the second round in the points lead. Defending Champion, Phoenix Racing Yamaha’s Brycen Neal started his day back in the pack, but he would race forward throughout the remaining laps. When the white flag came out Neal would make the pass into second and hold that until he came through to see the checkered flag waving.

After getting a good jump off the line and holding down the second place position for the majority of the race was Action Off-Road/Maxxis/Lonestar Racing’s Austin Abney. Abney continued to push himself for the duration of the two-hour race, but he would be unable to hold off Neal who charged past him on the last lap. Abney would hold onto third to earn his first career XC1 Pro overall podium.

HHR/Fly Racing/QuadTech’s Hunter Hart would come through to earn fourth overall on the day after running in the top five for the duration of the race in South Carolina. BNR Motorsports/Fearless/Kenda Tires’ Steven Harrell rounded out the top five overall and within the XC1 Pro class finishers. Merritt Racing/BNR Motorsports/GBC’s Joshua Merritt would come through to take sixth overall and in the class, while the holeshot award winner, McClure, finished seventh overall on the day.

Coming through to earn eighth overall on the day was Phoenix Racing Yamaha/Action Off-Road/Pierce Performance’s John Glauda Jr., while ninth overall at the season opener went to Action Off-Road/AMSOIL/CB Racing’s Chris Borich. Action Off-Road/Kenda/Custom Axis’ Jay Shadron rounded out the top 10 overall and in the XC1 Pro class.

Stewart Boys Racing/GBC/Pierce Performance’s Wyatt Wilkin would unfortunately be unable to complete the race after making two laps and having a mechanical issue. The OBOR/Moose Racing/Parts Unlimited/Lonestar Racing-backed racer, Adam McGill is not in the results as he was penalized for an off-track incident.

The XC2 Pro-Am defending National Champion, BNR Motorsports/Pierce Performance/GBC Tires’ Alex Thieman came out swinging as he battled his way up through the pack after a mid-pack start to the race. Thieman would sit second as the white flag flew but would push himself just enough to make the pass stick for the lead before coming into the finish line. Thieman takes the win at round one, and stats the season off strong to defend his number one plate. Elijah Edmondson would run in the top three all day, and finish second overall in the XC2 class, while Andrew Banovsky grabbed the $100 BNR Motorsports XC2 Holeshot Award and took off for the first couple of laps. Banovsky would lead the way for the majority of the race, but he would be unable to hold off a hard-charging Thieman and Edmondson on the last lap. Banovsky would cross the line third in XC2.

Cole Lykins would come through to take the Top Amateur honors at the VP Racing Big Buck as he finished 19th overall and first in the College A (16-19) class. Talan Stout came through in 22nd overall, and second in College A (16-19) to stand second overall on the Top Amateur podium. Harrison Lindsey rounded out the Top Amateur podium as he finished 24th overall and third in the College A (16-19) class at round one.

The 4x4 Pro class would be the first class off in the AM ATV race, and it would be Kenda/KMK/Ryco Electric’s Cody Collier earning himself the $100 BNR Motorsports 4x4 Pro Holeshot Award as he made his way through the first turn. Defending 4x4 Pro Champion, Pro Row 784/TMS/Edgewood/DeRisi’s Brandon Frazier, would be close behind in second on lap one. However, Collier would continue to push himself out front and place a substantial gap over the rest of the field. As the checkered flag flew, Collier would grab the round one win, with Frazier coming through a little over a minute behind him to finish second on the day.

250 All-Star (14-17) racer, Noah Lykins, pushed himself for the duration of the race, making it all the way up to third overall in the race while also taking home his class win to start the season. Moose Racing/Full Throttle Heating & Cooling/Kenda’s Gavin Jenkins battled his way back from seventh place to finish third in the 4x4 Pro class and fourth overall on the day.

When the WXC class took off the line it was JMR/Action Off-Road/GBC/Moose Off-Road’s Katelyn Osburn grabbing the $100 BNR Motosports WXC Holeshot Award to start off the race. However, as the race continued on Kenda/Moose Racing/Teixeira Tech’s Hannah Hunter would come through with the lead on the opening lap. On the second lap of the race, defending National Champion, Elioff Racing/BNR Motorsports/GBC Tires’ Jessica Elioff would strike at the front of the pack and make the pass stick on Hunter. Elioff would hold the lead for the remainder of the race, earning the season opener win in South Carolina. Hunter would hold on to finish second in the WXC class, while Osburn rounded out the top three WXC finishers after a race long battle with Hunter.

As the Youth ATV race hit the track first thing Saturday morning, it was Kole Brandt coming through to take the first win of 2025 in the YXC1 Super Mini Sr. (13-15) and overall, in his race. Garret Cox would come through to earn second overall and in the YXC1 class while Bodie Buckhannon rounded out the top three youth ATV racers and YXC1 class finishers on the day. Jackson Hancock would come through to take first place in the YXC2 Super Mini Jr. (12-13) class with Kody Buckhannon and Kelci Stringfellow coming through second and third to round out the top three overall youth ATV racers and YXC2 class finishers.

Hayden Bettinger earned the 250 (13-15) class win, while Maverick Smith in the 250 (13-15) Limited class. JP Pickens Jr. earned the 125 (8-12) class win, Maddox Welborn took the 125 Limited (8-12) class win and Beau Collins earned the 90 (8-12) class win. Then in the Schoolgirl (12-15) class it was Jenna Berg earning the first win of the season, while Emma Edwards earned the Girls Sr. (12-15) class win. Baylee Wright took home the Girls Jr. (8-11) class win and Abigail Halterman earned the 70 CVT (6-11) class win.

In the Micro ATV race it was Audrey Petrilla taking the overall and MXC1 (8-9) class win in South Carolina. Casen Jennings would cross the second overall and in the MXC1 class, while Johnny Martin Jr. took third overall on the day and in the MXC1 class. In the MXC2 (6-8) class it was Justin Collins Jr. taking home the win, Sage Shields earned the 50 Sr. (6-7) class win at round one, while Rigston Taylor earned the 50 Jr. (4-5) class win. In the 90 Stock (8-9) it was Xander Upton taking the class win.

The Micro Bike race would see Kane Morrison take the overall win and MXC1 (8-9) class win at the season opener. Peyton Austin came through the finish to take second overall and second in the MXC1 class. Weston Ford rounded out the top three Micro Bike overall finishers and MXC1 class finishers. In the MXC2 class it would be Ryder Baricska taking the win, while Liam Jackson took second in the class followed by Dane Fernandez in third. Carson Zink took the 50 Sr. 1 (7) class win, Jackson Reinhardt took the 50 Sr. 2 (6) class win, Jacobi Duvall earned the 50 Jr. 1 (6-7) class win and Elliot Lohmiller took the 50 Jr. 2 (4-5) class win. In the Micro-E (7-8) class it was Nathan Zhang taking the win, Macklin Freeman would earn the Micro-E (4-6) class win, while Steele Crocker earned the Micro (4-6) Shaft Drive class and Joey Ford took home the Trail Rider (7-9) class win.

The Youth Bike racers would lineup to race at 4 pm on Saturday at the VP Racing Big Buck, and coming out on top was Travis Lentz who took the overall win and YXC1 Super Mini Sr. (14-15) class. Following Lentz was Cooper Duff coming through second overall in the class, while Lucas Skelton rounded out the top three overall and YXC1 class finishers. In the YXC2 Super Mini Jr. (12-13) class it was Hayden Dupuis coming through to finish first, while Ace Tokar and Hunter Hawkinberry rounded out the top three in the class.

Hunter Carey would take the 85 Big Wheel (14-15) class win and Caleb Johnson took the 85 Big Wheel (11-13) class win. Evan Porter battled through to earn the 85 (12-13) class win, Trason Landrum earned the 85 (11) class win and Cason Knecht took the 85 (7-10) class win. Ellis Austin earned the 65 (10-11) class win in South Carolina while Matthew Simoneaux earned the 65 (9) class win and Cash Knecht took the 65 (7-8) class win home. Jayden Shea earned the Girls Super Mini (12-16) season opener win, while Cassie Fairfield earned the Girls 85 (7-13) class win and Aubrey Tsakanikas earned the Girls 65 (7-11) class win. Hudson Whitmire would take the Trail Rider (7-15) class win.

The 2025 Progressive Grand National Cross Country Series presented by Specialized continues on March 1-2, with the Moose Racing Wild Boar GNCC in Palatka, Florida. To check out the full 2025 GNCC Series schedule, click HERE.