GNCC Racing: Let’s begin where it all started. When did you start riding? What was your first bike/ATV? When did you start racing? What was your first GNCC?

Hailey Blanton: Around 13 years old, my parents went and got me a KX65 after I showed interest of my stepdad’s racing career, Corey Blanton. I never really got to ride or take anything serious, and if I was riding, it was a weekend trip to local races, which I had started racing on a CRF150RB after selling the KX65 around the end of 2022. My first GNCC was Big Buck 2023.

You currently have the points lead in the Women’s Bike Class. How does that motivate you going into the rest of the season, and do you feel any extra pressure with that lead?

Although I'm stoked to have the lead, I try to not let that affect my confidence or ego understanding it could change. But it definitely continues to push me more and more to become better and especially on days I feel as if I don't need to put in work. I remember how much I put into myself in off season to get where I’m at.

You’ve won at Talladega so far this season. Tell us about that win and how it felt to win at such an iconic venue.

Definitely going into Talladega I wasn't the most excited about the rain because day prior, I saw how much everyone loved the track, and it being a newer track nobody knows what exactly we are going into.I had a few fall backs for sure, but I tried to just put my head down and push.

Each track brings something different. Which type of course do you feel most confident racing on, and why?

Since I’m locally from the Carolinas, I love racing the tighter and rooted woods, alot of what I get to practice on, however based on past results; big Buck and Talledega, I’m starting to come around with mud races, they definitely are exhausting butIget an entirely different perspective and mindset out alone, caked in mud, that just pushes me to not only finish but be happy of my result on the way back home.

Is winning the Women’s Class Championship the ultimate goal this year, or are there any other goals you’re trying to accomplish in racing this year?

I feel that before 2025, I didn't ever really get the grasp of GNCC, I only raced a few prior years and was mostly a local racer. Winning the class is always my ultimate goal, yet coming into this year, full first year of GNCC, I was looking to just improve my riding in general, watching and riding with higher competition is always helpful for improvement. Coming home from the past weekend of racing, changing and learning something to make yourself better, and that's still my mindset.

What’s your favorite thing about racing dirt bikes?

My favorite thing has to be the constant adrenaline rush, not knowing what could happen, and always pushing to be the “best.” It's a never ending cycle of what could I do better. I also love the community, everyone loves the same thing as I do, and everyone has the goal of winning, along with having fun.

What does being a woman in a male-dominated sport like dirt bike racing mean to you?

When I had originally started, it had affected me a lot thinking I’d never be like a lot of these guys I race with just because they are naturally stronger. Yet now it really doesn’t affect me at all, as long as I'm content with myself and my riding abilities, I try to not compare myself to other riders yet compare myself to how much I've grown even just in the past few months. Some of the guys I used to compare myself to or look up to, I'm starting to be the one catching up to or beating them.

Are there any female riders you’ve looked up to or who have inspired you in your racing journey?

Rachel Gutish, she's open to race what looks like anything, constantly traveling to new races, and good with change. She's able to adapt to different conditions fast and always places up top. She's also super friendly off the track, always smiling and looks just happy to be at the track, not as a job but as something she enjoys, and that's exactly how I want to be and continue to become.

As a female racer, what advice would you give any younger girls looking to get into racing?

Don’t listen to others who attempt to put you down, and don't let anybody tell you that you don’t need that cc or new bike, don’t need to be on the track, or don’t need to be racing in the boys' class. There will always be people trying to put you down to pull themselves higher. Don't let them affect your mindset.

Enough about racing! When you’re not at the track or training, what do you like to do for fun?

Definitely when I'm not at the track on the off weekends, I'm out shopping or out hanging with friends. Especially around summertime, I’m always at the lake or out tanning.