GNCC Racing: Let’s go back to the beginning. When did you first start riding? What was your first bike or ATV? When did you decide to start racing, and what was your first GNCC race?

Chase Landers: I first started riding a dirt bike at a young age, though my first GNCC was on a KTM 50 at the River Ranch in 2012! Though growing up in the youth ranks, I raced both bikes and quads.

Last year, you were the 4 Stroke A Lites Champion. Did winning that championship give you some confidence in moving up to the 250A class this year? What has been your biggest adjustment or challenge so far in the class?

Yeah, for sure! It definitely helped out. At the end of 2024 I felt my riding was progressing and I was able to put a couple races together where I would be really close or beat some of the 250A riders from A-Lites, so that helped prove to myself I belong there. The biggest adjustment for me I feel is there’s no letting up, there are a lot of riders in the class that are capable of being on the podium, so everyone is fighting for position the whole race.

You won your first top amateur with an 8th overall finish at Talladega. How did it feel to accomplish that?

Talladega was surreal! That has been a dream of mine for a long time to be on an Amateur Overall Podium, let alone win! As well as the 8th overall, coming with it was icing on the cake, it’s not often you see A class riders break the top 10.

You also got top amateur at Powerline Park this year. Both Talladega and Powerline were pretty muddy races. Do you consider yourself to be a mud rider? What do you think makes you excel in these conditions?

I don’t necessarily consider myself a mud rider, though I may need to start! I enjoy when the conditions on race day are physical and tough for everyone, it separates the men from the boys when things get tough. Growing up I raced a lot of local MSXC events which seems to always be muddy, as well as have spent lots of time riding technical terrain through the years as well as a couple Hard Enduro events. Competing in those events along with being tough in the conditions all help out!

The FMF KTM Factory Racing Landers team is packed with talent this year. You, Grant Davis, Cooper Jones, and Gus Riordan all bring a high level of competition. What’s it like being part of such a strong program, and how do you and your teammates push each other to keep improving?

It’s really cool to be a part of a program of this caliber, it definitely helps take pieces of the race weekend stress away knowing everyone around you under the tent has your back. Everyone helps each other out here and there whether it’s talks about the track or bike setup, but at the end of the day we’re still competing against each other as well.

What has training looked like for you throughout this past off-season and this year so far?

I spent the winter in Florida with my long time trainer Jacob Fetty, along with some other big names, such as Jordan Ashburn and Mike Witowski. It was an action packed off season which made it fly by, but it’s cool to watch how things unfold when you're able to surround yourself with people who have similar goals as yourself and get to push each other day in and day out. Training now during the season is pretty basic, as we are racing every other weekend, or like myself, sometimes every weekend. Most time is spent recovering.

What are your long-term career goals for racing?

It’s really easy for everyone to just say, they want to be a pro. Which is true, but the real goal for myself is to keep focusing on me, reach the level it takes to be a pro racer, and keep the longevity of making it a career and racing for many more years to come!

What do you like to do for fun when you're not racing or training?

Mainly just be around the people I enjoy spending time with as well as finding coffee shops when I’m away from home, haha! Actually, opening my own in the next couple weeks named “Coffee House”. So, it will be ready for the Old Gray GNCC in 2026!