UNION, S.C. (February 25, 2026) – The 2026 season kicked off at the VP Racing Fuels Big Buck GNCC, where the women racers wasted no time showcasing the results of their offseason preparation. Held in Union, South Carolina, the opening round of the Progressive Insurance Grand National Cross Country (GNCC Racing) Series, an AMA National Championship, set the stage for an intense start to the 2026 championship season. 

The weekend delivered two very different racing environments: Saturday provided near-perfect conditions, while Sunday’s steady downpour turned the course into a slick, demanding test of skill and endurance. From sunshine to rain, the women’s classes began the season with intensity and momentum, setting the tone for the season ahead. 

The season kicked off with the WXC ATV race on Saturday morning, where defending champion Pierce Performance/Moose Racing/Lonestar’s Chloe Harper would show why she is the reigning champion. Harper would take the early lead and hold onto it for the rest of the race, winning the class by over three minutes. However, behind her, the race wouldn’t be as steady. 

Stewart Boys Racing/Kenda/Action Off-Road’s Andrea Rodgers would come in second on the first 2 laps and remained in the top four battle for the majority of the race before a mechanical issue ultimately ended her day.

Fearless/Teixeira Tech/BNR’s Hannah Hunter steadily worked her way forward from fourth place on the opening lap, engaging in a battle with BNR/Kenda/Lonstar’s Avery Collins. Hunter, Collins, and Rodgers traded positions throughout the race as the trio fought for the second and third-place podium spots. 

Hunter would fight her way to take second place on the day, while Collins would round out the podium with a third. Elioff Racing/BNR Motorsports/GBC Tires’ Jessica Elioff would battle her way up from twelfth to finish fourth in the class on the day.  

Benny D’s On & Offroad/WPS/Fly Racing’s Amie Dunlap would take fifth in the class to round out the top five.  

In the Women’s class, Courtny Crump would take the first win of the season by 38 seconds over Caidyn Stringfellow, who would make up two minutes on Crump on the last lap. Kate Raubenstrauch rounded out the podium in the class with a third. 

Nikki Howard took a dominant win in the Women 25+ class to start out the 2026 racing season. Sarah Parkhurst and Mahala Rich finished out the podium with a second and a third. 

Lakah Carr charged forward from a sixth-place position on the opening lap to secure the Women C class victory, marking an impressive debut in the division after moving up from the youth ranks last season. Ella Shriver would ride a consistent race to finish second on the day, and Emma Howell would finish third. 

In the Youth Quad race, Lydia Arnold would be the only racer to get 5 laps in the Schoolgirl (12-15) class to take the first victory of the season. Emma Edwards and Khloe Oliver would round out the podium with a second and a third-place finish.

Aubree Nicholson battled her way up from second place on the first lap to take a dominant win in the Girls Sr class, winning by over three minutes. Abbey Puffenbarger finished second, and Moon Savage rounded out the podium in the class. 

In the Girls Jr. class, Kartyr Phillips secured the victory, crossing the line over five minutes ahead of her competition. Audrey Petrilla would take second on the day, and Baylee Wright would finish out the podium with a third.

After the ATV races wrapped up, the attention turned to the Women’s bike divisions as the two-wheel competitors took to the course. The AM Bike races encountered drastically different conditions on Sunday as pouring rain moved into the area.  

What began as a fast-flowing layout soon turned into a true test of patience and endurance, rewarding those who could remain consistent in the slick conditions. As the course conditions deteriorated throughout the day, deep ruts and standing water forced the riders to adapt their lines and carefully manage throttle control from start to finish.

On the opening lap, defending champion Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Korie Steede would come through scoring first with Am Pro Yamaha’s Danielle McDonald hot on her tail. FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Brandy Richards would come through third, just 19 seconds behind McDonald. 

Steede, McDonald, and Richards swapped positions lap after lap, creating an exciting battle to start the 2026 season.  

McDonald ultimately made the decisive passes on the final lap of the race to take the checkered flag first and build a 25-second gap over second place. The victory also marked her first career WXC class win. 

Richards finished second on the day, while Steede rounded out the podium in third. Shriver’s Pharmacy/Formation Cementing/Bi Con Winland’s Landscaping’s Ellie Winland and Wayne’s Cycle/FXR/Factory Connection’s Lilley Sheets completed the top five with fourth- and fifth-place finishes, respectively.

In the Women’s class, Megan Janyssek charged her way up from fourth to take the first win of the season. Behind her, Mattie Sims followed with a second-place finish, while Zoey Kimble secured third.

Cindy Carpenter was the only racer to do 3 laps in the Women 30+ class, securing the class win. Amber Aubain finished second on the day while Minnie Hansen rounded out the podium in third. 

In the Women C class, Elle Richardson earned a dominant victory, finishing more than 17 minutes ahead of her competitors. Emily Nooyen rode a consistent race to take second on the day, and Pita Andonopoulos completed the podium in third. 

In the Youth bike race, which was held Saturday due to the modified schedule, Vaida Lavergne captured the Girls Super Mini class win, finishing more than a minute ahead of second place. Ky Pollak secured second on the day, while Isla Kastel rounded out the podium in third. 

Aubrey Tsakanikas took a dominant win in the Girls 85 class, finishing over four minutes ahead of the field. Maura Tsakanikas rode a consistent race to secure second, and Elleni Cadieux battled her way up from fifth to claim the final podium position. 

In the Girls 65 class, Jhorjie Walker was the only rider to get 5 laps, securing the first win of the season. Matilda Revoyr rode a consistent race to take home second in the class, while Gemmini Cadieux rounded out the podium in third.

Big Buck also marked the inception of the Girls (6-9) class in the Micro Bike race. Rylee Huff led every lap to capture the first win of the season in the new class. Codie Mae Lloyd finished second on the day, while Adalynn Fisher secured third. The class featured 12 racers, highlighting the growing future of women’s racing in GNCC. 

Rain or shine, the women and girls of GNCC Racing always show up and show out and tackle the ever-changing conditions of the VP Racing Fuels Big Buck. From seasoned veterans to first-time class winners and rising youth competitors, the opening round showcased the depth, determination, and continued growth of women’s off-road racing.  

A combined 133 riders lined up across the women’s and girls’ divisions, marking an impressive start to the 2026 season.