SNOWSHOE, W.Va. (June 27, 2026) – Day one of racing at the 2026 Yamaha Racing Snowshoe GNCC, Round 9 of the Progressive Grand National Cross Country (GNCC Racing) Series, an AMA National Championship, delivered exciting battles and memorable performances on the legendary slopes of Snowshoe Mountain Resort. Known as "America's Toughest Race," the iconic West Virginia venue tested riders with its rocky, technical terrain and challenging elevation changes as ATV competitors took to the course. From thrilling finishes in the pro ranks to standout performances across multiple classes, fans were treated to an action-packed opening day that set the stage for another unforgettable weekend of GNCC Racing.

Stewart Boys Racing/Kenda/Pierce Performance's Wyatt Wilkin and Phoenix Racing Yamaha's Brycen Neal put on one of the most exciting battles of the weekend as the two front-runners traded the lead throughout the Yamaha Racing Snowshoe GNCC. The pair matched each other's pace over the mountain's demanding terrain, navigating slick rocks, steep climbs, and technical trail sections while keeping the outcome of the race in doubt for much of the afternoon. Neither rider was able to gain much of an advantage through the opening laps as they pushed each other to the limit.

As the race entered its final stages, Wilkin found another gear and was able to create a small but decisive gap over Neal. Managing the closing laps with consistent speed and mistake-free riding, Wilkin crossed the finish line to capture the Snowshoe victory, while Neal secured a hard-fought runner-up finish after an impressive performance of his own. Their wheel-to-wheel battle showcased the depth of talent in the class and gave fans an unforgettable showdown at one of GNCC Racing's most iconic venues.

HHR/Fly Racing/QuadTech's Hunter Hart put together another consistent performance at Round 9 of the Progressive Grand National Cross Country (GNCC Racing) Series, earning a third-place finish at the Yamaha Racing Snowshoe GNCC. Hart remained in contention throughout the demanding race, battling through Snowshoe's rugged terrain and challenging conditions to secure a spot on the podium. His solid ride added another strong finish to his season as he rounded out the top three against a stacked XC1 Pro field.

Action Off-Road/Maxxis/Lonestar Racing’s Jay Shadron also delivered an impressive performance, earning fourth overall on the day after a steady and determined race. Shadron pushed through Snowshoe’s rugged course and maintained his pace to earn fifth overall, adding another strong result to his season.

JMR/GBC/Elka/Moose Racing’s Jarrod McClure and BNR Motorsports/Fearless/Kenda Tire’s Steven Harrell battled through the demanding conditions at the Yamaha Racing Snowshoe GNCC to finish fifth and sixth overall, respectively. Both riders overcame the technical mountain terrain and punishing course to put together consistent performances, with McClure securing fifth after a steady ride while Harrell followed closely behind in sixth. Their strong finishes added to an ultra-competitive XC1 Pro field at Round 9 of the Progressive Grand National Cross Country Racing Series.

Merritt Racing/BNR Motorsports/GBC Tire’s Joshua Merritt put together a determined ride to earn a seventh-place finish at the Yamaha Racing Snowshoe GNCC. Battling through one of the most physically demanding courses on the schedule, Merritt remained consistent throughout the race to secure another top-10 overall result. Just behind him, OBOR/Moose Racing/Parts Unlimited-backed racer Adam McGill gave the hometown crowd one final memorable performance, overcoming the challenging mountain terrain to finish eighth overall in what marked his final professional race atop the legendary "McGill Mountain." The West Virginia native received an emotional sendoff as he closed the chapter on a remarkable professional GNCC career at the event that has become synonymous with his name.

Coming through in ninth was Action Off-Road/AMSOIL/CB Racing’s Chris Borich, who once again showcased his experience at one of GNCC Racing's most iconic venues. The multi-time GNCC champion navigated the technical Snowshoe course to claim ninth overall, adding another solid finish to his impressive career. Phoenix Racing Yamaha’s Grayson Eller rounded out the top 10 XC1 Pro finishers.

Maxxis Tires/Sunoco Fuel/Fly Racing’s Braxton Grosse delivered a dominant performance in the XC2 Pro-Am class at the Yamaha Racing Snowshoe GNCC, leading from the drop of the green flag all the way to the checkered flag. Grosse quickly established himself at the front of the field and never looked back, maintaining a strong pace through Snowshoe Mountain’s rugged terrain to earn a convincing class victory. His wire-to-wire ride showcased both speed and consistency as he mastered one of the toughest courses on the Progressive Grand National Cross Country Racing Series schedule.

Behind Grosse, TDR Motorsports/Elka/ATV Four-Play’s Jeremiah Wolf put together a solid race to secure the runner-up position, while Hilltop Motorsports/Precision Trenching/Action Off-Road’s Daulton Keyes completed the podium with a hard-fought third-place finish. Both riders navigated the technical course and challenging conditions to earn valuable championship points, rounding out an impressive XC2 Pro-Am podium at Round 9 of the GNCC Racing season.

Andrew Smallwood would stand on top of the Top Amateur podium as he finished 12^th in the race, and first in College A 16-19. Bryce Pullen would come through to finish 15^th overall to take second on the Top Amateur podium and in the College A 16-19 class. Rounding out the top three Top Amateur finishers was Tylor Griffith as he came through 19^th overall and first in the Vet A 28+ class.

Pro Row 784/Victory Golf Cart’s Brandon Frazier continued his perfect 4x4 Pro season at the Yamaha Racing Snowshoe GNCC, capturing his ninth-straight class win of the year. Frazier once again set the pace in the demanding morning race, navigating Snowshoe’s rugged mountain terrain and technical sections to keep his winning streak alive. His consistency and control throughout the season have made him the rider to beat in the 4x4 Pro class.

Behind Frazier, Black Oak Contracting/Osburn Off-Road/Pro Concept Plumbing’s Dayton Hickey put together a strong ride to finish second in the class, while DeRisi Racing/GBC Tires/Spider Graphic’s Dylan Walraven rounded out the 4x4 Pro podium in third. Both Hickey and Walraven battled through the challenging conditions to secure top-three finishes at one of the toughest rounds of the GNCC Racing season.

The WXC ATV class saw some great battles throughout the AM ATV race at Snowshoe Mountain Resort. Elioff Racing/BNR Motorsports/GBC Tire’s Jessica Elioff would come out on top after two-hours of intense racing. Coming through in second after making a last lap push was Pierce Performance/Moose Racing/Lonestar’s Chloe Harper as she continues to hold the points lead heading into the GNCC summer break. Rounding out the top three WXC finishers was Stewart Boys Racing/Kenda/Action Off-Road’s Andrea Rodgers as she pushed her way through land on the podium at round nine.

In the Youth ATV race it was Jackson Hancock battling throughout the mountain terrain to grab his seventh YXC1 Super Mini Sr. (13-15) class of the season. Hancock would hold the lead from start to finish in the youth ranks as Bodie Buckhannon and Jacob Smallwood would continue to push behind him to finish second and third at the ninth round of the 2026 Progressive GNCC Racing Series.

The YXC2 Super Mini Jr. (12-13) class saw Bryson Stringfellow earn the class win while JP Pickens Jr and Bryson Dickerson rounded out the top three finishers of the class. In the 250 (13-15) class it was Gunnar Claypool taking the win, while Mason Lessard earned the 250 (13-15) Limited class win. Then in the 125 (8-12) class it was Brody Dolan crossing the line first to take the class win, with Layne Hendershot earning the 125 (8-12) Limited class win. Ryder Tenney would come through first in the 90 (8-12) class in West Virginia. Raelynn Dickerson earned the Schoolgirl (12-15) class win, with Aubree Nicholson taking the Girls Sr. (12-15) class win and Kynlee Bowman earning the Girls Jr. (8-11) class win at round nine. In the 70 (6-11) class it was Gavin Sowers taking the win.

Progressive eMTB GNC National Championship raced its third round of racing on Friday, June 26 where an intense battle ensued throughout the duration of the race between XC1 Pro competitors, Pro Bike Pittsburgh Cody Pivirotto and Specialized/Gear Bicycle Sale’s Charlie Mullins. Pivirotto would hold onto the lead position for the totality of the race, earning his first win of the season – exactly where he got his first win just last year atop Snowshoe Mountain. Hayden Dillon would round out third in the XC1 Pro class. In the XC2 Pro Sport class it was Karder Demidovich earning the class win, with Brad Stone and Rhett Haught coming through to earn second and third in the class. Ashley Hendershot kept her win streak alive with her third-straight Women’s eMTB class win of the season. Cooper Stickley would come through to take another Amateur (13+) class win, Dirk Decesare brought home the Senior (40+) class win, while Jon Agin earned the Masters (55+) class win. Dustin Hendershot would battle through to earn the Big Bore (200lb+) class win at Snowshoe, while Amber Boland remains undefeated in the Women (35+) class after earning her third-straight class win of the season. Phillip Sollon Jr. took home the Youth (8-12) class win and David Brown earned the Sportsman class win.

For more information on the GNCC series, visit the official website at www.gnccracing.com or call (304) 284-0084. Join the conversation on the series Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and be sure to always hashtag #GNCC.   

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