MILLFIELD, Ohio (September 30, 2026) – The Progressive Grand National Cross Country (GNCC Racing) Series, an AMA National Championship, returned from its summer break this past weekend, September 18–20, with the Wiseco John Penton GNCC in Millfield, Ohio. Slick and muddy conditions challenged competitors throughout the weekend before a storm rolled through Saturday night, bringing even more rain to the already saturated course. On-and-off rain continued throughout Sunday, creating even harsher conditions for the Bike racers as they battled through the legendary Ohio terrain in the opening round of GNCC’s fall stretch.

Ohio’s own Jessica Elioff grabbed the BNR Racing holeshot on her Elioff Racing/BNR Motorsports/GBC Tires machine and didn’t look back. Elioff didn’t look back, managing her lead over second place to take home her fourth win of the 2027 season and stay in the points battle. 

Pierce Performance/Moose Racing/Lonestar’s Chloe Harper tried to keep the pressure on Elioff throughout the race but couldn’t close the gap. Harper would find herself comfortably in second, with a gap over Fearless/Teixeira Tech/BNR Motorsports’ Hannah Hunter in third.

After spending nearly the entire summer break off the quad while recovering from a broken back, Hunter made an impressive return to racing, battling through the challenging conditions to earn the final spot on the WXC podium.

BNR Motorsports/Kenda/Lonestar's Avery Collins and Stewart Boys Racing/Action Off-Road/Notman Motorsports’ Andrea Rodgers rounded out the top five in the WXC class. Collins worked her way into fourth by the third lap and held the position through the finish, while Rodgers followed close behind to finish fifth.

In the Women's class, Courtny Crump returned to the top of the podium after an injury during round 8 sidelined her for round nine. Alyssa Rodgers climbed from fourth on lap one to finish the day with a second. After leading the first two laps, Gracie Wolfe dropped back into third to round out the podium in the class. 

In the Women (25+) class, Ciara Shadron took an early lead and never looked back, leading all four laps to win. Jala Mace would finish second, while Sarah Parkhurst rounded out the top three.

In the Women C class, Jenna Berg carried the momentum from her Snowshoe win, moved into the lead on lap two, and held on to earn another class victory. Lakah Carr kept the pressure on, finishing just six seconds behind Berg in second, while Camy Crump worked her way from sixth on the opening lap to round out the podium in third.

In the Youth ATV race, the Schoolgirl class saw a battle at the front, with Raelynn Dickerson leading early before Emma Edwards took over the top spot on lap two. Edwards continued to lead through lap three, but Dickerson would regain the advantage on the final lap to earn the class win. Lydia Arnold came through second, while Edwards was credited with third.

In the Girls Sr. class, Aubree Nicholson led from start to finish, holding the top spot through all three laps to earn the class win. Moon Savage made a late move into second on the final lap, while Kaydence Wiggins rounded out the podium in third.

Kartyr Phillips controlled the race from start to finish in the Girls Jr. class, leading all three laps to take the win. Baylee Wright worked her way forward from fourth on the opening lap to finish second, while Audrey Petrilla rounded out the podium in third.

Shifting gears to Sunday’s WXC Bike race, conditions would only get tougher after Saturday night’s storm and continued rain throughout the day. With an already challenging John Penton course becoming even more demanding, the WXC riders lined up ready to battle through the mud for valuable championship points.

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Korie Steede put on quite a show in the WXC race, taking control early and leading the class from start to finish. As the rain continued and the course deteriorated, Steede battled through increasingly difficult conditions while holding off FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Brandy Richards. The two separated themselves from the rest of the field as the conditions took their toll, with Richards continuing to close the gap late in the race. Steede would ultimately hold on to earn the WXC win, crossing the finish just 21 seconds ahead of Richards.

Behind the lead duo, the deteriorating course turned into a battle of survival. Am Pro Yamaha’s Danielle McDonald worked her way into third to earn the final spot on the WXC podium, while Shriver’s Pharmacy/Formation Cementing/Bi Con Winland’s Landscaping’s Ellie Winland came through fourth and Chopper Automotive’s Carly Lee rounded out the top five. 

In the Women’s class, Megan Janyssek battled her way through the challenging conditions to earn her seventh win of the season. After sitting fourth on the opening lap, Janyssek continued to work her way through the field, moving into third on lap two before taking over the lead on the final lap. Kyleigh Fridley would cross the finish in second, while Madison Harmon rounded out the podium in third.

In the Women (30+) class, Dayna Bergman battled through the difficult conditions to earn the class win, completing one lap of the grueling John Penton course. Malee Cottrill battled through two laps of the treacherous course to win the Women’s C class. Pita Andonopoulos finished second, while Zola Andonopoulos rounded out the podium in third. 

In the Youth Bike Race, the Girls Super Mini class saw a battle for the lead, with Cassie Fairfield out front early before Vaida Lavergne took over on lap two. Lavergne held the lead through lap three, but Fairfield made her move on the final lap to reclaim the top spot and win the class. Baylee Arsenault worked her way up from fourth to finish second, while Lavergne rounded out the podium in third.

In the Girls 85 class, Maura Tsakanikas led from start to finish, holding the top spot through all three laps to earn the class win. Brynn Lent battled through the tough conditions to finish second, while Kaylee Burford rounded out the podium in third.

The Girls 65 class saw Matilda Revoyr lead early before Jhorjie Walker took over the top spot on lap two. Revoyr regained the lead on the final lap to take the win, while Walker finished second and Emerson Lent rounded out the podium in third. With the victory, Revoyr now sits just one point behind Walker in the championship standings heading into the final rounds of the season.

In the Girls (6-9) Micro Bike class, Rylee Huff led the first two laps before Codie Mae Lloyd moved into the top spot on lap three. Lloyd held the lead through the final lap to earn the class win, with Huff finishing second and Nora Greathouse rounding out the podium in third.

Friday’s late afternoon eMTB race saw Nicole Rupert grabbing the early lead in the Women’s class, but Ashley Hendershot would make her way to the front on lap two. Once out front, Hendershot held onto the top spot through the final lap to earn the class win. Samantha Sollon finished second, while Rupert rounded out the podium in third.

With a challenging weekend at The John Penton in the books, the women of GNCC will now turn their attention to the Parts Unlimited Mason-Dixon GNCC in Mt. Morris, Pennsylvania, on October 2-4. The weekend will also feature an eMTB doubleheader, giving racers two opportunities to compete as the 2026 season enters its final stretch.

The WXC Bike race at the Parts Unlimited Mason-Dixon will be non-points-paying as several racers head overseas to compete in the FIM International Six Days Enduro (ISDE). GNCC Racing Nation wishes all of the racers representing their respective countries the best of luck as they take on Six Days!

In other international racing news, several familiar faces took their racing overseas during the GNCC summer break to compete at the 72 Hours of Pont-de-Vaux in France. Chloe Harper, Jessica Elioff, and Avery Collins represented Team USA, earning an impressive third-place finish in the women’s division and 22nd overall before returning stateside for the fall stretch of GNCC racing. GNCC Racing Nation congratulates Harper, Elioff, and Collins on their amazing performance representing Team USA overseas!