The 2020 Grand National Cross Country Series presented by Specialized, an AMA National Championship, kicked off the 26th Annual Yamaha Racing Ironman GNCC with an action-packed day of racing.
Brycen Neal (CST/Houser Racing/Waynesburg Yamaha) grabbed the All Balls Racing Holeshot Award, and never looked back.
As the green flag waved it was Neal getting off the line first and grabbing the $100 All Balls Racing XC1 Holeshot Award. Neal would lead the way as the pack headed into the woods, and when he checked into timing and scoring on the first lap, he would hold an 18 second lead. Neal would continue to push throughout the two-hour race and would ultimately lead all five laps of racing at Ironman, crossing the finish line 17.7 seconds ahead of his competition. This is Neal’s third overall win of the season.
Action Off-Road/Tely Energy Racing/Kenda’s Cole Richardson would come through to take second overall after making the pass stick from his third place start to the day.
Making his third appearance on the overall podium in the 2020 season was JMR/GBC/Elka/Moose Racing’s Jarrod McClure. After sitting fourth overall for three out of five laps, McClure would make a last lap pass to secure his overall podium position.
However, that would not come easy as his competitor, HHR/Maxxis/Fly Racing/Ithaca Recreation Sports’ Hunter Hart would continue to push him until crossing the finish line. Hart, who earned the Ironman win last season, came through 1.8 seconds behind McClure as the duo battled it out during the afternoon race.
The XC1 Pro rookie, Pierce Performance/GBC Tires/Fly Racing’s John Glauda Jr. battled to another top five finish overall and in the XC1 class. Glauda Jr. moved into fifth on the second lap of racing would not look back as he continued to push. Glauda Jr. currently sits ninth in the XC1 class with one more round of racing to go.
Phoenix Racing Honda’s Chris Borich made his way to sixth overall on the day after falling back seventh for a couple of laps. As the white flag flew Borich found himself running in seventh overall, but he could see his competition ahead. Borich would put his head down and push for the last two laps making the pass stick by the time the checkered flag was flying.
Coming through to take seventh overall was BNR Motorsports/GBC/HMF Engineering’s Joshua Merritt. Merritt would find himself battling as far up as sixth, but he would also fall back to eighth at the conclusion of lap three.
Wolfe Racing/Nine2/FTR Graphics/Ye Olde Cycle Barn’s Westley Wolfe crossed the finish line eighth overall on the day.
Devon Feehan Racing/GBC/Fly Racing’s Devon Feehan brought home the XC1 ninth place position with Covert Racing/Custom Axis/Waynesburg Yamaha’s Greg Covert rounding out the top 10 in XC1.
Austin Abney (Action Off-Road/Maxxis/Demaree Motorsports) clinched the 2020 ATV XC2 Pro-Am GNCC National Championship.
In the XC2 Pro-Am class Pirate MX Powersports/OBOR Tires’ Branden Owens making a pass for the lead after three laps of racing. After making the pass stick, Owens would continue to lead the way for the remainder of the race. Owens ultimately crossed the finish line 9.7 seconds ahead of his competition.
Even though Action Off-Road/Maxxis/Demaree Motorsports’ Austin Abney of Veedersburg came through to take second in the XC2 class, it was enough to secure the 2020 ATV XC2 Pro-Am GNCC National Championship. Abney would hold the lead for the early part of the race, but he was unable to hold off a hard-charging Owens. Abney knew what he needed to do to secure his first-ever XC2 championship and would ride smart for the remainder of the race.
LanMills XC/WFR/Magna1 Lubricants’ Drew Landers had his work cut out for him as he crossed through timing and scoring fifth on the opening lap. Lander would work his way up to third, but he would ultimately run out of time to catch the top two and try to battle for a class win.
Tre Seiffert brought home the top amateur honors after finishing 21st overall. Cory Vandelinder and Jeff Pickens rounded out the top three top amateur riders in the afternoon race with a 22nd and 23rd finish overall.
In the 10 a.m. race, OBOR/Can-Am/Derisi Racing/Action Sports’ Landon Wolfe would capture his 11th 4x4 Pro class win of the season. Wolfe was off to a great start, leading the way as the riders came through the finish line on lap one. Wolfe would continue to hold that lead for remainder of the race, crossing the finish line with a 48 second gap back to second.
Former 4x4 Pro Champion, and Indiana native, Kevin Cunningham made his way to the 26th Annual Ironman GNCC this weekend and would compete in the 4x4 Pro class. Cunningham would battle his way into second place in the class and overall at the conclusion of two-hours.
Can-Am/BNR/Kenda/Tire Blocks/HMF’s Robbie Pecorari rounded out the top three overall and 4x4 Pro class competitors. Pecorari started his day out in second on the opening lap but would battle with Cunningham on lap two. Pecorari was unable to hold off Cunningham, but as the checked flag flew Pecorari crossed the line with another overall podium finish.
In the WXC class it was once again Malaska Motorsports/HMF/Cecco Racing’s Hannah Hunter crossing the line first in the class to earn her 11th win of the season.
Fly Racing/GBC Motorsports/Yamaha Racing’s Traci Pickens came through to take second in the WXC class. She currently remains second in the points standings with one round of racing left to go.
Battling her way up to earn her first WXC podium finish of the season GMR/FTR Powersports/Derisi Racing/Tire Spine’s Sydney Sams. Sams would work her way through the pack as she crossed the finish line fourth on the first couple of laps.
As youth racing got underway at 8 a.m. it was Tyler Cox coming through to take his seventh overall and YXC1 Super Mini Sr. win of the season. Cox would battle throughout the morning with his competitor, Charlie Stewart. Stewart would hold onto second overall and in the YXC1 class. Coming through to take third overall was the YXC2 Super Mini Jr. competitor, Ty McGaughey.
Nicholas Dearing rounded out the YXC1 podium with a third in the class, and fifth overall. Tavin Cook and Bryson Lee would round out the YXC2 top three finishers with their fourth and sixth place overall finishes.
In the Bike Micro race, it was Hunter Hawkinberry earning his second-straight micro overall and MXC1 class win of the season. Hawkinberry locked up the MXC2 class championship early and made the move up to MXC1 to finish out the season. Gavin Harwell and Beau Garetson rounded out the top three overall and MXC1 class finishers at Ironman. Karson George brought home the MXC2 class win, with Kade Nightingale and Maddux Harris rounding out the top three in the class.
Coming through to take the Micro ATV overall win at Ironman was MXC1 and newly-crowned Micro Overall National Champion, Bodie Buckhannon. Ethan Berner and Kaleb Shay, both of New York, crossed the finish line second and third overall. Bryson Dickerson came through to take the MXC2 class win, followed by Hayden Bettinger and Reed Stevens.
As the Specialized Turbo eMTB Series finished up at the previous round of racing, it was announced that Ironman would hold an exhibition style race. Charlie Mullins would grab the early lead and continue to lead the way throughout all nine laps of racing. Jeff McCarren would come through to take second overall with Talon Hawk rounding out the top three overall on the day.Media: panel
