GNCC Racing Round 5 2019 Race Report

Walker Fowler Earns 49th Overall ATV Win
at Yamaha Racing X-Factor Whitetails GNCC
John Glauda Jr. Continues XC2 Win Streak

PERU, Ind. (May 5, 2019) – Muddy conditions greeted the 2019 AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Series presented by Specialized, an AMA National Championship in Peru, Indiana. WFR/GBC/Fly Racing/Yamaha’s Walker Fowler was crowned as the 3^rd Annual Yamaha Racing X-Factor Whitetails GNCC overall ATV winner.

Fowler jumped out to the early lead grabbing the $250 Wiseco XC1 holeshot to start off his day. As the pack made their way to the finish, it would be Fowler leading the way during the opening lap with three riders hot on his heels. As the race wore on, Fowler would find himself in the second place position as the white flag came out on lap three. Fowler put his head down and pushed, making a last lap pass to claim the overall victory. This is Fowler’s first win at the X-Factor Whitetails hunting ranch and his 49^th overall career ATV win, tying Barry Hawk Jr. in third on the ATV overall wins list.

Walker Fowler (center) earned the Yamaha Racing X-Factor Whitetails GNCC win.

LanMills XC/CST Tires/Houser’s Brycen Neal his second podium finish of the season after battling at the front of the pack the entire race. Neal would make the pass for the lead on the second lap, and find himself out front for majority of the race. However, Fowler was on the prowl and would take over the lead on the final lap. Neal would hold on for second overall, coming through the finish 4.58 seconds behind Fowler.

Rounding out the overall podium in third was Maxxis/Fly Racing/Ye Olde Cycle Barn’s Chris Borich. Throughout the two-hour race, Borich would find himself engaging in some heated battles. From battling for second on the opening lap, to pushing himself back into third after falling back to fourth, Borich continued to push for the duration of the race.

After leading part of the race, Brycen Neal earned second overall in Indiana.

JMR/Maxxis/Elka/Moose Racing’s Jarrod McClure made a last lap pass for fourth overall after running in the fifth place position for majority of the day in Indiana. McClure managed to hold off fifth overall as they came around on the final lap with just seconds separating them. McClure currently sits sixth in the points standings as the series heads to Ohio for The Wiseco John Penton on May 18.

Finishing fifth overall was Yamaha/AmPro/Action Offroad/GBC’s Cole Richardson. After running fourth overall, Richardson would find himself in a battle with McClure on the last lap. However, McClure would make his move and the duo would continue to battle as they headed towards the finish line. McClure would make the pass stick as Richardson came through timing and scoring 1.14 seconds behind him.

Chris Borich battled throughout the race, coming away with third overall.

Ryland Johnson Racing/GBC Motorsports/Ye Olde Cycle Barn’s Westley Wolfe put in another good ride this weekend, finishing sixth overall. Wolfe steadily worked his way through the pack during the duration of the race, as he started out in the eighth place position. By the time the white flag flew Wolfe had worked his way to seventh, and was pushing to make a move for one more position before the finish. Wolfe would make the pass, and continue to hold onto sixth just 2.29 seconds ahead of seventh.

This weekend BNR Motorsports/GBC Motorsports/HMF Racing’s Josh Merritt had his best finish thus far in the season. Merritt came through seventh overall after working his way up from ninth at the beginning of the race. M.R. Unlimited/GBC Tires/RJR’s Devon Feehan returned to racing after suffering an injury that kept it out of the competition during the past two rounds. Feehan would hold on for an eighth overall.

OBOR/Moose Racing/Parts Unlimited/McGill Mafia’s Adam McGill did not have the day he was hoping for, but he held on for a top 10 overall finish as he came around on the final lap in ninth. GBC/Fly Racing/HMF/Yamaha’s Johnny Gallagher rounded out the top 10 overall after a consistent day of racing.

John Glauda Jr. (center) earned his fifth-straight XC2 Pro-Am win, followed by Matt Blankenship (left) and Tanner Walker (right).

In the XC2 Pro-Am class it was once again, Pierce Performance/Maxxis/Waynesburg Yamaha’s John Glauda Jr. taking the win and earning 11^th overall. Glauda would have his work cut out for him as he came through timing and scoring in the sixth position on lap one. However, it would take too long for Glauda to make the necessary passes and move himself into the lead. BNR Motorsports’ Matthew Blankenship worked his way through the pack to earn second in XC2, his first podium of the season. Another new face on the podium was Cumberland Cycles/Nine2 Technologies Tanner Walker who rounded out the podium in third.

At the conclusion of the 10 a.m. race it was Can-Am/OBOR Tires/Derisi Racing’s Landon Wolfe taking his fifth-straight victory. Wolfe would have to work his way up from a fifth place start, making the pass for the lead just before the white flag was drawn. Coming up behind Wolfe was BNR Motorsports/Can-Am/GBC Tires’ Robert Smith making the crucial passes he needed to get onto the podium. Smith would come through second overall. Derisi Racing/Cometic Gasket/Savage Designs’ Robbie Pecorari rounded out the top three overall and in the 4×4 Pro class. Earning his first Schoolboy Sr. class win and finishing 16^th overall in the morning ATV race was Pierce Performance/Moose Racing/Greg’s ATV & Cycle’s Colton Buck.

Angel Knox (center), Megan Shepherd (left) and Jaida Phillips (right) rounded out the WXC top three.

In the WXC class it was Honda-backed rider Angel Knox taking the win at her first race of the season. Stewart Boys Racing’s Megan Shepherd made her way through the pack after a mid-pack start to earn second in the class. Yamaha-backed rider Jaida Phillips made her way onto the WXC podium with a third in the class. Points leader, GBC Motorsports/Yamaha/Fly Racing’s Traci Pickens was leading the class until the third lap where she came through timing and scoring seventh overall, and ultimately was unable to finish the race.

Damien Hawkins led the way once again the 8 a.m. youth race, earning his fourth-straight youth overall and YXC1 Super Mini Sr. (13-15) class win. Hawkins is also leading the points standings for his class, just 5 ahead of second place. Indiana native, Paxton Dickerson came through second overall and in the YXC1 class followed by Parker Henderson rounding out the top three. Charlie Stewart earned his fifth consecutive YXC2 Super Mini Jr. (12-13) class win, and continues to lead the points standings by 24 over second. Nicholas Dearing and Kaden Lambruno rounded out the top three.

Damien Hawkins (center), Paxton Dickerson (left) and Parker Henderson (right) made up the youth overall podium at the conclusion of the 8 a.m. youth ATV race.

Another Indiana native, Caden Spires took home the 125 Sr. (12-15) class win, with Andrea Rodgers earning another Girls (8-15) class win. Indiana riders were ready to battle this weekend, as the 125 Jr. (8-11) class saw a new winner this weekend with Brody Pullen, who hails from Morgantown, Indiana, taking the victory. Followed by two more Indiana riders, Levi Burkemper (90cc 8-12) and Bryce Pullen (90 Limited 8-12).

X-Factor Whitetails of Indiana is a privately owned and operated hunting ranch that offers guided hunts for groups of all sizes. The Indiana preserve has over 1,200 acres with one of the most beautiful lodges in the country. If you are looking for a challenging whitetail hunt for some of the biggest deer in the country, you have found the right place. To find out more about the X-Factor Whitetails Hunting Ranch click HERE.

Walker Fowler jumped out to the early lead grabbing the Wiseco XC1 holeshot award.

The 2 p.m. ATV Pro race was broadcast LIVE in its entirety on RacerTV.com and can be viewed as archived video online by visiting the GNCC LIVE page online. A highlight show featuring the event will air on NBC Sports Network on Sunday, July 14 at 1:00 p.m.

The 2019 GNCC Series returns on May 18 and 19, with The Wiseco John Penton GNCC in Millfield, Ohio.

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.

Facebook: @gnccracing
Instagram: @gncc_racing
Twitter: @gnccracing
YouTube: @racertv

Yamaha Racing X-Factor Whitetails
Peru, Indiana
Round 5 of 13
Saturday, May 4, 2019

XC1 Pro Event Results:

Walker Fowler (YAM)
Brycen Neal (HON)
Chris Borich (SUZ)
Jarrod McClure (HON)
Cole Richardson (YAM)
Westley Wolfe (SUZ)
Joshua Merritt (YAM)
Devon Feehan (HON)
Adam McGill (HON)
Johnny Gallagher (YAM)

*Overall National Championship Standings:

Walker Fowler (145)
Chris Borich (109)
Adam McGill (88)
Brycen Neal (87)
Cole Richardson (77)
Jarrod McClure (75)
Westley Wolfe (62)
Hunter Hart (59)
Johnny Gallagher (59)
John Glauda Jr. (58)

*Indicates that the Overall National Championship Standings will determine the 2019 National Champion.

XC2 Pro-Am Event Results:

John Glauda Jr. (YAM)
Matthew Blankenship (YAM)
Tanner Walker (YAM)
Ronnie Rusch (YAM)
Brody Livengood (YAM)
Matthew Lindle (HON)
Jordon Poplaski (YAM)
Ben Kowalewski (HON)
Steven Covert (YAM)
Wyatt Wilkin (HON)

XC2 Pro-Am Series Standings:

John Glauda Jr. (150)
Drew Landers (105)
Jordon Poplaski (94)
Ben Kowalewski (85)
Tanner Walker (81)
Matthew Lindle (69)
Wyatt Wilkin (64)
Matthew Blankenship (63)
Ronnie Rusch (59)
Steven Covert (48)

About GNCC Racing

The AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Series presented by Specialized is America’s premier off-road racing series. Founded in 1975, the 13-round championship is produced exclusively by Racer Productions. Cross-country racing is one of the most physically demanding sports in the world. The grueling three-hour GNCC races lead as many as 2,400 riders through tracks ranging in length from eight to 12 miles. With varied terrain, including hills, woods, mud, dirt, rocks, and motocross sections, GNCC events are tests of both survival and speed. The series draws talent from all over the U.S., Central America, South America, Europe, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. GNCC Racing is televised weekly on NBC Sports and RacerTV.com. For more information, please visit www.gnccracing.com.

How to Watch

Racer TV and NBC Sports Network (NBCSN) are the official homes for coverage of the AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) events. All 13 rounds, from the season opening Big Buck GNCC in South Carolina to the finale at Ironman Raceway in Indiana, will air in 30-minute, taped-delayed telecasts on NBCSN, while Racer TV provides live streaming coverage of the 1 p.m. ATV and motorcycle races from each event. Catch all the action at http://www.nbcsports.com/ and http://www.racertv.com/.

About the American Motorcyclist Association

Founded in 1924, the AMA is a not-for-profit member-based association whose mission is to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. As the world’s largest motorcycling rights and event sanctioning organization, the AMA advocates for riders’ interests at all levels of government and sanctions thousands of competition and recreational events every year. The AMA also provides money-saving discounts on products and services for its members. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, the AMA honors the heroes and heritage of motorcycling. For more information, visit www.americanmotorcyclist.com. Not a member? Join the AMA today: www.americanmotorcyclist.com/membership/join.

Tags: 2019, gncc, race report, results, round 5