Race Recap – GNCC Steele Creek

MORGANTON, N.C. (April 9, 2017) – The fourth round of the 2017 AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Series presented by Maxxis, an AMA National Championship, took place today, April 9, at the scenic Steele Creek Campground in Morganton, North Carolina, with the 18th Annual FMF Steele Creek GNCC. With a mix of sun and warm temperatures the groundwork was laid for one of the best races thus far in the season. At the end of the grueling three-hour race it was FMF/KTM Factory Racing’s Kailub Russell who claimed the overall win.

As the green flag dropped it was Rockstar Energy/Factory Husqvarna Racing’s Josh Strang who headed into the woods first earning himself the $250 All Balls Racing Holeshot Award. Strang felt immediate pressure from Russell who was on his back tire as they headed into the woods.

Russell made quick work on the open trail and took over the lead before the shortened first lap was complete, with Rockstar Energy/Factory Husqvarna Racing’s Thad Duvall and FMF/KTM Factory Racing’s Russell Bobbitt in third. With a quick check over his shoulder, Russell lead the way through timing and scoring for the first time.

JCR Honda’s Trevor Bollinger got off to a top-five start at his home race, and made quick work to pass for fourth and set his eyes on closing the gap for a podium position early on. Coastal Racing/Husqvarna’s Ryan Sipes wasn’t ready to hand over the position where he raced wheel-to-wheel with Bollinger. The duo had a rather large gap on SRT/KTM’s Steward Baylor who was in fifth. Much like the previous round, Baylor challenged himself and charged through the pack and began gaining valuable time and positions.

Russell came in contact with a banner midway through the race, but the conflict wasn’t enough for Duvall to be able to make the pass. It wouldn’t be until pit strategies came into place that a change-up in the lead would occur. Both Russell and Duvall elected to pit on the same lap, but Duvall’s pit was just a bit quicker than Russell. Russell pulled back onto Pro Row as Duvall squeezed by to take command of the lead. Duvall’s success quickly came to an end when Russell took back the first-place position as they re-entered the woods.

The mid-way point of the race also served as the turning point for Baylor’s race where he focused in on Bollinger in third. The two riders swapped the final podium position multiple times, until Baylor was finally able to take if for good on the fifth lap.

It wouldn’t be until the last lap when Russell had a little bit of breathing room, much like Russell, Baylor also found himself with a small gap over Bollinger. As they raced to the finish line, Russell would earn his third win of the season, with Duvall and Baylor rounding out the overall podium. Bollinger made a last minute strive, but finished just off the overall podium in fourth.

“It was a tough day out there, it wasn’t what I was expecting,” said Russell. “I thought the track would have more moisture. In some places you would have good traction, and other places it would just go away. I laid down a good pace on the first lap and Thad hung on there all the way to the end.”

Strang oppressed his ankle injury and had a season-best finish with fifth overall. Beta USA’s Jordan Ashburn followed behind in sixth and N-Fab/AmPro Yamaha’s Ricky Russell crossed the line seventh overall. Bobbitt maintained his speed to earn ninth overall.

N-Fab/AmPro Yamaha’s Josh Toth came out with the XC2 250 Pro win, extending his win streak to four-in-a-row. Following behind him was Coastal Racing/Husqvarna-backed Craig Delong in second, and RPM/KTM’s Mike Witkowski returned to the podium in third. JCR Honda’s Austin Lee showed great improvement this weekend finishing fourth. After being involved in first turn crash, Coastal Racing/Husqvarna’s Layne Michael eventually came back to lead the race, but had to settle for a respectable top-five finish.

Coastal Racing/Husqvarna’s Jack Edmondson continued his domination in the FMF XC3 125 Pro-Am class where he returned to the center of the box. Jason Thomas and Hunter Neuwirth crossed the line in second and third.

Cole Mattison took home the top amateur honors finishing 21st overall and taking home the class win in the 4-Stroke A Lites division.

Rocky Mountain ATV*MC/KR4/Husqvarna Team’s Tayla Jones took home gold in the WXC division in addition to the overall win. Spyke’s KTM/Maxxis/FMF’s Rachel Gutish finished right behind Jones in second. Fly Racing/Maxxis/Seat Concepts/KTM’s Becca Sheets rounded out the podium in third.

The first podium of the day consisted the of the overall youth racers from the 8 a.m. race. After a hard fought race, Zack Davidson came out with the top position claiming his fourth overall win. Peyton Whipkey and Ryder Leblond followed in second and third.

The 1 p.m. race was broadcast LIVE in its entirety on RacerTV.com and can be viewed as an archived video now online by visiting the GNCC LIVE page online. A highlight show featuring today’s event will air on the NBC Sports Network on Sunday, June 4 at 3:00 p.m.

The 2017 AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Series resumes April 22 and 23 with the CST Tires Camp Coker Bullet GNCC in Society Hill, South Carolina.

For more information on the 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.

FMF Steele Creek GNCC
Morganton, North Carolina
Round 4 of 13
Sunday, April 9

XC1 Open Pro Event Results:

Kailub Russell (KTM)
Thad Duvall (HSQ)
Steward Baylor (KTM)
Trevor Bollinger (HON)
Josh Strang (HSQ)
Jordan Ashburn (BET)
Ricky Russell (YAM)
Russell Bobbitt (KTM)
Grant Baylor (HSQ)
Scott Grills (HSQ)
*Overall National Championship Standings:

Kailub Russell (115)
Steward Baylor (93)
Thad Duvall (75)
Josh Toth (61)
Ricky Russell (57)
Trevor Bollinger (50)
Russell Bobbitt (43)
Jordan Ashburn (41)
Mike Witkowski (40)
Grant Baylor (39)
*Indicates that the Overall National Championship Standings will determine the 2017 National Champion.

XC2 250 Pro Event Results:

Josh Toth (YAM)
Craig Delong (HSQ)
Michael Witkowski (KTM)
Austin Lee (HON)
Layne Michael (HSQ)
Jesse Groemm (KTM)
Drew Higgins (BET)
Nick Davis (BET)
Ben Kelley (KTM)
Trevor Barrett (YAM)
XC2 250 Pro Series Standings:

Josh Toth (120)
Craig Delong (86)
Mike Witkowski (79)
Layne Michael (74)
Jesse Groemm (52)
Austin Lee (59)
Zack Hayes (53)
Ben Kelley (48)
Trevor Barrett (36)
Jesper Borjessen (35)