Throughout the rest of the race, both XC1 Open Pro and XC2 250 Pro competitors would battle for their spot at the top, and within the top 10 overall. It was a tough, competitive race atmosphere in Society Hil, South Carolina and multiple riders swapped positions during the three-hour race period.

Coming out on top, fending off the competition and stepping up to the challenge was  FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Ben Kelley. After getting a good start to the day, Kelley would find himself running third on the opening lap. Kelley would continue to push himself and once in the physical lead on lap three he would look to put himself even farther ahead to help his chances on earning the overall win. As the checkered flag flew after six rough laps, Kelley’s hard work paid off as he earned the overall win.

AmPro Yamaha’s Liam Draper held the early lead coming through first on the opening lap, but he would be unable to hold off Kelley a couple of laps later. Draper would find himself in second, but he still had to push himself as XC2 National Champion, FMF KTM Factory Racing Lander’s Grant Davis was physically up to third overall and coming for a better overall finishing position. Draper would be able to come through to finish second overall on the day.

Davis, who continued to try and chase down the XC1 competitors, would find himself leading majority of the race on adjusted time. However, after the top two turned up the pace on the last lap and Davis suffered a few crashes on the last lap, he would come through to grab third overall on the day and his third-straight XC2 250 Pro class win of the season.

Rocky Mountain Red Bear Team Green Kawasaki’s Steward Baylor had his work cut out for him as he started back in the ninth place position on lap one. Baylor though can never be counted out as he started clicking off the positions and found himself third in XC1 and fourth overall by the fourth lap of the race. He continued to push himself but would ultimately cross the line rounding out the top three XC1 finishers, and fourth overall on the day.

Coming through to earn second in the XC2 250 Pro class was FMF KTM Factory Racing Lander’s Angus Riordan after a hard fought battle throughout the day. Riordan would find himself following closely to Davis at the beginning of the race, but he would soon feel the pressure from Phoenix Racing Honda’s Cody Barnes. Riordan would be able to hold off Barnes and come through fifth overall on the day. Barnes would also put in a great race as he came through to earn third in the XC2 class and sixth overall on the day after battling through the rough terrain.

Phoenix Racing Honda’s Mike Witkowski put in the work at round four as he battled inside the top five in XC1 throughout the day. Witkowski would cross the finish line taking fourth in the XC1 class and seventh overall on the day.

After starting his day up in second place, AmPro Yamaha’s Kailub Russell fall back to seventh at the halfway point of the race. Russell would continue to push himself making his way up to fifth in XC1 and eighth overall on the day.

Rocky Mountain Red Bear Team Green Kawasaki’s Josh Toth would find himself running inside the top 10 trough the majority of the race. Toth would come through to earn fourth in the XC2 class and ninth overall on the day. Rounding out the top 10 overall was Flatrock Motorclub GASGAS Factory Racing’s Jason Tino as he came through fifth in the XC2 class and tenth overall on the day in South Carolina.

When the XC3 125 Pro-Am class took off it was Marionville Powersports/Hinson/Fly Racing’s James Jenkins grabbing the early lead and earning himself the $100 Lojak Cycle Sales XC3 Holeshot Award. J. Jenkins would continue to maintain the lead from the start of the race until the checkered flag flew, earning him his third win of the season.

Returning from an injury earlier in the season was Marionville Powersports/XC Gear/Moose Racing’s Huck Jenkins who would try to push himself to battle with his brother for the top spot, but H. Jenkins would maintain the second place position for the duration of the race. Beta Off-Road/Estes Motorsports/Wossner Pistons’ Raley Messer would also have a consistent race as he came through third on the opening lap and held that spot until the completion of the race.

Top Amateur honors went to Joseph Cunningham who finished 15th overall on the day, while also earning the 250 A class win. Lane Whitmer was second on the top amateur podium with a 16th overall finishing position and a second place in the 250 A class. Rounding out the Top Amateur podium was Hunter Smith who finished 17th overall on the day and third in the 250 A class.

As the morning race got underway and the WXC class took off, it was AmPro Yamaha’s Danielle McDonald jumping out to grab her first $100 Landers KTM WXC Holeshot Award. However, she would have a freight train of women behind her eager to take over the lead position. As they emerged from the woods, FMF KTM Factory Racing Landers’ Brandy Richards would lead the way, as she would on lap two as well. Unfortunately, while out on the third lap of the race, Richards would sustain injuries in a fall that ruled her out for the rest of the race. The team will have additional information on her condition available in due time.

Rocky Mountain Red Bear Team Green Kawasaki’s Rachael Archer would take over the lead on lap three as the white flag flew, but Rockstar Energy Factory Husqvarna Racing’s Korie Steede had her mind made up that she was pushing to get this win in South Carolina. Steede would make the pass on Archer after battling back and forth throughout the entire race.

Steede would come through the finish to earn her first win of the 2025 season with a seven second gap over Archer who came through to earn second on the day. After earning the holeshot award, McDonald continued to push herself inside the top five and on the last lap of the race she would find the drive to get herself into the final podium position. This is McDonald’s first-ever WXC podium finish as she earned third overall on the day and in the WXC class.

In the Youth Bike race it was Travis Lentz coming around to take the overall win and YXC1 Super Mini Sr. (14-15) class win. Lentz continues his win streak as he has earned four out of four wins. Cooper Duff would come through to earn second overall on the day and second in the YXC1 class. Hayden Dupuis rounded out the top three overall youth bike finishers, but he would also take the win in the YXC2 Super Mini Jr. (12-13) class.

Lucas Skelton would take third in the YXC1 class, while Ace Tokar and Gavin Harwell rounded out the top three YXC2 class finishers. Hunter Carey earned the 85 Big Wheel (14-15) class win, while Caleb Johnson took home the 85 Big Wheel (11-13) class win at round four. Evan Porter took home the 85 (12-13) class win, Trason Landrum earned the 85 (11) class win, while Brinn Buly earned the 85 (7-10) class win. Kade Dupuis earned the 65 (10-11) class win, Matthew Simoneaux took the 65 (9) class win and Hudson Bott earned the 65 (7-8) class win. In the Girls Super Mini (12-16) class it was Sahara Robinson earning the win, with Vaida Lavergne earning the Girls 85 (7-13) class win and Aubrey Tsakanikas earned the Girls 65 (7-11) class win. Camden Phillips would earn the Trail Rider (7-15) class win.

On Saturday in the Micro Bike race it was Kane Morrison coming through to take home the overall and MXC1 class win. Peyton Austin would finish second overall and in MXC1, followed by Hudson Bott who finished third overall and in the MXC1 bike class. In the MXC2 class it was Ryder Baricska earning the class win followed by Tank Laws and Moises Pita rounding out the top three finishers.

Carson Zink would battle through the race and earn the 50 Sr. 1 (7) class win, while Kolt Morrison earned the 50 Sr. 2 (6) class win. Jacobi Duvall would come through to take the 50 Jr. 1 (6-7) class win at round four, while Brody Bowen would come through to take the 50 Jr. 2 (4-5) class win. In the Micro-E1 (7-8) class it was Maverick Novak earning the class win while Nathan Zhang earned the Micro-E2 (4-6) class win. Liam Cox would come through to earn the Micro (4-6) Shaft Drive class win, Braxton Waller would come through first in the Trail Rider (7-9) class, and Alec Hoffman earned the Trail Rider (4-6) class win.

The AMSOIL Moto Hero award was received by Austin Craven at the FMF Camp Coker Bullet GNCC. Austin has been in the United States Air Force for 15 years and is a Staff Sergeant. One of Austin’s main jobs is a military working dog handler, and he has been doing that for 10.5 years. He is currently stationed in. Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter, South Carolina. He has been deployed four times in his career with the USAF as he has gone to Afghanistan, Curacao and Kuwait (twice). Austin will receive an AMSOIL shopping spree, commemorative American flag from Columbia flag and sign co. Plus $200 gift certificate for their online store and a $250 KANATI gift certificate.

After a week break the GNCC Racing Series will head to Tennessee for the Specialized Old Gray GNCC in Monterey, Tennessee at The Old Gray entertainment venue on April 11-13. This event will also host the first round of racing for the Specialized Turbo eMTB GNCC National Championship on Friday, April 11. For more event information and a full schedule, click HERE.

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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