Racing

A Look Back At The 2018 Ironman GNCC

The final round of the GNCC season

November 5, 2018

Josh Toth mugs for the camera while checking out the first turn before the start. The short walk paid off as the FMF/KTM Factory Racing rider grabbed the $100 Hot Cams XC2 Holeshot Award and the early lead.Darrin Chapman

The AmsOil Ironman GNCC series wrapped up its 2018 schedule with its series finale at the Ironman Raceway in Crawfordsville, Indiana, where a record 2,400 entries filled the starting grids over the course of the two-day event. Some of the best off-road motorcycle riders in the country took to the 14-mile course for another exciting event.

Steward Baylor Jr. came away with his first overall win of the season. With the win, the Tely Energy Racing/KTM-supported rider moved into third place in the overall standings behind 2018 champion Kailub Russell, and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Thad Duvall, who both missed the race due to injuries.

Since the event was close to Halloween, some of the riders dressed up. Is this Steward Baylor’s impression of a frog?Darrin Chapman

Hunter Neuwirth (thumbs-up) and Mike Witkowski walk the start straight before the race. Neuwirth finished 24th overall and 10th in the XC2 class, while Witkowski was third in the XC2 class and ninth overall.Darrin Chapman

Trail Jesters/KTM's Ben Kelley led overall on adjusted time during early going and was set to finish third overall heading into the final lap, but a sticky front brake forced him to the pits and he eventually finished fifth overall, which was still good enough to win the battle for the XC2 National Championship.Darrin Chapman

After finishing the opening lap in sixth, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Josh Strang made a last-lap pass on Trevor Bollinger to claim third overall and second in the XC1 class.Darrin Chapman

After getting off to a slow start, Steward Baylor moved into third on the opening lap. The Tely Energy Racing KTM rider ended up getting tangled in the woods with a few riders on the opening lap and was forced to climb his way up from last-place position. From there, the Georgia native worked his way through the pack once again to assume the lead on lap two. Baylor carried that momentum to the finish to claim the win.Darrin Chapman

Husqvarna-backed rider Evan Smith rounded out the top five in the XC2 class, which left him sitting fifth overall in the class standings.Darrin Chapman

Professional mechanic Mike Hall keeps Kelley’s Trail Jesters Racing KTM in tip-top shape between races.Darrin Chapman

Austin Lee finished sixth in the XC2 class to solidify fourth overall in the XC2 class standings.Darrin Chapman

Bollinger and his JRC Honda mechanic Eric Siraton talk strategy before the race. Bollinger battled with Baylor throughout the duration of the race and eventually finished fourth overall.Darrin Chapman