Steward Baylor secured his first victory of the 2024 GNCC XC1 season at the Dunlop Motorcycle Tires Old Gray event in Monterey, Tennessee. This marked a breakthrough for Baylor and his Red Bear Kawasaki team, ending KTM’s winning streak in an intense race.
Michael Witkowski of Phoenix Racing Honda took the initial lead with the $250 Steel City Medical Center Holeshot Award, but Jordan Ashburn of Coastal GASGAS Factory Racing quickly surpassed him. Behind Ashburn, contenders like Johnny Girroir and Ricky Russell fought for positions.
Baylor, staying close behind, eventually overtook the lead from Ashburn, but the latter fiercely contested, backed by hometown support. Despite Ashburn’s challenge, Baylor maintained his lead, securing the win with a narrow 1.8-second gap.
Girroir maintained a strong presence in third, securing his position in the points lead after five rounds. Meanwhile, Craig Delong couldn’t pose a significant threat, settling for fourth place.
In the XC2 250 Pro class, Grant Davis emerged victorious after a back-and-forth battle with Josh Toth. Davis’s win propelled him into the class points lead.
Other notable performances included Dakoda Devore’s triumph in the FMF XC3 125 Pro-Am class and Jason Tino’s dominance in the 250 A class.
The morning race saw Rachael Archer clinch her second WXC class win of the season while Brody Amos secured his first Youth overall victory. Travis Lentz continued his winning streak in the YXC2 Super Mini Jr. class.
Tripp Lewis dominated the Micro Bike race, securing his third overall win of the season. Additionally, the AMSOIL Moto Hero award was bestowed upon Jimmy Wathen for his service in the United States Army.
The event showcased intense competition across various classes, with riders battling for victory and valuable points in the championship standings.