words by Kayla Bolton // GNCC photos by Shan Moore // Mack Faint // Ken Hill
CRAWFORDSVILLE , Ind . October 25 , 2021
As the 2021 season finale of the Grand National Cross Country ( GNCC ) Series presented by Specialized , an AMA National Championship concluded on Sunday , October 24 , the skies would open up as rain showers persisted throughout the day . The Yamaha Racing Ironman event would break the series previous record of 2,442 entries as there were 2,711 total entries throughout the weekend of racing in Crawfordsville , Indiana .
With the XC1 Open Pro riders lined up , the stage was set for the 2021 GNCC National Championship battle . With the rain tapering off , the green flag was ready to wave for the final race of the 2021 season , and the battle between FMF / KTM Factory Racing Ben Kelley and AmPro Yamaha ’ s Steward Baylor was one that everyone had their sights set on watching .
As Ricky Towery threw the green flag it was the No . 212 Coastal GASGAS Factory Racing ’ s Ricky Russell grabbing the $ 250 All Balls Racing Holeshot Award . However , it would be the Babbitt ’ s Online / Monster Energy / Kawasaki Team Green ’ s Josh Strang coming through the finish line first on the opening
ON THE PEGS // PAGE 84