previous round, Babbitt's Mon-
ster Energy Kawasaki's Lyndon
Snodgrass capped off his season
with a fourth overall finish and his
fourth class win of the year.
"I knew today the start was
going to be crucial," said Snod-
grass. "I didn't really get the
best jump, but I went off into the
woods and made a few quick
passes. I got up into first a couple
miles in and didn't look back from
there. Kind of just tried to ride my
own race and just stay out of the
dust as much as I could."
Tely Energy Racing's Liam
Draper was second in the XC2 Pro
250 class, and posted his best fin-
ish of the year in fifth overall.
"I knew I had to get a good
start and I did that," said Draper.
"I think I was third going into the
woods, but I got into second pretty
quick when I went up the big hill
on the first lap. From there, me
and Barbosa battled all day. We
went back and forth. Surprisingly
we stayed together all day with the
dust. I don't think I've ever seen
that much blue groove in my life."
Phoenix Honda's Ruy Barbosa
matched his best overall finish
with a sixth and was third in the
XC2 Pro 250 class.
"Today was a tough day for
me," said Barbosa who is from
Chile. "I liked the conditions,
the dusty and the dry and the
hard-pack, but I'm not happy with
my result. It's my second year in
America and I learned a lot. So,
we will see next year."
times, but never was really able to
get alongside of him and give him
that challenge. I tried my best and
that's all we can ask for."
DeLong capped off a solid
year, as well, finishing second
overall in the final standings.
"My trainers Jacob and Kailub
sat me down on summer break
and they told me that I needed
to change my mindset," said
DeLong. "They told me I needed
to think like a contender. Ever
since that, it kind of clicked in
my head. That was a big chang-
ing point for me. Just trying to
be that guy. I really do. I want to
be that guy and challenge these
two. Next year we'll be ready."
After wrapping up the XC2
Pro 250 Championship at the
ROUND 13 / OCTOBER 13, 2022
IRONMAN RACEWAY / CRAWFORDSVILLE, INDIANA
P82
OFF-ROAD I GRAND NATIONAL CROSS-COUNTRY SERIES
Dust was quite the
contrast compared to
last year's mudfest.
Craig DeLong finished
out the day on the
podium and second in
the championship.
