The Stopwatch: 2012 Steele Creek GNCC

All it takes is a quick glance at the lap times from the Steele Creek GNCC to figure out why Kailub Russell won in such dominating fashion. His 5th lap of the race was the fastest of the day by 25-seconds over Cory Buttrick and 15-seconds faster than XC2 Pro Lites Rider, and 2nd-place overall finisher Steward Baylor. A lot has been said over the years about KR’s training program, or lack thereof, but after winning two races in a row and putting down fast laps into the 3rd hour of a very rough and tough Steele Creek GNCC proves that he is fit and race-ready. His program might not be as grueling as some riders out there, but it appears to be working for him. Big Buck is a track where KR came close to doing what Steward Baylor is trying so hard to do; win an overall from the second row. Will his championship rivals Paul Whibley and Charlie Mullins step it up next round and end the win streak? I can’t wait to find out!

Steward Baylor absolutely dropped the hammer in the first two laps of the race, going 17-seconds faster on lap one (which we don’t count as it’s shorter than the rest) than Kailub Russell and then logging his fastest full lap, and the second fastest lap of the entire race on lap 2 with a smoking 25:55. Going fast early is what it takes for an XC2 rider to get caught up with the XC1 riders and have them pull him along for a good overall finish. We say Thad DuVall and Kailub Russell both make a habit of this when they won their championships and it’s apparent Steward Baylor realizes that’s what it’ll take for him to do what no one has done before. The problem for Steward–and it’s the same thing that DuVall and Russell ran into–is expending that much energy early in the race will undoubtedly come back to haunt you in the third hour of the race. Kailub pulled over a minute and 15-seconds on Stew on the last three laps of the race which basically decided the overall. There’s a reason no one has won an overall from the second row, quite simply it isn’t easy! But, if Baylor can find the right balance of speed early but enough energy to finish strong we could see him take an overall before the year is out and the Big Buck could be a great place for that to happen.