Three races into the 2008 Can-Am GNCC Series, and South Carolina’s Steward Baylor is undefeated in the Youth Bike ranks, with three overall wins. He's also last year's Big Wheel (12-13) Champion. Just so you can say “I knew him before he was big time,” we talked to him for this week’s Tuesday Toolbox. The kid has some hilarious answers to our questions. Read on.

Photos by Jason Hooper

 

Steward, are you pumped with the way things are going?

Yeah, but Chris (Meadows) was right there this weekend. That scared me. Hopefully I can stay out front. He’s right there, definitely.

 

Steward Baylor.

In Florida, on the podium, did you say you didn’t get to do as much riding as you wanted this winter?

We didn’t do much. We’re in between building houses. I ride my bicycle as much as I can, and I get to ride once a week, at least. Last year we did more. This year, we’re not doing as much as we could, but it’s still going pretty good.

 

Were you worried at the start of the season that you weren’t ready?

Yes I was. I remember Zach (Nolan) was always right there, and AJ (Stewart), they won a couple last year. I didn’t know how much they had been training in the off-season, so I was worried.

 

You like the sand or the dirt?

I love the sand. But I didn’t like Florida so much this year, because of all of those palmetto roots. I got a little loose a couple of times!

 

Now you’ve won the first three. You’re thinking number one plate?

That’s what I’m hoping for. Hopefully I can do it.

 

Well look at what has happened with our last three youth champions. Kailub Russell, Cory Buttrick and Walker Fowler all have good support on big bikes.

Yes sir. Cory, hopefully I can be as fast as him. He is really on the gas lately.

 

What’s your plan? Race Youth for a few more years or move up?

I’m getting so big, I don’t think that little bike can haul me another year. I think my dad is ordering a bigger bike, so maybe I can race that at a few races if I could get this sewn up early.

 

Did you train with Jason Raines?

Yes sir. We did last year up until the summer, and then we moved to a different trainer. But Jason, he taught us a lot, me and my brother. He helped us entering corners. And on the line, knowing what to do, and walking the track and remembering the right lines. I always try to go back on what he taught us. 

Baylor and the rest of the Youth ranks had to deal with a lot of mud over the weekend in North Carolina.

 

What’s it like having your little brother, Grant, out there. Is that more fun?

Yes sir. It’s fun, just riding and hoping he doesn’t catch me!

 

Has he ever beaten you yet, or is that a few years away?

Hopefully it’s a few years away. He hasn’t done it yet.

 

You do some other races besides the GNCCs?

Yes sir. We run SETRA and Mid-East.

 

That’s a lot of races.

Yes sir. I believe one year we raced 43 weekends.

 

Man! Do you ever just want to stay home and play video games?

No sir. I hate video games. The only thing I like is Guitar Hero. I like going to the races. That’s where all my friends are, and my family. I love it.

 

Well I notice in the Youth class, you all seem to be good buddies off the track.

Yes sir, Zach Nolan, he is my best friend. I went to his house last year before the banquet. We’ve been best friends since Florida last year. He came to my house between Florida and Georgia. Zach is awesome. Hopefully, he can start dating my sister because girls are supposed to mess up racing. I think he’s had some bad luck lately, but I know when he gets going he will give me a run.

 

Wait a minute. Did you just say you hope he dates your sister?

Yes.

 

Well how will that help?

Because girls are supposed to mess up racing!

 

Oh I see! She’ll slow down your competition! Can you get her to do it?

Hopefully! He lives like six or seven hours away or something.

 

Yeah but everyone sees each other on the weekends.

Yeah.

 

You better thank her on the podium if she helps.

(Laughs) Yeah!

 

Baylor thinks using his sister as a distraction may help him win more races!

 

 You know, ever since you were riding 65s, I’ve noticed how polite you are. You always answer with yes sir and no sir. Is that a southern thing?

I try to be polite. Maybe it is a Southern thing. I know Ryan Belue did it, and I guess it’s working for him. He got on that Yamaha ride and he’s moving good, too.

 

So is this year your chance to impress teams?

Yes sir. Cory did and Thad did and Kailub did.

 

You do any other type of riding outside of trails?

We have a trials bike, and I race junior enduros. We have a motocross track that my uncle just built for us. It looks nice. Motocross helps my corner speed a lot. Last year, we raced a Loretta Lynn qualifier, and the guy that runs the shop we ride for, he used to ride motocross, and got out on the corners and coached me through it. It really helped, because they next race was Pennsylvania, and it had a ton of wide open corners.

 

You’ve been pretty safe in your career as far as injuries.

Yes sir. I’ve only had a broken foot”¦which still may be broken.

 

Wow. Didn’t you hurt your foot last year?

Yes sir. I hurt it right before Yadkinville.

 

Still hurts?

Yes sir. Sometimes I do stuff where it will tingle and give a little sting. Normally it’s not too bad.

 

What kind of training do you do off the track?

I go to the gym, but not as much now that the racing has started. I ride my bicycle a lot, but really I just go back and forth and do jumps. My dad probably doesn’t think that’s training, he thinks it’s just fun. But I think it is, because I can feel my heart rate getting up there.

 

How old are you now?

13.

 

So you voluntarily moved up to race 14-15.

Yes sir.

 

How did you get started riding?

My grandpa started, like 50 years ago.

 

(Laughs) That’s probably about right!

He started my dad, and then my dad kind of gave us his dream from when he was a kid.

 

Who do you want to thank?

Bart Hayes with Powersports GrafX. Motorex, Scott Goggles, Shoei Helmets, Fastway, Pro Moto Billet, my dad and mom, my sister who washes all my clothes, and my whole family. Definitely my grandpa. He lets us use his RV to get to the races, and he’s helping us build our house.

 

Good luck this year.

Alright, thanks.