At the Big Buck GNCC Shock Doctor KTM's Kailub Russell achieved what only one other XC2 rider in the history of GNCC has been able to do-cross the finish in the top three overall.  The son of AMA National Enduro Champion Jeff Russell, he was born into racing and started competitively at age 4. But don't think it's that easy. Let's see how Russell pulled off his incredible finish.

How did you feel coming off this race- you were pretty tired at the finish line?
It was a pretty good feeling. I was pretty excited for myself. It's just felt really good. I was definitely exhausted, though.

What was going through your mind when you got off your bike- did you know that you had finished that well? I kept getting the pit board that I wasn't too far off the overall. I kind of ran myself out of energy at the 4^th lap. Then I just picked it back up somehow. I was just really pumped. I've never  been that far up overall before. I was just, I don't know, it was a good feeling.

Buttrick didn't have you in his sights for most of the race. Did you know he was that far behind?After about the second lap- they stopped giving me the pitboard about how far behind he was from me. That's fine with me. It doesn't matter to me how far he is behind me. I just ride my own race.

What were your expectations going into this season? My expectations are to do as good in my class at any race. If I finish higher up overall, it's just icing on the cake, like Rodney said. It's just a little bit extra. My main goal is definitely to win the class first.

So take me through your race at Big Buck. It was pretty good. Cory almost took me out in the corner when he fell. I just got in the lead when I got in the woods. I just started picking off the XC1 riders when I got the pit board that I was leading overall. My stomach just sorted of dropped when I saw that. That was a really neat experience right there. It was a really good feeling. It gives me a lot of confidence.

How did it feel when you started picking off the XC1 guys? I felt really comfortable riding their pace. It was a great learning experience. They were picking lines and trying to get past each other. It was really quite fun. We kind of all got a little more separated after the gas stop. I just didn't have anybody to follow on that pace anymore. Somewhere I found a little bit of extra energy in that last lap.

What was everybody's reaction to your race?
Everybody was just really happy for me. My mom, my family- I was excited for myself.  It was just a really good day.

I saw (your mechanic) Hollywood throw some water on you during the race- do you have problems with hydration on the track? I drank my camel back dry and I was getting really hot. It was kind of a hotter day. I just needed some water on my back to cool me down to keep me going again. Just to get my energy going again.

What are doing to combat that for Loretta's?
I'm definitely probably going to get a bigger camel back! I really didn't drink enough before the race as I should have. At Florida and Georgia I was ready for that. It was just a lack of drinking water the weeks before. I'm going to start today. I drank probably 6 or 7 gallons the week before Georgia. I was already in Florida to begin with so I was just replenishing. You definitely want to make sure you're hydrated before the GNCC.

What else are you doing to get ready for Loretta's? Just recuperating from the weekend. Start hydrating then go back to just riding.

Do you think you'll be able to get up there with the XC1 guys again?
I just want to ride my own race. I want to wrap up the class first. However, if I finish up front overall it's just a little bit extra.

Do you see yourself doing XC2 next year?
I don't know. It's kind of not my decision anymore. It's KTM's decision if I'm with them next year, they'll decide where I'm going to race.

How would you feel about it?
I would really like riding XC1, it would be a new goal, or a new challenge. That's where I would like to be.

What would you have to accomplish to get into XC1 by next year?
I don't know. I just have to keep doing what I'm doing and focus on every race and just keep doing good for my team.  Showing everybody I can ride just as fast as I can, even as fast as the XC2 guys.

How did you get started in GNCC?
My dad was definitely a big part of my racing and how I got started. He used to take me riding and everything. My mom has always supported me. My whole family, everyone that has surrounded me and always had a big part in helping me accomplish my goals. I was probably about 4 when I started riding, racing the same year I think.

Wow, so you've been racing 15 years? You've had some good experiences in those years, I bet?
I really don't know. I've had a lot of great experiences with meeting new people and riding for Bart Hayes and Powersports GrafX, and now KTM. I'm learning every year that I race a new level, I just learn a little bit every year.

Does it help motivate you to know your dad is around when you are racing?
Yeah, it definitely does. I really don't see him much on the track because he's working. I race the track just like everybody else. Just because he's the trail boss and he does his job, it doesn't affect me riding better or worse. He gives me advice but he gives everyone else the same advice too. I don't talk to him too much before the race, so people can't say I know a little bit extra about the track.

So is Loretta's one of your favorite tracks?
I really like the first five races. They've always been my favorite races. It's really kind of a fast paced track. I enjoy going there every year.

Well we'll see you in a few weeks then, Kailub.
Thanks