The riders Cole Bulger raced against had been practicing for more than a year just for this specific race—Loretta Lynn’s in Hurrican Mills, Tennessee.

Bulger had put his heart into training, proved to his parents this was his passion. It wasn’t a go big or go home situation, but Bulger approached it like one. He picked up goal-oriented personality from his mother, Kristi, a personal trainer and one of Bulger’s role models.

The results weren’t what he was hoping for. Bulger came in 33rd in the Class C Limited race and 13th in the Class C. The results are nothing to frown about, especially for a rider making his first appearance at the biggest motocross race of the year.

But Bulger refuses to stop until he reaches the top.

“Sometimes it gets hard, just like going to the gym everyday gets old,” Bulger said. “But it’s about knowing that you have to have that outcome, because if you don’t, then the next person behind you is doing the same thing and he wants it more than you do.”

Bulger’s goals are to race as much as possible, build his resume and get sponsors. The outcome of each of those is a reflection of his attitude.

“I want it,” he said.

He’s already preparing for next year’s race at Loretta’s. Bulger’s experience has bumped him up from a Class C racer to a Class B. The competition will be fiercer, but that’s how Bulger believes he’s going to get better.

“The kids I train with in Cairo have top sponsors,” he said. “You get your name out there, making standings and building your resume. Just making it (to Loretta’s) built my resume up. I still have some more things to work on for next year, though.”

Bulger won’t have a shortage of support, either. His family is proud and devoted to supporting his passion. During last weekend’s race at Loretta’s, Bulger’s grandfather showed up from Indiana to cheer him on.

He believes his biggest supporter of all, though, is the man upstairs.

He prays before every race, pointing to the sky in appreciation moments before it starts. On his bike’s fender read the words “Glory to God.”

“I don’t want this glory to be all mine,” Bulger said. “I want this glory to be his as well. I know I’m at where I’m at and my parents are able to fund me because of God. It’s not my effort being put forth, it’s his effort through me.”