“SPRINGER” INDUCTED INTO MOTORSPORTS HALL OF FAME OF AMERICA
19 August 2005 - AMA Pro Racing

Jay Springsteen is more that worthy to be feted with racing greats like Dale Earnhardt, AJ Foyt, Mario Andretti, Carol Shelby and Richard Petty.

Jay joins his old buddy and fellow Number 9 Gary Nixon, along with fellow dirt track great Bart Markel, Carol Resweber, Dick Mann, Joe Leonard, and Kenny Roberts who were previously inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame. Springer was inducted into the AMA Hall of Fame in 2003, the only still active racer to earn that honor.

Many dirt track pundits consider Jay Springsteen the Greatest dirt tracker of all time. His passion for the sport, his record of accomplishment and longevity in the sport would have few dispute, he may have earned that title.

Springer, as he has become known to the thousands of fans that he has thrilled, grew up in Flint, Michigan, a breeding ground for AMA flat track stars. In his youth, Jay suffered through a childhood ailment that made it difficult to walk, so he rode a motorcycle. In those formative years with countless laps around the house a star was born.

Jay recovered from his disability and had a stellar amateur racing career. Jay turned pro in 1973 and worked his way through the Novice and Junior ranks. He burst on to the AMA Grand National circuit as a wild 18 year old kid who had already built quite a reputation in midwest circles. His first season in 1975, young number 65x showed he had talent, lots of it, and won his first National.

I was one of the fortunate ones to witness Springer aggressively charging the high, wide and oh so handsome line to the win his first at the famed Louisville Half-Mile. To prove it wasn''t a fluke he did the same thing the next week at Harrington, Delaware. Springer took six podium finishes that year and was named Rookie of the Year.

In the off season, the factory Harley team added Springsteen to their wrecking crew and teamed him with young wrench Bill Werner. That duo would go on to Dirt Track Greatness. The next season Springer became the man to beat. His flamboyant, devil may care style and Werner''s expert tuning led him to a career high seven National wins, 15 podiums and his first Grand National title.

The next two years Springer charged to 12 more National wins and two more Championships. The following year was the start of the most challenging period in Jay''s career. Although he would win 4 Nationals, including three in a row, a mysterious stomach problem plagued him. On race day he could become overcome with a nervous stomach which produced nausea and would be found behind the race van puking his guts out.

Jay fought this ailment through what should have been the prime years in his career. But his love for the sport kept him coming back to race another day. Despite this recurring condition he won five Nationals in 1982 and missed another Championship by just two points to Ricky Graham. During this period Jay could be fine on race day and look to be on his way to perhaps another win but the sickness would strike leaving him on the side lines. It was then the phrase, ''If he''s well, he''s hell!'' was coined and was very apropos.

Springer was always an independent guy who ruffled the feathers of Harley team manager and acknowledged task master Dick O''Brien on more than one occasion. In one of those incidents ''OB'' caught Springer having a beer Saturday afternoon before a Sunday race which was strictly against team policy. OB told Jay he was going to fine him $100. Springer shot back, ''you''d better make it $200 because I''m gonna have another.''

The lowest point in Jay illustrious career was 1984 when he was only able to race four times. In the next years he would come to terms with his sickness and although not racing for the factory team anymore due to the budget crunch at Harley he followed the circuit as a privateer.

In 1985, Springer added 2 more National wins and set atop the AMA All-Time win list with a then thought untouchable 40 dirt track wins. He had eclipsed one of his childhood heroes Bart Markel who was second on that list with 28 wins.

In the period between 1985 and 1995 many thought that although still competitive, Springer had won his last National. But in the fall of ''95 Springer proved them wrong as he was once again was master of the cushion at the Pomona, CA Half-Mile and posted win number 41. Springer would win again in 1999 at Hagerstown, MD.

I remember interviewing Springer before the one of the electric fast Springfield Miles. I asked him his secret to going fast at Springfield, ''You gotta ride like a turtle, you don''t go fast unless you stick your neck out.'' And he added ''Man that just gave me goosebumps!''

The crowning moment of Jay''s later career occurred in 2000 on the legendary Springfield Mile. The Mile was dormant during Springer''s hay days in the late ''70s and it was one race he had never won. But that day in May it was as if Springer had found the fountain of youth. Springer on lap 23 moved into the lead with a brave drafting move on the pack and a wide open charge through turns one and two. The result was an undraftable 10 bike length lead over the pack. The crowd sensed what was about to happen and greeted him with a standing ''O'' at the white flag. Springer went on to win his 43rd National at the age of 43. That day, we changed the name of the town to SPRINGERfield.

Springsteen''s last full season and ''farewell tour'' was in 2003. Now after a 30 year professional career, Springer has pared his racing down to a few select dirt tracks and a few vintage road races each year. Always an avid outdoorsman, he now fills his spare time with even more fishing and hunting.

Springer plans to run the upcoming Labor Day Springfield Mile and I believe he is in for the season finale at DuQuoin. And he can still get it done, he led the Syracuse Mile earlier this year and finished on the podium.

Word to the wise, don''t miss the opportunity to see the old gunslinger, and crowd favorite Jay Springsteen race. He has nothing left to accomplish in our sport, He has done it all. Sometime this racing great will hang up his dirt track leathers for good.

I saw Springer win his first one, I hope I am there to share the moments of his last GNC race when ever that day comes. Jay Springsteen is perhaps the greatest dirt tracker of all-time.

www.amaproracing.com

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