Jeff Ward (racing driver)

Ward in 2007

Jeff Ward (born June 22, 1961 in Glasgow, Scotland of Scottish parents) is the first motocross rider in history to win every major AMA motocross national championship. Nicknamed 'The Flying Freckle', throughout his motocross career Ward stayed loyal to the Kawasaki brand and retired from motocross with seven national titles, 56 national race wins and having represented the USA 7 times on Motocross Des Nations winning teams.

Following his motocross career, Ward moved to racing cars in the Indy Racing League. Ward finished 6th in series points in 1998, and won the 2002 race at Texas Motor Speedway. He established a solid reputation at the prestigious Indianapolis 500: he was 1997 Rookie of the Year with a third place finish and garnered four top five finishes in just seven starts.

He has 4 children: Brandon, Ayrton, Alain, and Siena. He is now racing short course off road trucks in the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series for the Speed Technologies team.

Awards

• Ward was inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1999.
• Ward was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America on August 12, 2006.

AMA Motocross / Supermoto Accomplishments

• 1984—Won AMA 125cc national motocross title.
• 1985—Won AMA national 250cc motocross and Supercross titles.
• 1987—Won second AMA national 250cc Supercross championship.
• 1988—Captured second AMA national 250cc motocross title.
• 1989—Won AMA national 500cc motocross championship to become first rider in history to win every major AMA national motocross title.
• 1990—Won second consecutive AMA national 500cc motocross championship.
• 2004—Won AMA Supermoto Championship at 43 years of age.
• 2006—Won X-Games Supermoto Championship at 45 years of age.
• 2006—Won AMA Supermoto Championship (second title)
• 2008—Won X-Games Supermoto Championship at 47 years of age (second title).

Indy Racing League Accomplishments

• 1997—Finished third at Indianapolis 500 in maiden effort, finished 30th in IRL season point standings.
• 1998—Earned career-first pole position at Phoenix IRL race, four top five finishes, finished career-best 6th in IRL season point standings.
• 1999—Finished career-best second at Indianapolis 500, three top five finishes, finished 11th in IRL season point standings.
• 2000—Finished fourth at Indianapolis 500, two top five finishes, finished 11th in IRL season point standings.
• 2001—Two top five finishes, finished 11th in IRL season point standings.
• 2002—Winner of Boomtown 500 at Texas Motor Speedway, finished ninth at Indianapolis 500, two top five finishes, finished 11th in IRL season point standings.

Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series Accomplishments

• 2009—Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series Rookie of the Year
• 2009—Dirt Sports Rookie of the Year
• 2009—2nd Place in Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series Championship, behind by 1 point

Racing record

American Open Wheel

(key)

IndyCar results

Year	Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	Rank	Points
1996-1997	Galles	NHM	LVS	WDW 16	PHX														30th	69
	Cheever					INDY 3	TXS	PPIR	CLT	NH2
	Sinden/ISM										LV2 17
1998	ISM	WDW 2	PHX 5	INDY 13	TXS 17	NHM 22	DOV 19	CLT 2	PPIR 20	ATL 6	TX2 3	LVS 21							6th	252
1999	ISM	WDW 3																	11th	206
	Pagan		PHX 2	CLT C	INDY 2	TXS 18	PPIR 9	ATL 26	DOV 13	PPI2 23	LVS 10	TX2 21
2000	Foyt	WDW 7	PHX 11	LVS 21	INDY 4	TXS 19	PPIR 15	ATL 19	KTY 6	TX2 8									11th	176
2001	Heritage	PHX 7	HMS 5	ATL 7	INDY 24	TXS 16	PPIR 12	RIR 8	KAN Wth	NSH 20	KTY 10	STL 7	CHI 4	TX2 24					11th	238
2002	Ganassi	HMS 4	PHX 18	FON 10	NZR 19	INDY 9	TXS 1	PPIR 20	RIR 8	KAN 12	NSH 11	MIS 25	KTY 16	STL 13	CHI 21	TX2 25			11th	268
2005	Vision	HMS	PHX	STP	MOT	INDY 27	TXS	RIR	KAN	NSH	MIL	MIS	KTY	PPIR	SNM	CHI	WGL	FON	35th	10

Indy 500 results

Year	Chassis	Engine	Start	Finish	Team
1995	Lola	Ford-Cosworth	Failed to Qualify		Arizona
1997	G-Force	Oldsmobile	7th	3rd	Cheever
1998	G-Force	Oldsmobile	27th	13th	Team Tabasco
1999	Dallara	Oldsmobile	14th	2nd	Pagan
2000	G-Force	Oldsmobile	6th	4th	Foyt
2001	G-Force	Oldsmobile	8th	24th	Heritage
2002	G-Force	Chevrolet	15th	9th	Ganassi
2005	Dallara	Toyota	31st	27th	Vision

References

Sporting positions
Preceded by Tony Stewart	Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year 1997	Succeeded by Steve Knapp