Throwback Thursday: Jay Springsteen Celebrates LaSalle Short Track Victory

Larry Lawrence | September 8, 2022

“Springer” Edged Nate Wait and Jason Fletcher in Harley-Davidson 883 Action

(Photo by Dave Hoenig/FlatTrakFotos.com)

In this week’s Throwback we dial back the time machine to June of 1995 and visit LaSalle (Ill.) Speedway Short Track. In the AMA Harley-Davidson 883 final that night it was 38-year-old Jay Springsteen coming from behind to take the lead on the final lap and win out over a 16-year-old Nate “Gator” Wait. Jason Fletcher finished third rounding out the podium finishers. It was a brilliant ride for the veteran Springsteen. “Springer” got a bad start and ran fifth early in the race, but found a speedy line on the outside and began working his way to the front. With a few laps to go he broke through to find only Wait in front of him. On the final lap Springer powered around the outside of Wait to steal the victory. Wait said he never saw Springsteen coming. This is the LaSalle podium where the giggly trophy girl seemed to bring a big smile to Springer and Gator’s faces.

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