An interview with J.B. Norris

July 4 – There's a reason that Springfield is known as the cradle of dirt-track racing in America: This place has a flat-track history that goes way back.

And few people know that better than J.B. Norris, a race announcer and Speed Channel Grand National Dirt Track commentator. Not content to sit on the sidelines when the greatest amateur show in dirt-track comes to town, Norris got on his BMW GS and rode over to take in the action.

We caught up with him in a spare moment to get his thoughts on the week that will be.

So why'd you come down, J.B.?
"I love to see the future. And make no mistake, this is the future of our sport. And from the evidence I've seen here tonight and today has just been outstanding. The future looks bright. That's especially true in the Pro Sport class. I was really impressed at how many guys were going fast here last night. it was something to see.

Yeah, Jared Mees, the 2001 AMA Dirt Track Horizon Award winner, sure took everyone to school, winning going away.
That young man has come out on the AMA Progressive Insurance Grand National Dirt Track Championship circuit, and he won the last three races. He's ultra-impressive. A real confident kid, and really smooth. he's a real star of the future.

You've seen this event grow in recent years, from its early days, through its years in Indianapolis and Lawrenceburg, and now here. It must be nice to finally have something like this in your hometown.
Well, it's really neat for the amateur racers to come to Springfield and have the chance to run on three Grand National tracks. That just hasn't been available to the amateurs before. That, and the aura of Springfield and the legends and the history that has been built here, that's going to give these guys some real memories to come home with, some stories that will propel them all the rest of the season. The buzz from this event will bring back even more people for next year. You've already seen a bit of that with the record number of entries — there was something like 1,300 for the short track. The growth for the event, and the great tracks prepared by the Illinois Motorcycle Dealers Association, has really helped turn this into a truly first-class event.