S6 E5| Jeff Stanton

Jeff Stanton is a 6-time supercross and motocross champion. With an old-school work ethic and unwavering discipline, the Michigan mafia member carved out a career that puts him in echelons amongst the all-time greats.
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[@CoachRobbBeams]

Thank you, David, for getting this legend on the show - absolutely epic. I remember the first time that I met Jeff was when Bevo brought him into the Scott rig - I still have a picture of meeting him hanging in my office today. Jeff has always been the epitome of class (like yourself David) - awesome show! Thank you for all the time and effort necessary to put these together.

[@55tmilam]

The race that Damon said he was going to kick everybody’s ass before the race was Saturday night Pontiac 1990! It is classic!

[@JokersWild70]

Was just watching Anaheim 1993 less than a week ago, where MC put that pass on Jeff and thus, began the Jeremy era. I do remember Jeff announcing his retirement at Red Bud '94. He'd clearly had enough of pro racing. He was definitely a tough, no nonsense competitor who wasnt a pretty rider, but beat everyone with fitness and grit. An inspiration. First race I attended was Seattle in '94. Pretty sure Jeff raced that one. Ping, dont know if you remember this but there was a dead dog found in the Kingdome dirt. Ugh...bon appetit!

[@jimbenedict1257]

I always followed Jeff because I liked him and he was local hero. At the last Red Bud in 1994, evidently everyone knew he was going to announce his retirement at the award ceremony but me. On the last lap, I was down at the triple right before the 180, leading to the wall jump and I was literally the last one there. He comes over the jump, looks down, points at me, and finishes up his remaining lap. I learned shortly thereafter he was retiring, and that was his last “official” lap at Red Bud as a professional. Just one of many neat moments!

[@billburke5062]

I had a surprise chance meeting up with Jeff Stanton during one of his adv tours at a gas station in his neck of the woods a couple of summers ago. We had a brief chat but he’s an outstanding guy & easy to talk to. A true legend & hero to so many of us!

[@albertcorreia3866]

What a great show. Much respect to the Stanton legend 👍🏁

[@amdguru34]

FINALLY!! I have been wanting to listen to Stanton's story forever! I was introduced to moto in 1990 & became a Stanton fan! While Lamson & Henry are my all-time favorites, Stanton will always have a special place in my heart! Thank you, Mr. Pingree!

[@jmr_56]

Jeff was my favorite rider growing up and it's awesome to see that he is such a good guy outside of moto.

[@ecoultmx96]

Thanks David and Jeff for the great interview.

[@harvey663able]

Jeff was my supercross/motocross hero. He is the reason I got into racing in the early 90's. I'm a Michigan kid as well. I wish I could still ride but can't afford it the cost I'd to high for it now days. But I still want a 92 cr 250 replica. I even have a blue Stanton replica helmet from the early 90's.

[@jeremiahlewis9288]

Wow! What a huge improvement in production. Colors are more vibrant, sound is crisp, pictures shown on screen now! Nice work! Great show! Stanton was my favorite rider

[@55tmilam]

Secession MX park was in Anderson SC. They hosted 1 national in 87

[@danielgibbs7134]

Listening to this man, and his accolades with a degree of modesty and humility, is truly inspiring. Humble at that level of success, simply attributing his success to moral grounding and hard work with a purpose. Legend status. Sadly I wasn't a big fan in his hayday bc of the timing maybe, idk. Other stars of the time were more flashy maybe? But now, reflection and experience have changed a lot for most us. Thanks Ping, nice work !

[@muscle-milk-ktm1346]

Jeff is an all round nice guy! Brilliant interview.

[@DS-oi4wl]

1:44:52 I was there at the 1990 Anaheim 1 Supercross when Bayle landed on the haybale and cartwheeled. Larry Huffman was on the stadium microphone and yelled, "AND BAYLE HITS A BALE AND HE BAILS!!!!" 😁

[@DavidPingree_WTMG101]

Huffman was such a legend on the mic

[@DS-oi4wl]

@@DavidPingree_WTMG101 Here is another one by Huffman: "THEY'RE SWAPPING LIKE A HOLLYWOOD PARTY!!!!!" 😂

[@scottworatyla3277]

Gret podcast Ping! Stanton is a true ambassador to our sport

[@raymondharold5973]

When he first took over from RJ l was bummed because it didn’t feel like RJ had gotten to end his career like we figured it would go down and we knew he been helped along by Rick. Hearing the story about how that came about really filled in the gaps. He was always a real athlete and made our sport a very exciting experience.

[@1969cmp]

For me, Jeff's standout performance was at the 1991 Motocross des Nations in Holland. Such a gutsy ride.

[@jmr_56]

The 1994 Tampa incident was a tangle with Emig. They had a run in at the next round in Atlanta too.

[@DavidPingree_WTMG101]

Yep

[@shaneleyden622]

April 12th 1994 Tampa SX, it was Emig's dirty riding tactics causing Stanton to crash an made his decision to retire that year. Great interview!!!

[@brentcarr8365]

This is absolutely an amazing interview. Thanks a million for bringing these legends to the show!! Thanks Dave 🏁

[@kevintalbot8341]

The man who single handedly blew up the SoCal juggernaut dominance of the sport, he was an animal on a dirtbike !

[@DS-oi4wl]

That's a badass jersey behind Stanton...even for this era.

[@harvey663able]

That's from axo. That was from his last championship in 92, I believe. Jeff, and Damon Bradshaw both ran axo gear. Fox was coming on strong in the 90's and blew up around the mid 90's. Another great set of looking gear was sinsolo, (sp?). Wardy I believe finished his career in it. Both companies are sadly long gone.

[@carmelotansengco4605]

In '92, Damon won five races in a row from round 2 to round 6. He was on the way to winning Daytona which would have been his sixth straight but Jeff got him there.

[@timothykelly5588]

the biggest problem is no free, fun,convenient places to ride

[@markrice2821]

Tons of places to ride in Michigan!

[@fmradio42]

Yep, NJ Pine Barrons area all gone. last 30+ years

[@JokersWild70]

It was as I thought: Stanton had a run in with Jeff Emig at the '94 Tampa SX. No surprise there

[@ericd385]

Great show! 6time is one of my first moto hero’s Awesome to see what a genuine guy he is and great job on the interview ping!

[@ronaldtravis970]

He raced in a seriously competitive time 🤘

[@kjmaury5116]

Stanton or Payton should 100% be the usa team manager

[@55tmilam]

Broc Glover has the same story about his last SX coming back to an empty box van,and he won the race!!!!!!!

[@tpm3092]

JMB wasn't the last 500 National Champ. I believe Larocco was in '93, when they went to 8 250 rds and 4 500 rounds

[@jamesshirley8884]

44:11 in 1987 there was a national at Lake Secession MX in Anderson, SC. I don't remember much details about it.

[@55tmilam]

The only national that was held there. Rick Johnson won the 250 class and Donny Schmitt the 125

[@ArdenBallard]

Absolutely amazing show Ping.

[@1969cmp]

Daytona.......1987........Epic.

[@shannonbrewer871]

Ill tell ya what ping ive seen all of these shows been with you from day one. And i remember after watching episode 1 i thought this is the best motocross show ever and i immediately made a list of who id love to see on this show and this guy was in my top five i still have the list too and keep checking them off. Anything with stanton on it is awesome and to top it off wardy was on last time he was also one of my top five awesome

[@KirtVoreis]

Stanton was my childhood hero! I got to hang out with him in 1995 after a MTB race in Traverse city, MI. I spent a week at his farm and rode the Honda practice track with him and Steve Lamson. At the end of the week Jeff, Lamson and I went out on a street motorcycle cruise to his buddies house. On the way home Lamson and I rode side by side on Honda Valkyrie cruisers and Jeff was ahead of us on a XR 500. We went under a freeway overpass with Jeff leading. As we came out the other side a lady in a station wagon loses her brakes and runs through the intersection T-boning Jeff at about 50 mph. Lamson and I locked up the brakes and almost hit the wagon as Jeff gets launched rag doll into the air then slamming into a bus stop. It was unreal. We ran over to him and it was not a good sight, he was really banged up with blood foaming from his mouth. We waited for ambulance and got him to the hospital. My dad died on a street bike when i was a kid so it was very emotional for me to witness. Crazy to meet your hero and then watch him almost die in front of you. I will never forget that week with him and Lamson.

[@shawngrimm2118]

Bob Hannah designed and built lake Secession

[@Rideeverydayofficial]

Absolutely nuts! Iceman mtb race?

[@KirtVoreis]

@@RideeverydayofficialBack in the early nineties Stanton, Jeff Ward and Paul Tracy raced for the company I rode for, Yeti cycles. The owner was good friends with them and would build them custom race bikes and invite them to our XC and DH nationals. Was a rad time! Even got to work with Mert Lawwill designing DH bikes.

[@derekmattice3077]

@@Rideeverydayofficial Shanty Creek in Traverse City, MI hosted a Norba National until the mid 90s.

[@markmcg777]

Jeff I watched you and cheered for you. As a farm boy growing up and I heard your story at Steel City in 1987. An advantage or disadvantage depending on how you feel, when you make hay square bales on a 90+ degree day, you don’t stop because you are to hot or tired. That hay needs baled and in the barn.

[@guschristensen5671]

great podcast the Bigelow you forgot was Kirk, he was the oldest, great hearing the Michigan guy

[@liamhotspur9182]

Saw him twice, one in Maastricht/Holland with RJ all business and ready to kill face. Second in Valkenswaard MXDN, Damon rode good but MX Kid got teached a riding lesson. The track was UNBELIEVABLE destroyed last moto and Mr. Stanton just got warmed up... We could not believe what we saw from him, almost unhuman.

[@jdc8352]

This show is awesome. As usual.

[@russbohlinger4022]

Ping! Let me fix your audio issues. Love your stuff brother, lets chat on the audio control and set up.

[@GIT2WORK747]

They that was hard to take. Some people's voices just aren't made for radio.

[@zachklamfoth7583]

It’s Jeff he needs the mic in his face

[@scottackerman8981]

@@zachklamfoth7583 yeah he mumbles and up and down tone.

[@Powersparky59]

So cool back in the day we had keith bowen,eddie warren ,jeff stanton , brian swink ,niko izzi ,michigan used to put out some great racers , oh ya brock tickle

[@Rideeverydayofficial]

Dehoop

[@jinoziniosti5633]

@@Rideeverydayofficial Dehoop was the first MIchigan Mafia racer on the Whiskey Throttle show.

[@jmr_56]

Interesting thing about 91 was that Jeff had 4 wins in the 250 nationals and JMB didnt win any, but took the title. At the Hangtown mudder (only ran a single moto that day) Stanton, Ward, and Bradshaw all had dnfs while JMB got 2nd. Jeff also had a disasterous 2nd moto at Troy that sank his year.

[@DS-oi4wl]

Stanton was great...and is still great.

[@carmelotansengco4605]

Eight full seasons, six national titles and three des nations titles. Not bad.

[@teamflanneloutdoors5631]

Midwest guy here so definitely watched Stantons early days. That Hi-Point gear was sano! Was at bikeweek 89', Bayle won Gainesville, Stanton was pissed in the pits! Bradshaw won Daytona 125's, I think probably Jeff battled Wardy I'll have to watch it now. Larry Ward was Honda "support" 125 #971 in 89'. Thanks again, killer interview, dig the channel👍👍

[@Gpx111]

Thorpe last ride on 500 honda factory .he retired in 93

[@thomasmarr6347]

Growing up in Sherwood Mi there were rumors that Jeff would drive his ford ranger around during the summer with the Heat blowing to help get himself in shape for moto he was a beast 😎

[@JayEss414]

great video . cool dudes.

[@neillezotte6818]

Great interview. Wish Jeff's mic was placed better. Volume is up and down

[@DS-oi4wl]

1:09:16 I believe Bayle won Gainsville when Johnson got hurt and even wore "Starbuster" on the back of his race pants to indicate he was gunning for the top guys.

[@David_Boyd_]

Awesome 👌 show

[@markrice2821]

Outstanding Interview. My first win was at Baja Acres! "By sure luck lol" I knew Eddie Warren 801 very well. Also, Bob Hannah was everybody's Idle at that time! If I remember correctly Log Road was very hard pack and rocky track.

[@Powersparky59]

I remember being at polka dots race track in midland mich i was racing the 125 B class and i seen this guy hauling ass and found out it was jeff

[@DS-oi4wl]

2:21:36 Bob Hannah asked Stanton about retiring and if he missed it. "No," he said. "Then you made the right decision," Hannah told him. I like what Hannah said in an interview once about why he retired -- "Because I got tired of twistin' up my knees and landin' on my head," he said.😄

[@shawngrimm2118]

Lake Secession was Anderson SC

[@daykin17]

Larocco was the last 500 champ

[@derekmattice3077]

In 1993 as well, that was the final year of the split schedule with the 250s.

[@voodootele]

Great interview as always. Its crazy to think he referred to himself as the old guy, when he was only 24. I think his appearance had a lot to do with my perception of how old he was. When I look at the footage of him at the 1989 MXON, he was only 20 but he looks 30! I bet Stanton could grow a beard and had a hairy chest at 12 years of age.

[@Bobby83060]

Question. Ping, do you think we need to bring back the 125 class. Something more affordable for the kid that wants to give moto a go.

[@DavidPingree_WTMG101]

Absolutely!

[@harvey663able]

Im not ping but ping has stated on gypsy tails podcast that a 125 is needed to make the jump from super mini to big bikes is needed because the 250s are a bit much for the kids. I agree it should be part of it. Look at Deegan. Just before he signed with star he was on a ktm. As he was making a switch from super mini to star he had a few shows where he was on a ktn 125 to help ease the curve to the 250s. It was only a short time tho. In my opinion it will help kids learn to flow a bit better and COULD help stop some of the injuries that come from the no fear styles of kids. I also think between 250s and 450s some of the top guys should run a 2 stroke 250 to learn a bit more and ease that curve as well. You really have to flow with a 2 stroke even a 250 2 smoker.

[@liamhotspur9182]

Nobody needs 4strokes in Motocross!

[@jinoziniosti5633]

@@liamhotspur9182 well the posers and the vets ..

[@fmradio42]

I heard Jeff was on a road bike at a stop traffic light when a car hit the back of him. that JMB initials story is in Mcgrath's book Wide open.

[@liamhotspur9182]

What happened?!

[@fmradio42]

@@liamhotspur9182 Not sure, happened few years ago.

[@Tommo47NZ]

Yep

[@1969cmp]

Its crazy that a full time workers in the US only gets two weeks off, the lowest in the OECD.

[@TheLoopy989]

I don’t know how you tease this guy seems like the most salt of the earth down to earth great guy in the world so I’ll give him that. but for some reason I keep thinking of good times for SNL good times… yeah good times…

[@Ottos_ScLm_Race_videos_2009_on]

What year and race was it when Jeff whiskey throttled out of a corner.??.

[@carmelotansengco4605]

I think you're talking about Binghampton 1994.

[@fmradio42]

@@carmelotansengco4605 Broom Tioga is when he went off the track into the bushes?

[@fmradio42]

I found it on Facebook. Ward 🆚 Stanton [‘89 Dallas SX ~ final lap battle] #AtlantaMotoCrew #CamelSupercross #89DallasSX #Supercross #JeffStanton #JeffWard.

[@carmelotansengco4605]

@@fmradio42 Yes. I think that was John Dowd's first ride as a factory Yamaha rider.

[@JokersWild70]

Correction: LaRocco was the last 500 champ in 1993. 1993 was the last year of the split, was it not? I seem to remember Kiedrowski winning the 250 MX title that year, and then he ran the #1 plate in the 500 class, but lost to LaRocket. Also JMB is the only rider to win 3 AMA championships in one year. That can never be tied or beaten either. All 3 were legitimate seasons in their own right, so a 2 round "World Supercross" title, which was sanctioned by the FIM anyways, doesnt count

[@Bobby83060]

Deegan was blessed with a silver spoon life, and he seems to be damn good.

[@markrice2821]

He has great work ethic and desire. Love the kid! It's all about the parents!

[@scottackerman8981]

Stanton could win anywhere on any given day, he was just a monster in his time and we are lucky he was on the Des Nations team. But his interviews were always soooo boring, he even sounds boring in this interview (when you could hear him). Of course Ping made it a great show.

[@SB405-xj9vm]

Stanton was a Man Among Men! Work ethic, dedication and a desire to win. However, JEFF WAS WRONG WRONG WRONG about Robbie Reynard!!! Robbie didn’t grow up privileged. He grew up with BOTH of his parents and older sister. Trust me, they weren’t rich and neither Robbie or his sister were privileged! His parents and sister sacrificed everything for his racing! Just like Jeff did with Yamaha, Robbie received amateur support from Kawasaki. Yes, Robbie was considered the next (big thing, which was warranted) but injuries derailed that. However, he was never privileged!!!

[@downshiftdan]

Hey Jeff, why did you tell the Twitch Stenberg to bug off when he asked you for your autograph?

[@Rideeverydayofficial]

Larocco was last 500 champ. Was only 4-5 races

[@JosephDredd31]

David ,We don't race anymore because of the "COST", It's just too much in the economy were currently in. 10K just for a bike that only last's a season for most racers is just too much.

[@AdamKarriem]

I thought LaRocco was the last 500 champion.

[@normandbaillargeon2214]

I bought a Ezra Lusk practice bike 95 rm 250 from ED longacre. Gold anadized gold fork tubes hand built pipe totally a piece of crap

[@Powersparky59]

Ive went to detroit races for a long time so i know what im talking about my first race my mom drove 3 hours to pontiac silverdome in 1977 and i watched bob hannah battle with kent howerton and jeff ward was in the 125 class but dam jeff we paid you

[@randykirschbaum7261]

Ping, you are one of the best but please don't interrupt the guest to tell us your stories. We know your story because you had your own podcast already. Thanks

[@DavidPingree_WTMG101]

I’ll just sit there quietly then?

[@Powersparky59]

I think it’s ridiculous that jeff feels he had to be a idiot to fans to win a race , its us fans that pay you , that was the most ridiculous thing i ever heard

[@jordanwhisson5407]

Can’t stand bs god botherer’s

[@RussellHache]

There's too many commercials you're getting too greedy I stopped viewing the video because of too many commercials

[@DavidPingree_WTMG101]

Greedy? I don't monetize the show with KZbin... take it up with them.

[@RussellHache]

Ok thank for explaining that to me. Wow I wish Jeff would of spoke into the mic. LOL

[@dougdickason]

Ok, i do have one big issue, disagreement with Stanton, when he brought up Trey Canard "taking out Chad Reed and then not expecting Chad to return the favor as "Chad blasted him right after they got up. As distinguished as Stanton is, im surprised that he doesn't know that the reason why Trey wasn't expecting a payback was because it was all Chads fault that Trey took him.out. Chad basically cross jumped Trey over a small table (i believe it was a table) jumping from the right side (outside) to the left side (inside) while Trey maintained the left (inside) line the whole time and so their lines came together as they were landing...because Chad changed his line in mid air. That's why Trey wasn't expecting Chad to respond, not that Trey was some dimwit mindlessly jumping into people.