Scott Autrey

{{Infobox speedway rider

| name = Scott Autrey

| image = Scott Autrey.jpg

| birth_name = Scott Brian Autrey

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1953|7|9|df=y}}

| birth_place = Maywood, California, U.S.

| nationality = American

| years1 = 1973-1979

| career1 = Exeter Falcons

| years2 = 1980

| career2 = Swindon Robins

| years3 = 1981-1982

| career3 = Poole Pirates

| indivyear1 = 1978

| indivhonour1 = Daily Mirror Golden Hammer

| indivyear2 = 1978, 1979, 1980

| indivhonour2 = Strongbow Golden Gauntlets

| indivyear3 = 1978, 1979

| indivhonour3 = Daily Express Spring Classic

| indivyear4 = 1979

| indivhonour4 = Daily Mirror/Berger Grand Prix

| indivyear5 = 1980

| indivhonour5 = Midland Riders Champion

| teamyear1 = 1974

| teamhonour1 = British League Winner

| teamyear2 = 1978

| teamhonour2 = Spring Gold Cup Winner

| teamhonour3 = World Team Cup winner

| teamyear3 = 1982

}}

Scott Brian Autrey (born July 9, 1953){{cite book | last = Oakes | first = Peter |author2=Mauger, Ivan OBE, MBE |authorlink2=Ivan Mauger | title = Who's Who of World Speedway | publisher = Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd | year = 1976 | isbn = 0-904584-04-6 }} is an American former professional motorcycle speedway rider. In 1976, he became the first American rider to reach a speedway world final since Ernie Roccio in 1951.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=z_gDAAAAMBAJ&q=scott+autrey+american+motorcyclist&pg=PA25 |title=Autrey Reached For The Stars |author=Edwards, Andrew |year=1977 |work=American Motorcyclist |accessdate=9 April 2019 }} He earned 22 caps for the United States national speedway team.{{cite web |url=https://britishspeedway.co.uk/docs/Ultimate_Index_1929-2022.pdf |title=Ultimate rider index, 1929-2022 |website=British Speedway |access-date=1 September 2024}}

Motorcycle racing career

Born in Maywood, California, Autrey began his motorcycle racing career in 1964 by competing in flat track racing at Perris Auto Speedway.{{cite web|url=https://www.motorcycle.com/features/trailblazers-hall-famer-2018-scott-autrey.html |title=Trailblazers Hall Of Famer 2018: Scott Autrey |date=3 May 2018 |publisher=motorcycle.com |accessdate=9 April 2019}} In 1968, he had a major off-road racing victory when he won the 100cc class in the Rosarita Grand Prix in Mexico. He also competed in road racing, placing second in the novice road race class held before the 1971 Daytona 200.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WfcDAAAAMBAJ&q=1971+daytona+200&pg=PA21 |title=The 1971 Daytona Classic |author=Kocks, Rick |year=1971 |work=American Motorcyclist |accessdate=9 April 2019 }}

In 1972, Autrey finished second in the United States Speedway National Championship. After witnessing the 1972 Individual Speedway World Championship in Wembley Stadium, he made the decision to concentrate fully on speedway racing. In 1973, Autrey was recommended by Ivan Mauger to join the Exeter Falcons in England,{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000760/19730306/028/0028 |title=Mighty Belle Vue still hold the aces |website=Leicester Daily Mercury |date=6 March 1973 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=1 September 2024}} where he stayed for seven years.

In 1980 he joined Swindon Robins,{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004974/19800221/014/0014 |title=Gramstad sold to Leicester |website=Western Daily Press |date=21 February 1980 |via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription |access-date=26 August 2024}} before moving on to Poole Pirates from 1981 to 1982.{{cite book | last = Lethbridge | first = Tony | title = Speedway in the South West | publisher = NPI Media Group | date = January 2004 | isbn = 0-7524-2915-9}}Beasley, J. (2003) Poole Pirates Speedway, Paleface Publications. {{ISBN|0-9539608-9-7}}

He finished 3rd in the 1978 World Speedway Championship at Wembley and won the World Team Cup with the USA in 1982.Bamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2002). A History of the World Speedway Championship. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. {{ISBN|0-7524-2402-5}} He retired from the sport at the end of 1982 at a relatively young age.

Automobile racing career

After his two-wheeled racing career ended, he became a NASCAR driver who made one Nextel Cup start. He competed in the Winston West Series full-time. That Cup race came in 1985, when Autrey started 29th in the forty-one car field, where he dropped out late with transmission issues. He finished 34th as a result.