Jeff Ward

Supercross series leader Jeff Ward of Mission Viejo heads the list of riders who will compete tonight in the Miller Superbowl of Motocross at the Coliseum. Ward, 23, a Kawasaki factory rider, holds a seven-point lead over Yamaha's Broc Glover going into the 10th race of the 11-race series. Ward has earned 196 points, has won at Houston and is the defending Superbowl winner.

No racer has been more successful changing disciplines than Jeff Ward. Ward, a 44-year-old Newport Beach resident, was a supercross champion long before the sport's most famous name, Jeremy McGrath, won his first race. He quit in his prime to begin open-wheel racing and soon began a string of top-five finishes at the Indianapolis 500. Ward accepted a late offer to drive in the Indy 500 in May, but his passion the last two years has returned to two-wheel racing.

When newcomer Jeff Ward showed up for qualifying at the Indianapolis 500 last month, he said just about everyone asked him if he was related to Rodger Ward, a king at the speedway in the late 1950s and early 1960s. No, he told them, although he certainly wouldn't mind following in his footsteps. But it didn't happen this year. Ward made two qualifying attempts, but his average speeds in the 224-m.p.h. range in a year-old Lola Ford-Cosworth fell below the 225.

Jeff Ward overtook Al Unser Jr. just inches from the line Saturday night to win the Boomtown 500 in another incredible finish at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth. Ward never led until he beat Unser, who had the preferred inside line, by a nose--only .0111 seconds--in the closest finish in Indy Racing League history. That broke the record set at Texas last fall. Airton Dare finished third, .0595 seconds behind Ward, who won for the first time in 51 career starts with an average speed of 169.

Gary Botha scored two goals and assisted on another to lead United States International University's soccer team to a 3-0 victory over the University of Portland Friday at USIU. Jeff Ward had a goal and an assist and Jon Sissions had two assists for USIU (1-1).

Gary Vandermolen and Jeff Ward scored two goals apiece Saturday to lead the United States International University men's soccer team to a 4-0 win over San Jose State in a nonconference match at USIU. Ward, who has nine goals this season, also had an assist. USIU goalies Gary Francis and Oscar Rodriguez combined for the shutout. The Gulls are 7-3-1, and San Jose State fell to 3-6-2.

Moorpark College's Brian Lamb, the Western State Conference Player of the Year in golf, shot a 151 for two rounds to help the Raiders place fifth in the recent state championships. Mike Zambri shot a 74-76--150 to lead Moorpark's contingent at Via Verde Country Club in San Dimas. Jeff Ward shot a 78-76--154, Scott Hunter 77-80--150, Derek London 80-81--161 and Matt Williamson 88-92--180 to round out the scoring. Moorpark shot 773 as a team.

Seldom have two motorcycle riders been so evenly matched, and so far in front of the competition, as are motocross riders Jeff Ward and Rick Johnson this year. In 21 national motos in Supercross, 250cc and 500cc, they have 18 wins. Ward, 26, a Kawasaki factory-supported rider who lives in Mission Viejo, already has won the Supercross series for stadium races, which will conclude tonight with the Coors Superbowl of Motocross at the Coliseum.

Jeff Ward, who started fourth, won the 20-lap main event of the 250 class in the Mickey Thompson ArenaCross event Friday in front of 7,622 at the Anaheim Arena. Ward, of San Juan Capistrano, took the lead on the 14th lap when he, Jimmy Gaddis of Las Vegas, Doug Dubach of Tustin and Pedro Gonzales of Anaheim got tangled racing for the lead. Gaddis finished second, Gonzales third and Ray Crumb of Dana Point fourth.

In five Indianapolis 500 starts, Jeff Ward has finished second, third and fourth. "It's about time for a one to go with that two, three and four," the 40-year-old Scot said. "No doubt, this is the best chance I ever had, to be driving for a team like Chip Ganassi's. It's all a driver could ask for. "Now it's up to me to not make any mistakes, let the team call the race and be in the top three for the last pit stop. Then it's up to me."

Bump Day, one of the intriguing elements of the Indianapolis 500 that sets it apart from all other races, should live up to its reputation today. All the cars and drivers not yet qualified, and some drivers who are, will be on the waiting list at Indianapolis Motor Speedway when the third and final round of time trials begins. One spot remains to fill the 33-car field for Sunday's 85th running of motor racing's premier classic.

Wherever Jeff Ward goes, even around Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the first questions asked are usually about motocross. After all, from 1977 to 1992, he was one of the greatest who ever rode. Even though he is one of the Indy Racing League's brightest new stars, his motocross legacy can't be forgotten. Before Ward made the switch to four wheels, he won seven national championships and became the first rider to win all four of the American Motorcyclist Assn.'

Jeff Ward continued to make his transition from motocross to Indy car racing a successful one as he qualified Saturday for the pole in today's Dura-Lube 200, the second event of the Pep Boys Indy Racing League season. Ward ran a record 172.753 mph around Phoenix International Raceway's mile oval in ISM Racing's Aurora-powered G Force to earn a $20,000 PPG bonus for his 20.839 second lap. The margin between Ward and hometown Phoenix favorite Billy Boat was .028 second, or 0.232 mph.

When newcomer Jeff Ward showed up for qualifying at the Indianapolis 500 last month, he said just about everyone asked him if he was related to Rodger Ward, a king at the speedway in the late 1950s and early 1960s. No, he told them, although he certainly wouldn't mind following in his footsteps. But it didn't happen this year. Ward made two qualifying attempts, but his average speeds in the 224-m.p.h. range in a year-old Lola Ford-Cosworth fell below the 225.

Jeff Ward, who started fourth, won the 20-lap main event of the 250 class in the Mickey Thompson ArenaCross event Friday in front of 7,622 at the Anaheim Arena. Ward, of San Juan Capistrano, took the lead on the 14th lap when he, Jimmy Gaddis of Las Vegas, Doug Dubach of Tustin and Pedro Gonzales of Anaheim got tangled racing for the lead. Gaddis finished second, Gonzales third and Ray Crumb of Dana Point fourth.

Supercross series leader Jeff Ward of Mission Viejo heads the list of riders who will compete tonight in the Miller Superbowl of Motocross at the Coliseum. Ward, 23, a Kawasaki factory rider, holds a seven-point lead over Yamaha's Broc Glover going into the 10th race of the 11-race series. Ward has earned 196 points, has won at Houston and is the defending Superbowl winner.

Jeff Ward of Mission Viejo won the World Supercross Final at the Coliseum Saturday night before 45,724 fans. Ward held a slight lead over Johnny O'Mara of Gardnerville, Nev., throughout the race. On the final lap, O'Mara came as close as Ward's back tire, but Ward cut him off on a hairpin turn and finished strong to win. The format for the main event was changed twice during the evening. Originally, race promoter Mike Goodwin had planned a staggered start.

Jeff Ward, a motorcycle superstar, is finding the transition from motocross to auto racing a challenging one. "In many ways--mental preparation, physical conditioning, concentration and determination to succeed--racing is the same, whether it's on two wheels or four wheels," he said. "On the other hand, you can't go sliding a 1,400-pound Lola around a corner the way I did my Kawasaki."

Jeff Ward, seven-time national motocross champion, will be riding in his final Supercross Saturday night at the Coliseum, but the 31-year-old from San Juan Capistrano isn't retiring. Ward is only shifting gears. And means of locomotion. He has been testing an Indy Lights race car and hopes to make his auto racing debut Oct. 18 at Laguna Seca in one of Norm Turley's P.I.G. (Personal Investment Group) Racing machines.