Atlanta had been cruel to Jeremy in 2018,
during an ugly crash at the start of his race, his
head was run over by another competitor. He
said his Arai helmet saved him that day for sure.
Beaten and battered, he made his way thru
the season, making the races he could afford.
Jeremy was another journeyman flat track racer
chasing the dream, to step up to the
twins, and be a paid, professional racer.
Who wouldn't want to leave their day job behind?
He couldn't swing Daytona for 2019, so the
next round at Atlanta would be his first
American Flat Track race of the season.
American Flat Track race of the season.
He had no hard feelings toward Atlanta
from last year, just the excitement
that comes with going racing.
that comes with going racing.
He was chasing settings and focusing on
making the main. The rider in front of him
pitched it away coming out of two. He tried
to go round the outside, but got closed off.
Nowhere to go, he got catapulted over the wall.
Seeing the cut-down telephone pole coming
up fast, he tried to change directions
in mid-flight with no luck.
His helmet slammed off the pole,
flicking him around like a rag doll.
Still fully conscious, he saw the sky
and earth flash by repeatedly, a common sight
to many a crashing rider. Jeremy said his
helmet hitting the pole was the loudest
cracking noise he ever heard.
He said 'I just knew, just knew I was
paralyzed when my helmet hit
that pole.' Jeremy believes wearing
an Arai helmet saved his life a second time.
He could barely breathe when he came to a
halt, lying on the race track. His fears were
realized when he tried to move but couldn't.
'Please God, don't let me be paralyzed.'
Jeremy was taken by ambulance
to a hospital on March 23rd,
where his injuries were confirmed
and where he stayed until April 8th,
when he was flown to Craig
Hospital in Colorado for
rehabilitation with a tentative
release date of mid-July.
The cost of treatment is ferocious.
realized when he tried to move but couldn't.
'Please God, don't let me be paralyzed.'
Jeremy was taken by ambulance
to a hospital on March 23rd,
where his injuries were confirmed
and where he stayed until April 8th,
when he was flown to Craig
Hospital in Colorado for
rehabilitation with a tentative
release date of mid-July.
The cost of treatment is ferocious.
For a lot of us racers, death is not
the worst thing that can happen.
One second you think 'I got it'
and the next it's lights out.
No, the pain is left behind
for those who loved us.
To go on living is the hardest
challenge a racer can face.
It's a long, hard road to recover
One second you think 'I got it'
and the next it's lights out.
No, the pain is left behind
for those who loved us.
To go on living is the hardest
challenge a racer can face.
It's a long, hard road to recover
from an injury like this.
It takes strength on many levels to do it.
And just like in racing, it takes a team.
From the glue that hold them together, his
sister Heather with the rest of his family, to
the 'AMA Rookie Class of 79' for support,
our flat track family & friends.
I gotta tip my hat to the volunteer
fire department that Jeremy
belongs to, these guys have been mowing
his grass since he has been laid up.
Sometimes things like this
bring out the best in people.
It takes strength on many levels to do it.
And just like in racing, it takes a team.
From the glue that hold them together, his
sister Heather with the rest of his family, to
the 'AMA Rookie Class of 79' for support,
our flat track family & friends.
I gotta tip my hat to the volunteer
fire department that Jeremy
belongs to, these guys have been mowing
his grass since he has been laid up.
Sometimes things like this
bring out the best in people.
During our interview Jeremy told
me that his dad used to race and that's
how he and his brother Brandon got started.
Both brothers did well in flat track racing.
Sadly, Brandon suffered a severe brain
injury in a car crash in December of 2018.
Hard to believe both brothers could suffer
life-changing injuries just months apart.
Now both brothers can encourage
the other toward recovery.
Jeremy is attacking his rehabilitation
with the same intensity of racing. He
knows God put him here for a reason.
He tells me how Brad Baker called and
gave words of encouragement,
how they spoke about how their
lives have changed and what they face.
As a matter of fact, this interview happened
with the same intensity of racing. He
knows God put him here for a reason.
He tells me how Brad Baker called and
gave words of encouragement,
how they spoke about how their
lives have changed and what they face.
As a matter of fact, this interview happened
because of Brad and Charlie Roberts.
Trying to focus on the good,
I asked Jeremy to tell me about
his favorite memories in flat track. He
said 'racing with my brother was always great.
I loved to race handlebar to handlebar with
some of friends like Dalton and Dylan Bell.
Ya know it was a real honor to have lined
up with Brad Baker and Chris Carr too.'
Jeremy laughs when I tell him
his favorite memories in flat track. He
said 'racing with my brother was always great.
I loved to race handlebar to handlebar with
some of friends like Dalton and Dylan Bell.
Ya know it was a real honor to have lined
up with Brad Baker and Chris Carr too.'
Jeremy laughs when I tell him
that they’re a lot of people who
only dream of doing stuff like that.
If you're up on Facebook, stop by and
say hello Jeremy and Brandon.
Also keep in mind the
'AMA Rookie Class on 79' is taking
donations to help Jeremy and his family.
If you're up on Facebook, stop by and
say hello Jeremy and Brandon.
Also keep in mind the
'AMA Rookie Class on 79' is taking
donations to help Jeremy and his family.
Jeremy wanted to thank everyone
for their love & support esp Kylee.
(photos from the Werner family)
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