Special Section
[ TRIBUTE ]
MICHAEL SPURGEON JR.
1978-2019
BY NATE VAN WAGNEN | PHOTOGRAPHS BY TARA BOWKER AND JAMES SISK
The PDRA community lost one of its
most beloved figures in March with
the passing of chief starter Michael
Spurgeon Jr. A volunteer firefighter
in Bardwell, Texas, Spurgeon was
riding with his father, Bardwell Police
Chief Michael Spurgeon Sr., on the
morning of Sunday, March 24 when
their car was struck by an oncoming
vehicle. The collision claimed the
lives of the father and son, as well
as the driver of the other car and his
two children.
Spurgeon was just over a week away
from beginning his fourth season with
the PDRA. News of his passing spread
quickly online and drew heartfelt
tribute posts in the days leading up to
the PDRA East Coast Nationals, with
posts noting his kindness, unwavering
positive attitude and dedication to the
sport and the role he played in it.
“MIKE WILL ALWAYS
HAVE A SPOT ON THE
STARTING LINE AT THE
PDRA RACES.”
about making a call because he
knew the right call before it ever
needed to be made. From an em-
ployee standpoint, from a friend
standpoint, it was a calming deal.
You knew the job was going to be
handled, the right call was going to
be made and you knew you could
go to bat for your starter because
Mike was not going to make a
wrong call.”
PDRA Race Director Tyler Crossnoe
worked closely with Spurgeon last
season as the track prep director,
with the two coming together to
keep the show moving as quickly
and safely as possible. Crossnoe was
looking forward to continuing that
work with Spurgeon this season,
especially as Crossnoe moves into
the race director position. PDRA officials and racers memorial-
ized Spurgeon throughout the East
Coast Nationals. Memorial stickers
rode down the GALOT eighth-mile
strip on countless race cars, God
Speed Ministry chaplains Renee
Bingham and Tommy D’Aprile paid
tribute in their trackside church
service and the series unveiled a
“Spurgeon Jr. Ave.” sign for the
starting line.
“What Mike brought to the table,
just on the starter’s stand, is just
irreplaceable,” says Tyler Crossnoe,
race director, PDRA. “With his years
of experience, he never had to think “That sign will travel with us and be
on the starting line at the rest of the
races this season,” Crossnoe says.
“Mike will always have a spot on the
starting line at the PDRA races.”
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