Inspired by his late mother, Derry motocross rider eager to compete at High Point National

TJ Squib’s motocross racing career started with his mother Tracy by his side in the pits at every race.

Now every time he puts his helmet on and enters the starting gate, he does so to honor her memory.

Tracy died in 2020, a little over a year into Squib’s racing career, but he has continued on because he knows that’s what his mom would want.

On Saturday, Squib, a Derry native, will be racing at the Pro Motocross High Point National at High Point Raceway in Mt. Morris.

“When she passed away, that really lit a fire in me, and I just went to work,” Squib said. “I started racing late, so I was always looked over in a way. Everyone always doubted me because of that but not her. She always told me I could do it, so when she passed away, I knew I had to do it because I wanted to prove her right.”

Squib will race in the 450 class, and it will be his first time entering the High Point National.

Two other local competitors, Greensburg native Vincent Luhovey and Brian Saunier of Pittsburgh, also are scheduled to compete.

While many riders start in the amateur ranks before they are 10 years old, Squib’s career started a little bit later. He started racing as an amateur in 2019 at 15.

He did have some quads growing up on his family farm, but the dirt bike dream came later.

“I just got into it on kind of a whim,” Squib said. “I didn’t have any family history in it. My older brother used to watch X-Games, so that’s how I found out about dirt bikes. I wanted to try it earlier, but my mom said they were too dangerous. When I was 15, she finally let me get one.”

Squib started racing locally his first year and rode his bike any chance he got while working with his dad Thomas at their family lawn care business.

After his mother died in 2020, an innocent victim when a revenge-seeking gunman fired shots into the wrong house, Squib received support from friends in the racing community as well as his family.

“I wasn’t able to sign myself into races because I was only 16, and you have to be 18 to sign a waiver, so a friend we met through racing, Michelle Lovett, would come to every race to be my guardian and sign for me, so I can race,” Squib said.

He also has received local support from sponsors Podium Works, Fast Track Moto, R&X Auto and Truck Accessories, Wagner Trucking, J. Inman Properties, Keystone Foam, Latrobe Pitt Stop and Terri Waughtel.

Squib made his debut in a Pro National last year at Unadilla in New York. He also raced at Budd’s Creek in Maryland and Ironman National in Indiana.

Now he will make his first attempt at his home track moto. It’ll be his first time running a 450 at a national after entering the 250 class last year.

“It’s wild being there with guys like Jett (Lawrence), who are your idols growing up because you see them winning on TV all the time,” Squib said. “I’ll be competing with them. I’ve talked to some of them at drivers meetings, and they are all really nice guys. They’re humble.”

Squib did not make a main event last year, but he hopes he can break through Saturday.

“My starts on a 450 are really good, so if I have to go to (a last chance qualifier), I hope I can get a holeshot and stay in the top four,” Squib said. “I’ve also been working on my qualifying, so maybe I can lay down a burner lap and not have to worry about an LCQ. Either way, if I can make the moto, I’ll be content.”