Progressive AFT - News - Picking a National Number: No. 7 Sammy Halbert

Picking a National Number: No. 7 Sammy Halbert

November 26, 2014

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Nov. 25, 2014) – When athletes choose a number to be stitched onto the back of their jersey, more times than not there is some kind of reasoning as to why they chose that particular number.

Sammy Halbert’s National No. 7 is no exception, as it is closest to the number his dad used to wear when he competed (his dad was No. 07).

“I’ve always wanted to be able to run No. 7," Halbert said. "As an amateur I was number 07 and that was the number my dad used to run. I just always wanted to have 7 on my bike. And so it finally worked out to where I was able to have the opportunity to do so.”

Halbert claimed the No. 7 in 2010 after having competed with the No. 43 since his AMA Pro Flat Track debut in 2006.

The last time the No. 7 had been worn before Halbert was on the back of Mike Kidd from 1983-1986. Just four other riders used the number with Mert Lawwill, Sammy Tanner and Billy Huber each riding as No. 7 for at least seven years. Mark Brelsford was No. 7 in 1971, sandwiched between Tanner’s (’60-’70) and Lawwill’s (’72-’78) runs with it.

Of the single-digit national numbers, Halbert’s No. 7 has been used the second least. Since 1947, no rider ran as No. 7 for a total of 33 years. Only the No. 6 has seen less time on a bike in Grand National Championship competition.

Halbert’s lone previous number, No. 43, is currently unused, but it was, of course, formerly ridden by AMA Pro Flat Track’s own play-by-play man, Scottie Deubler.