Born in Maywood, California, Autrey began his motorcycle racing career in 1964 by competing in flat track racing at Perris Auto Speedway.[4] In 1968, he had a major off-road racing victory when he won the 100cc class in the Rosarita Grand Prix in Mexico. He also competed in road racing, placing second in the novice road race class held before the 1971 Daytona 200.[5]
After his two-wheeled racing career ended, Autrey became a NASCAR driver who made one Winston Cup start. He also competed in the Winston West Series part-time. His lone Cup race came in 1985, when Autrey started 29th in the forty-one car field, where he dropped out late with transmission issues. He finished 34th as a result. In eleven West Series starts, he scored four top ten finishes.
