Wyatt Howard Races IMCA Duel in the Desert

LAS VEGAS, NV. (November 13, 2010)- 2010 IMCA Modified Utah State Champion, Wyatt Howard of Price, Utah entered the 13th annual IMCA Duel in the Desert at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, Nevada for the first time in. The rookie raced well as he competed against 231 other IMCA Modified drivers and was the best Utah driver all weekend. 


Howard started the weekend off by winning his heat race, which was his first ever race on the half mile famous speed-plant. Howard made the A-Main Qualifying Feature which the top-four finishers in that race made the $7,777 to win main event for Saturday.


Howard started third but fell to eighteenth due to the over aggressive driving by the other drivers. Howard was seen racing against IMCA's best in that feature. Howard did the same for Friday as he won his B-Feature, making another qualifying feature. Howard raced to a twenty-first finish after starting near the rear of the field. 


Howard had to race the likes of “The Animal” Jeff Taylor and 2009 IMCA Supernationals winner, Randy Havlik. Howard then had to run in the Last Chance Qualifier on Saturday (Winner advances to main event), Wyatt finished only a few spots off of making the feature.


All in all, Howard had a really good weekend and will be a force to reckon with in 2011.


Originally posted TeamJetLiftRacing.com

14 Year Old Takes IMCA Championship from His Dad

Engines have been part of the Howard genetics for generations. They build them, modify them and ultimately race with them. It started with motor cycles.Twenty five years ago, Harvey Howard was building his name into a legend as he raced the desert on his Honda YZ80. 

By the early 1990s, Harvey's love for racing was still alive and he began racing stock cars. Eventually, he purchased Desert Thunder Raceway in Price, Utah and shares his passion for racing with other drivers.

Then, in 2009, Harvey stepped up his game. He crossed finish line after finish line. He appeared on the cover of two high profile racing magazines, Speedway Illustrated (Dec. 2009) and Dirt Modified (March 2010). He completed 77 races. Harvey placed first in three races, in the top five of 23 races and in the Top Ten, 40 times.

Harvey Howard won the 2009 IMCA Utah State Championship. 

At first glance this is an impressive title. The man who won it, Harvey Howard, is paralyzed. On June 2, 1985, while racing motocross at his hometown track in Price, Utah, Harvey's Honda motorcycle's engine seized. Harvey went up and over the handlebars, landing face down on the track. His bike followed, pile driving his spinal cord. Five weeks prior he had just turned 17, his world was in his hand with a sponsorship with Malcolm Smith Racing ready to sign.

After winning the title of 2009 IMCA Utah State Champion, Harvey Howard retired from the sport he loved. It was a selfless act. His son, Wyatt, wanted to race.

Through late winter and early spring, the father and son built a car together. Wyatt would race with the same number as his dad, #72.

Together, father and son traveled to 37 races between five states (Idaho, Utah, Nevada, Wyoming and Colorado). There were fender benders, black flags and exhaustion. At every track, Wyatt and his car, #72w promoted safe driving and promoted Zero Fatalities. He apologized to drivers he bumped and congratulated those who placed before him. 

It would take until September 14, 2010 before Wyatt would experience the thrill of a first place win (Vernal, Utah).

Wyatt Howard is fourteen. He's too young to have a driver's license. This didn't stop him from earning nine Top Five Finishes and fourteen Top Ten Finishes. He took home Rookie of the Year from both Diamond Mountain Speedway and  Desert Thunder Raceway. 

Wyatt is young and he's fast. He is also taking the title, IMCA Utah State Championship from his Dad, Harvey. Wyatt Howard is the 2010 IMCA Utah State Champion. He is the youngest driver to hold this title...ever.

Wyatt Howard Announced as Freshman IMCA Modified Winner

LINCOLN, Neb. – A final group of four rookie drivers each received $100 gift cards from Speedway Motors after earning career first feature wins during the 2010 season.

Freshman IMCA Modified winners were Christopher Crompe, at Ventura Raceway and Wyatt Howard at Diamond Mountain Speedway.

Christopher Wiltse recorded his first IMCA Sunoco Stock Car victory at Independence Motor Speedway and Cory Kyle won his first Mach-1 Sport Compact feature at Shelby County Speedway.

“More than 90 drivers who met all the rookie eligibility requirements won feature races this season,” noted IMCA Marketing Director Kevin Yoder. “I anticipate that this program with Speedway Motors will be equally successful and as popular with our drivers next season.”

Post originally posted at IMCA.com

Wyatt Howard at Diamond Mountain Speedway

VERNAL, UTAH (June 19, 2010) - Wyatt Howard of Price, Utah traveled to the Diamond Mountain Speedway in Vernal, Utah, the day after he spent his Friday at the Fairgrounds Speedway in Cortez, Colorado, over 400 miles away.

Howard did not do well in his heat race but by the feature, he was seen starting in the twelfth spot and found himself battling for the win with a couple laps left. While working on the leader, the car had a terrible “push” and ended up falling back to finish fourth after being passed by track points leader Don Hardinger of Vernal and Levi Pummell of Vernal.

Howard will now get set to do battle at the Battle Mountain Raceway in Battle Mountain, Nevada when the Wild West Modified Tour rolls into Nevada.


Post originally from Big West Racing

Wyatt Howard Takes Third at Diamond Mountain Speedway

VERNAL, UTAH (May 1, 2010)- Wyatt Howard of Price, Utah entered his first race of the 2010 season and also his first race in an IMCA Modified. Howard cut his teeth at the Desert Thunder Go-Kart ranks a few years ago, now he is piloting the #72W IMCA Modified. The car that his father drove for the last couple of years. Howard was seen lined up in the eighth position in his heat race. Howard crossed the finish line in the third spot. Howard then finished in the third position in the feature also after the races getting snowed out. Howard then will travel to the Desert Thunder Raceway in Price, Utah for the season opener at Price.


Originally posted TeamJetLiftRacing.com