Wyatt Howard Brings Home His First Win of the Season at Diamond Mountain Speedway

Diamond Mountain Speedway, Vernal, Utah-- Wyatt Howard grabbed the checkered flag at Diamond Mountain Speedway over Father's Day Weekend claiming his first victory of the 2011 Season.
 
Howard placed fourth in the heat. Then qualified on the pole and jumped out to the lead in the Main as the green flag fell.
         
June 17, 2011 marks just the second time Howard has finished first. In September 2010, it was also at Diamond Mountain Speedway where Howard claimed his first career win.

Saturday, still at Diamond Mountain Speedway, Wyatt drove car #72w across the finish line for his second win of the weekend and season!

All Photos courteous of Shawn Stanley:

Getting the #72w Ready to Race 

              

Wyatt overlooking car #72w

The Race is On

#72w

Taking the lead

Checkered Flag Here He Comes

The Trophy

Wyatt Howard and His Winning Weekend

Wyatt Howard Racing Finishes Top Four at Diamond Mountain Speedway

Vernal, Utah-June 4, 2011--Wyatt Howard Racing continued the season at Diamond Mountain Speedway where Howard started near last in the heat race with a second. 


Howard reports, "car handling was a huge factor in the race." 


He then started approximately fourth and worked his way into second position where he remained through most of the race. On a restart, Howard pushed himself and the car in attempt to get around first and spun out, damaging the left rear of the car.


On the next restart, Howard worked his way forward securing the fourth position where he finished out of eleven cars.

Photo by: Shawn Stanley

Photo by: Shawn Stanley

Photo by: Shawn Stanley

Photo by: Shawn Stanley

Photo by: Shawn Stanley

Consumer Reports: Are Car Buyers Willing to Pay More for Better Fuel Economy?

Wyatt Howard Interviews Consumer Reports 

 Deputy Online Automotive Editor, Jeff Bartlett

Wyatt Howard may only be 15, too young for a driver's license, however, he understands the current economy, especially when it comes to rising gasoline costs. At each race, car #72w, guzzles $95 of the gasoline tonic and then there's keeping the tanks of the truck that pulls #72w to the race. 


Racing season is in full force and as Wyatt Howard Racing loads the trailer, they're contemplating what to do with these crazy gas prices...and then there's the fact that sometime in the very near future, Wyatt is going to want a street car.


Today, Wyatt had the opportunity to sit down with  Jeff Bartlett, Deputy Online Automotive Editor at Consumer Reports to talk about the topic of “are car buyers willing to pay more for better fuel economy?” (See Wyatt Howard interview Consumer Reports Editor, Jeff Bartlett)

Even those not behind the wheel of a race car are feeling the pain of the tough economy and high gas prices. According to the latest  nationally representative Consumer Reports survey*, driving consumers are prioritizing fuel economy with their next car purchase–some 62 percent of Americans expect to choose a model with much better or somewhat better fuel economy and 58 percent said they would pay extra for a more efficient vehicle.  And to save at the pump, they are willing to compromise on purchase price, amenities, and size—but not safety.

We're becoming thrifty as a nation with the average age of a car driven by respondents increasing eight years and the significant drop in annual car sales over recent years. The survey shows the trend is the same regardless of demographics. With 23 percent of surveyed motorists driving cars from the same decade Wyatt was born (1990s), many of these vehicles are wearing out and behind in current safety standards.


The survey asked motorists "What would you do to save on fuel?" 

	New car	Used car
Pay more for fuel-efficient car	58%	49%
Compromise amenities or comfort	44	54
Compromise size or capacity	47	48
Compromise performance	27	35
Compromise safety	11	14

The study shows that consumers are willing to pay more for better fuel economy. 

 Consumer Reports will dig deeper into the survey's findings on attitudes toward car buying in upcoming blogs at www.ConsumerReports.org.

*The Consumer Reports National Research Center conducted telephone surveys of 2,033 random adults comprising 1,018 men and 1,015 women 18 years of age and older. Respondents were screened for ownership by the household of one or more vehicles. The analysis is based on the 1,764 adults who said that their household owns a vehicle. Interviewing took place over April 28-May 2, 2011. The sampling error is +/- 2.4 percentage points at a 95% confidence level.

 With more than 7 million print and online subscribers, Consumer Reports is published by Consumers Union, the world's largest independent, not-for-profit, product-testing organization. It conducts the most comprehensive auto-test program of any U.S. publication or Website and owns and operates a 327-acre Auto Test Center in Connecticut. The organization's auto experts have decades of experience in driving, testing, and reporting on cars. To subscribe, consumers can call 1-800-234-1645 or visit www.ConsumerReports.org.

Voting Underway for Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational

Vote Wyatt Howard

This morning launched voting to determine 18 of the 20 IMCA Modifited Starters for the Friday, September 9 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational. Wyatt Howard is asking for your vote. Just click the banner at the top of this post to start voting! Once there, go down the list to: Howard, Wyatt - Utah - State champion. Check the box next to his name, scroll to the bottom of the list and click "Vote"...that's it!

All voting must be done through the IMCA website  Wyatt is hoping to be one of the drivers with the top vote totals from his region to start the $1,000 to win, 20-lap special druing the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Cenex.

Completing the 20-car field will be IMCA’s wildcard provisionals, the highest driver in national point standings and then the top driver in total feature wins as of Sept. 2 in attendance that week at Boone Speedway.

Their numbers of feature wins will be the tie breaker if two or more drivers are tied for the national point standing provisional; second-place finishes will break any ties for the All-Star spot determined by feature wins.

Voting will be conducted until Aug. 1. All-Star drivers will be notified that week. Provisional starters will be announced on Wednesday, Sept. 7, the first day of qualifying for Modifieds at Super Nationals.

The 98 candidates on the All-Star ballot include last season’s regional and state champions, and the winners of events that paid $1,000 or more held from June 1, 2010 through May 30, 2011.

The eighth annual invitational is a qualifying event for the 2012 All-Star ballot.

Wyatt Howard Races WWMT at Desert Thunder Raceway

At his hometown track, Desert Thunder Raceway, Wyatt Howard Racing prepared for the re-scheduled EQ IMCA Wild West Modified Tour event May 27 and May 28.

photo courteous of Travis Barrington

After finishing fourth in the heat race, he went on to the B-main. The home-track advantage didn't prove true as car #72w struggled with transmission troubles when he went "too tech". The pit was a flurry of scrambling to get the spare transmission into the car and Howard set out for the A-main. Starting in the thirteenth position, he worked his way around the track into eleventh position when he was hit from back on the first straight, sending car #72w into the infield. It took three laps before Howard made it back onto the track, where he claimed the twentieth spot and returned the next night. 

Saturday night's race was far better for Howard as he won his heat. He started in the fourth position in the main and battled for second with Justin Yeager. After a caution, Howard battled several laps with Davis Carst for first. Another caution. On the restart Howard faced a bent wheel going into the first turn and he kept in the top five through the nigh in the feature and finished with a sixth position overall.

Capture the excitement of the Wild West Modified Tour and see Wyatt Howard racing car #72w

Wyatt Howard Named Athlete of the Year

Pinnacle High School named Wyatt Howard Male Athlete of the Year on the evening of May 17, 2011. It had nothing to do with his IMCA racing.


Howard is a tremendous athlete in basketball, cross-country and track at Pinnacle High School. 


Outside of the dirt oval track where car #72w thunders, Howard is a tremendous athlete in basketball, cross-country and track at Pinnacle High School.


He ran track and consistently defended his time in the half-mile and mile winning them at every meet.


Howard proved to be a team player by playing an important role in helping the Pinnacle Panthers reach their goals in basketball.


In addition to his athleticism, Howard's grades have him on the Pinnacle High Honor Roll.

Wyatt Howard Starts 2011 Season at Diamond Mountain Speedway

On Saturday, May 7 Wyatt Howard Racing traveled back to Vernal, Utah at Diamond Mountain Speedway to finish the race cancelled on April 30 due to snow. 


At 11am Wyatt took his place, second row inside and when the flag dropped, Wyatt Howard was ready. He completed the first race with unofficial results of sixth place.


Immediately following his season opener, Wyatt was back on the track with twenty three other cars for the second race of the day. The unofficial result was seventh place.


Wyatt's father, Harvey Howard said, "I am proud of how Wyatt did with the new suspension on the car. There were some of the best drivers in the western U.S. there for this race. Congrats to Justin Yeager and Casey Delp for their wins."


Wyatt Howard Racing will be in Cortez, Colorado Friday, May 13 and Saturday, May 14.

Wyatt Howard Racing's Season Opener Cancelled Due to Snow

Wyatt Howard Racing's season began this past weekend in Vernal, Utah. Traveling 112 miles from home to compete at Diamond Mountain Speedway, Wyatt was ready to drive.


Diamond Mountain Speedway is located in Eastern Utah. The track here is banked and shaped like a bowl. The natural clay surface can be slick. It's the track where Wyatt experienced First Place back on September 14, his first of the 2010 season.

Photo by Shawn Stanley

The season opener for Howard challenged the track with late-in-the-season, wet misery as snow flurried. Howard drew the second row inside starting spot for the heat race. 

Photo by Shawn Stanley

Then, just before the IMCA Modified were ready for their heat races, the snow danced harder.

Photo by Shawn Stanley

Diamond Mountain Speedway made the decision to cancel the race. It will continue this Saturday, May 7, 2011 at 11am and be followed by the regular scheduled race at one o'clock.

Wyatt Howard Racing Unveils Zero Fatalities Car

On April 30, 2011 Wyatt Howard climbed through the driver's window and took his seat in car #72 at Vernal, Utah's Diamond Mountain Speedway. It was his first race of the 2011 Season. His car in pristine condition white base with red roof and trim and the billboard for the sponsors who know his talent. The largest logo rests on the side door panels. It's a cause that Wyatt Howard believes in and one his proud to be driving as charity, Zero Fatalities.

While still behind the wheel of his 8HP go-cart, Wyatt's day, driver Harvey Howard, was promoting Utah's Zero Fatalities. Now, together, father and son, along with the Southeastern Utah Health Department and the Utah Department of Highway Safety are sharing the Zero Fatalities campaign with everyone within their scope.

Wyatt Howard unveils his 2011 Zero Fatalities car at Vernal's Diamond Mountain Speedway

Whether spectators are at Wyatt's home track, Desert Thunder Raceway, or another track, the Howard father and son duo can be seen handing out promotions items and sharing the message of Zero Fatalities. The campaign's goal is to alter the public's perception that traffic fatalities are inevitable. By educating the public about minor changes in driving behaviors traffic fatalities can be prevented. 

Ironically, Wyatt Howard isn't old enough yet to have a driver's license. He's behind the wheel of car #72w spreading the message that through proper restraints, exercising attentive driving at all times and staying focused without driving under any influence everyone can decrease the odds, currently at one in 84, projected by the National Safety Council of dying in a car crash.

Wyatt is a talented racer, the youngest ever to finish in the top three in the Western US Region and a driver who in 2010, at the age of fourteen made IMCA history by becoming the youngest driver to win a State Championship. It would be his dad, Harvey Howard, who forfeited the title to Wyatt!

Both Harvey and Wyatt were nominated by the Utah Highway Safety Office in 2010 for the Zero Fatalities Award. On October 18, 2010 Georgina Nowak presented both Harvey and Wyatt Howard with the Zero Fatalities Award at a safety meeting at Bucyrus International in Huntington, Utah.

 April 30,  2011 marks the fifth year the Howard car #72 has driven for Zero Fatalities. 

Wyatt Howard Racing Rides with Bea's Gift Baskets and Gifts

Wyatt Howard may appear to be the boy next door with his blue eyes, athletic build and playing basketball for his school team. He has done something no one else has ever done, made IMCA history as the youngest driver ever to win a State Championship. It was in 2010, Wyatt was fourteen years old. 

"He's a young, passionate driver and we're proud to announce we're joining the talent with Wyatt Howard Racing as a sponsor of car #72w" stated Bea's Gift Baskets and Gifts owner, Bea Alexander. "Wyatt Howard may be young, but he's doing things the men out there all dream of doing. We are excited to watch his talent grow and looking forward to his success as he competes in races this 2011 season." 

Wyatt Howard  is based out of Price, Utah where Desert Thunder is his home track. In 2010 he traveled to 37 races between Colorado, Utah, Nevada, Idaho and Wyoming. He won Rookie of the Year at both Diamond Mountain Speedway (Vernal, Utah) and Desert Thunder Raceway (Price, Utah). 

Wyatt Howard Racing proudly displays the Bea's Gift Basket Logo

ABOUT BEA'S GIFT BASKETS AND GIFTS: 
Bea's Gift Baskets and Gifts, owned by Bea Alexander, is committed to providing only the finest gourmet gift baskets and gifts. Chosen for the 31st Annual Emmy Awards Gift Baskets, and named by NAPW as Professional Woman of the Year (2011), Bea's Gift Baskets and Gifts specializes in fabulous containers with elaborate designs for any occasion, and always offers the latest trends in gift basket design. The company offers a variety of gifts including gourmet baskets, personalized gifts. There's something for any occasion all available worldwide. For more information on Bea's Gift Baskets and Gifts, please visit their Web site at http://store.beasgiftbaskets.com/StoreFront.bok or call (704) 240-4438.

Meet Wyatt Howard--IMCA's Youngest State Champion

Some fourteen year old boys play video games, tease girls or dodge the question of school, only one has made IMCA history as the youngest driver ever to win a State Championship, Wyatt Howard. It happened in 2010, his Rookie Year. 

Based out of Price, Utah, Wyatt Howard calls Desert Thunder Raceway home. He starts the 2011 as a fifteen year old teenager, without a driver's license. He's a second generation IMCA Modified driver. In fact, Wyatt took the title of Utah State Champion from his father, Harvey Howard (Utah State Champion 2009)!

Howard's racing started at the age of seven when he raced 8HP go-karts. Between age seven and age twelve, Wyatt competed in 22 races and won three championships.

Now, Howard races in the IMCA modified class in car #72w. It's a full time job, "I'm either building engines for myself or others or I'm working on the race car or my dad's race track all the time." 

All that work is a small sacrifice for what keeps Wyatt coming back to the track, "I love the adrenalin and going fast in the car and having fun with my family."

Outside of racing, Wyatt plays basketball for his school team, is an outdoor enthusiast and is currently maintaining three years on the school Honor Roll. 

Racing is his focus. He has a strong career plan and says the one thing racing has taught him about life is "Neither are spectator sports if you want to win." 

With the 2010 season behind him, racing under his belt, Howard is a driver the "new" drivers will be looking up to for advice and inspiration, much like his own heroes, Dale Earnhardt and his father, Harvey Howard. When Wyatt was asked what advice he would give a rookie, he was matter of fact, and wise beyond his years, "Everything matters on and off the track."

It's not just Earnhardt and Dad that are Wyatt's heroes, "Every driver that I have ever met inspired me in one way or another;  Some for the things to do things and some for the not to do things."

Traveling to 37 races between Utah, Nevada, Colorado, Wyoming and Idaho in his first season, Wyatt Howard discovered his passion. He set out his short term ambition, "to keep my title as State Champion" and laid out a career path for his long-term ambition, five years from now Howard sees himself "driving for a Nascar team."

The furthest track Wyatt has traveled to compete was Battle Mountain, Nevada. There's two tracks he has his heart on racing Aztec, New Mexico and Boone, Iowa. 

Wyatt Howard also drives for a cause, Zero Fatalities. Wyatt's #72 car promotes safe driving with decals on the car that state Zero Fatalities. He reminds race fans to take their driving seriously.

So whose behind the mechanics of this winning driver and his car? "My father makes me do as much or more on the car as anyone else, but my grandfather and Uncle Tuffy do a bunch as well."

While social media is in the works for Wyatt, updates and information can be found through Team Jet Lift on Facebook or the Team Jet Lift Driver Wyatt Howard website.

Bea's Gift Baskets and Gifts announced on Monday, March 28 their sponsorship of Wyatt Howard Racing. Bea's joins other sponsors Zero Fatalities, Savage Services and Bucyrus for the 2011 season.

With one season under his hood, Wyatt doesn't hold a lot of titles, however, the ones he has won are impressive:

• 2010 Utah State Champion
• Rookie of the Year at TWO tracks (Desert Thunder Raceway and Diamond Mountain Speedway)
• Fifth place in points over all at Desert Thunder Raceway
• Third in points overall at Diamond Mountain Speedway
• Three Go-Kart Championships

On January 4, 2011, Wyatt Howard did a podcast with Dirt Cast. Take a moment to hear the amazing story of IMCA's Youngest Ever State Champion from his own perspective.