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.

Wyatt Howard Added to the 2011 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational

VINTON, Iowa – Six more IMCA Modified drivers are candidates for the 2011 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational.

Jordan Grabouski swept Beatrice Speedway’s Spring Nationals and Tyler Iverson topped the main event at WaKeeney Speedway’s Spring Fling.

Frostbuster feature winners were Jon Snyder at Boone Speedway and Dan Ratajczak at Benton County Speedway.

Scotty Brown and Matt Martin were $1,000 winners in weekly shows at Boyd Raceway and Kennedale Speedway Park, respectively.

Already on the ballot was Richie Gustin, winner of the Frostbuster at Marshalltown Speedway.

Weather permitting, qualifiers from as many as 18 specials, special series and $1,000 to win weekly shows will become vote eligible for the 2011 All-Star race, to be held Sept. 9 during the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals.

Voting will be conducted on the IMCA website, where voters can cast a ballot once a day for their 10 favorite drivers, from June 1 through the end of July.

The eight-eight drivers on the ballot, listed by region, also include:

ButlerBuilt Western Region – Terry Belcher Jr., Cody Burke, Ryan Cotrell, Zane DeVilbiss, Larry Hood, Wyatt Howard, Danny Lauer, Travis Metz, Shawn Natenstedt, Jason Noll, Travis Peery, Brad Pounds, Cory Sample, Porter Smith, Roy Spielman, Alex Stanford, Nick Sylvester, Tim Ward, D.J. Wood and Justen Yeager.

ButlerBuilt South Central Region – Tim Clonch, Sam Cox, J.P. Dowell, Chris Elliott, Roy Don Mason, Kevin Sustaire, Keith White and Paul White.

ButlerBuilt Central Region – Drew Armstrong, Eddie Belec, Kyle Berck, Will Brack, Joe Cleveland, Brendon Gemmill, Steven Glenn, Corey Lagroon, David Murray Jr., Terry Phillips, Brandon Smith, Dylan Smith, Ken Sweet, Jeff Taylor, Dominic Ursetta, Shawn Walsh, Andy Wilkinson and Bob Zoubek.

ButlerBuilt North Central Region – Chris Abelson, Brandon Beckendorf, Hank Berry, Joren Boyce, Jim Cole, Jason Czarapata, Tim Czarneski, Darin Duffy, Josh Foster, Eugene Gregorich, Jimmy Gustin, Mike Hagen, Clint Hatlestad, Scott Hogan, Vern Jackson, Shawn Kilgore, Les McLenehan, Jeremy Mills, Brian Mullen, Mark Noble, Jay Noteboom, Chris Rakness, Kody Scholpp, Shawn Strand, Aaron Turnbull, Tyson Turnbull, Jacob Waterman and Jeff Waterman.

ButlerBuilt Eastern Region – Scott Bennett, Joshua Borton, Eddie Brannon, Kevan Cook, J.J. Courcy, Chris Fleming and Chad Wernette.

Originally posted on IMCA.com

IMCA Modified Rookie Wyatt Howard Talks to Dirt Cast

14-year old IMCA Modified Rookie Wyatt Howard of Price, UT joined Dirt Cast to talk about his career, his first year in a modified, being a second generation driver, winning the IMCA Utah State Championship, what it means to him, going from go-karts to modifieds and the transition, what he enjoys about the modified division, his experience at the Duel in the Desert at The Dirt Track at Las Vegas, gaining the respect of his fellow competitors, his family owning Desert Thunder Speedway and where he would like to see his career progress. Howard drives the #72w Bucyrus, Team Jet Lift Racing J-Car.


Here it all below:

To keep up with Wyatt Howard visit www.teamjetliftracing.com

Originally posted on Dirtcast.com

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