Shelby Howard
2008

03/06

ThorSport's Howard Confident in Return to Atlanta

Shelby Howard enters Friday night’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series American Commercial Lines 200 at Atlanta Motor Speedway confident that the No. 13 ThorSport Racing crew is on a fast-track to consistent strong finishes.

“We’ve got a great group of guys on this team, and everybody works well together and continues to grow together,” Howard said. “I feel it’s only a short matter of time until we’re running in the top-10 each week."

In his return to the knock-down, drag-out competition for which the NCTS is known, Howard possesses the cool demeanor necessary for success. “I’m learning each week, finding out pretty quickly about these trucks and what it takes to make them better,” he said. “I’m looking forward to seeing what we can do at Atlanta. I have a lot of ‘seat time’ at AMS. I’ve run several ARCA races and a Nationwide Series race there, and done a lot of testing. I’m real comfortable with the track. I like the top side thru turns 1 & 2, and the bottom thru 3 & 4. But you can hold it wide-open, and run pretty much anywhere on the track. Once the race gets going, I’ll find out where the truck responds best."

Howard relishes the intensity of week-to-week racing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. “The competition in this series is so intense, you have to be on the mark each time out,” he said. “It’s exciting. The margin for error is so slim. You have to constantly be improving, finding the best ways to do things. I’d love to come out of Atlanta with a strong finish and build early-season momentum.”

02/22

Howard to Make NCTS Debut at California

Shelby Howard enters Saturday’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series San Bernardino County 200 at California Speedway on Saturday hoping to build on a 15th place finish in last week’s opener at Daytona.

“Considering how unpredictable and wild things can be during the race at Daytona, we felt fortunate to come out of there with the finish we did, and with our truck in one piece,” Howard said. “All of the buildup to Daytona, all of the excitement and anticipation, was incredible, but it’s nice to put it behind me and hopefully settle into a rhythm beginning at California.”

Saturday’s race will be Howard’s first at California. “I’m not real familiar with the track, but I know there’s lots of room to race,” said the driver of the No. 13 ThorSport Racing Silverado. “Matt (teammate Crafton) will be helpful to me in that regard, as far as advice. He knows the track well, and knows these trucks and what we need out here to be successful. It’s a huge help to be able to turn to him for his input. All of our guys worked really well together last week, and it will only continue to get better. I know the NCTS always puts on a great show at California, and I know the fans are great out here. I'm excited to be a part of it. Hopefully, we can come out with a top-10 finish and really get things rolling."

02/12

ThorSport's Howard Ready for Daytona

Shelby Howard begins his first season as a fulltime driver in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in the Chevrolet Silverado 250 at Daytona on Friday, and the Greenwood, Indiana native knows a strong finish at DIS would be a huge early-season confidence-builder.

“I’m thrilled to be back in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and I’m looking forward to seeing what we can do at Daytona,” said the driver of the No. 13 ThorSport Racing Silverado. “It would be great to come out of Daytona with a solid finish and get the season started the right way. The caliber of drivers in this series is outstanding, and you have to earn everything you get each time out. I can’t wait to get started.”

Howard knows good fortune is key to success at Daytona. “Things can get crazy here,” he said. “You set the truck up the best you can, so that it maneuvers right in traffic, and hope that luck is on your side when the wrecks happen.’

Howard isn’t unfamiliar with Daytona. At age sixteen, he ran an ARCA Series race at DIS. “I’m comfortable here,” he said. “I enjoy coming to Daytona. The lead-up to this race is unbelievable, with all that’s happening during Speedweeks, and the race itself is always exciting, especially racing at night.”

Howard will be driving a race truck rich in NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and ThorSport Racing lore. Affectionately known in NCTS circles as “Piggy”, the truck has been a part of every NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Daytona, finishing 4th in the inaugural truck-series race at Daytona in ’00. “Piggy” also stormed to a 6th place finish at Talladega last fall. In a sport rife with rapid-fire changes to rules and technology, in an era where teams and drivers come and go, ThorSport’s “Piggy” has been a model of endurance, exemplifying the organization’s ‘never say die’ attitude. “This truck has a lot of history within our Series and with ThorSport, and I’m hoping it’ll be somewhat of a good-luck charm for me at Daytona,” Howard said.

01/11

Thorsport Racing Tabs Howard To Drive In ‘08

ThorSport Racing has named Shelby Howard as a driver for the team in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in ‘08, the organization announced on Thursday.

Howard, 22, hails from Greenwood, Indiana, a short-track lap from the hallowed ground of Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He burst onto the big-time racing scene in ’02 as the youngest driver to lead laps in an ARCA Series race, and became the youngest winner of an ARCA superspeedway race when he triumphed at Kansas the following year. Howard has also tasted NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and Busch Series competition.

“I’m thrilled to be a part of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and thankful for the opportunity,” Howard said. “I’m excited about the pieces that are already in place with this team, and look forward to getting started at Daytona. This series is more competitive than it’s ever been, and we have a team that's committed to winning, and you can't ask for any more than that. It’s a great group of guys, and I can’t wait to see what we can do.”

Related sponsor announcements will be forthcoming.