Backed by Supportive Team, Campi Racing’s Colby Howard Enjoying Breakout PLM Rookie Season By Chuck Corder Admittedly, Colby Howard is his own worst critic. The 17-yearold late model driver from Simpsonville, S.C., sets the bar high for himself. Lofty goals beget great expectations. In his rookie season driving a Pro Late Model for Anthony Campi Racing, Howard has already collected two victories and far exceeded his and many others’ expectations. 3 Mark Barnhill 07 Jim Pokrant 8 B J Leytham 13 Paul Mathis 28 Dayton Sidner 29 Shanna Ard 29 Garrett Cobb 55 Jimbo Walker 71 Tommie Blocker 76 Tony Boyd 97 Hunter Lambert 99 Billy Hoover
He aims for his second Allen Turner Hyundai Pro Late Model 100 lap feature victory on Friday at Five Flags Speedway. “That track is not what I expected,” Howard said of Pensacola’s high banks. “I couldn’t get over the g-force going into the corners, and how much you’re on the throttle. It’s such a momentum track.”
00 Anthony Cataldi 00 Brandon Curren 1 Josh Adkins 2 Luke Christian 4 Elliott Massey 04 Cory Roper 05 Bayley Currey 08 Memphis Villarreal 7 Cole Daffron 9 Jeff Choquette 10 RS Senter 14 Conner Okrzesik 14 Chris Davidson 15 Jackson Boone 17 Kurt Guillot 18 Ryan Paul 18 Casey Roderick 21 Brandon Johnson 21 Ryan Herbert 22 Brandon Herbert 22 Riley Thornton 23 Josh Hollis 24 Christopher Tullis 27 Austin Wood 30 Bobby Knox 30 Rusty Sanford 41 Troy Grasiffi 42 J J Day 43 Justin South 46 Cole Williams 46 Jarrett Parker 50 Ty Roberts 51 Perry Patino 51 Zack Knowles 55 Ronnie Osmer 62 William Hale 66 Korey Ruble 79 Michael Villarreal 81 Colby Howard 89 Dylan Fetcho 95 Derrick Griffin
As smooth as things have been for Howard in his first year driving PLMs, the season has come with its fair share of pitfalls and pressure. It started back at the Snowflake 100 in December when Chase Purdy outlasted a week-long postponement, bitter weather, and a slew of cautions to put the Campi Racing PLM machine in Victory Lane. “That really put it into perspective how talented this team was,” said Howard, who inherited the ride from Purdy. When Giovanni Bromante scored marquee wins for the team’s Super Late Model program at New Smyrna Speedway and Opp, Ala., earlier this season, Howard’s eyes got as big as Hoosiers and his self-imposed intensity heightened. “I’m known to put a lotta pressure on my shoulders to perform,” he said. “There was a lotta stress going into that first race (at Montgomery Motor Speedway). And, when we wrecked, that only put more stress on me.”
Friday 6/7/19 2pm. Pits Open 3pm. ATPLM Drivers Meeting 4pm. – 5pm. ATPLM Practice 5:30pm. Practice SP, PS #1 6:15pm. Practice SP, PS #2 7pm. ATPLM Qualifying 7:30pm. SP, PS Drivers Meeting 8pm. SP Heats PS Heats Kids Bike Races ATPLM 100 SP Feature (25 Laps) PS Feature (20 Laps)
2019 Schedule Jun 21 Blizzard, O, PT, PS; Fireworks Jul 19 Blizzard, PT, SP, PS Aug 2 Demo Derby , Mods of Mayhem, O SP Aug 16 ATPLM O, PT, PS Aug 31 * Big Rig Trucks Sep 14 * O, PT, SP, PS, Championships Sep 21 * Blizzard, ATPLM Championships Nov 23 * SBD Preview Dec 4-8 Snowball Derby
Thankfully, all that fell by the
National Anthem wayside when Howard strapped
Robin Trussell
2 2 11 11 12 12 15 16 16 17 19 21 22 24 27 29 30 34 42 49 51 52 80 86 95 97
Tony Boyd, Pensacola, Chance Imel, Irvington, AL Johnathan Day, Mobile Cameron Leytham, Mobile Michael Moody, Mobile T J Thompson, Mobile Robert Loper, Theadore, Brad Mosley; 8 Mile Rocky Boyd; Pensacola Lee Williams, Theadore, Daryl McDonald, Theadore, Butch Harvell, Pensacola Dylan Courtney, Citronelle, Caleb Burkett, Pensacola Jimmy Hollingsworth, Mobile Matt Thompson, Wilmer, AL Bobby Suarez, Pensacola Cory Pittman, Cantonment Brandin Sidner, Pensacola Jay Whalen, Pensacola Randall Moye, Robertsdale Robert Balkum, Pensacola Zack Jordan, Pensacola Jonathan Smith, Theadore Robert Riley, Gulfbreeze David Johnson, Irvington
in for the next race at Montgomery following the disappointing debut.
What a 180-degree turn Howard made. The rising senior fought off veterans Casey Roderick and Augie Grill for a much-needed jolt of confidence. “Everything was perfect,” Howard recalled. “When I was racing Late Model Stock, all I heard about was Augie and Casey. To be able to race against them, and hold them off and beat them, that was pretty cool to me.” Two weeks later, he was back in the mix with Roderick at the Allen Turner Hyundai PLM season opener in April. Howard was the only driver that presented a challenge to Roderick that night. (Con’t on web site)
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