Shelly Howard Indianapolis preview

Howard hoping to turn consistency into win in Indy.

CLERMONT, Ind. - NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster driver Shelly Howard will be looking to use consistency as her main weapon as she enters this weekend's Mac Tool U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis this weekend. Howard, who has made the finals of the last two national events she has entered, hopes that a consistent approach will put her in the winner's circle of Drag Racing's most prestigious race on Monday.

Howard, who is a registered nurse when not racing in Tulsa, Okla., has had quite a turnaround in her past few events. After starting the season with a new racecar, the team struggled during much of the early half of the season, but has came alive of late with four straight final round appearances. Howard and her team hope to use some of that momentum for this weekend's race, which boasts a pre entry list of over 40 drivers in Top Alcohol Dragster alone.

"Indy is the 'Grand Daddy' of them all," said Howard. "It is by far the biggest race on the schedule, and always has been. It is going to be a very tough race. As a driver and a team, we are going to try not to get caught up in all the hype and just do our normal deal. That's easier said than done, but we've done it before."

In addition to concentrating on the action on track, Howard is also putting her efforts into the newly formed Top Alcohol Racers Association, which will host it's first formal meeting Thursday night.

"We will be having a meeting Thursday evening in the Racers For Christ tent," stated Howard. "Myself and Bruce Bowler along with others have worked hard to get this association off the ground, and this meeting is more or less to spread the word, tell racers what we are about and take their input on how they want to be represented. The T.A.R.A. will be very similar to what PRO (Professional Racers Association) is to the professional racers."

Qualifying begins on Thursday for the alcohol cars.

-shellhoward.com-