Interview with Jeff “Stumpy” Howell - By: Gary Boggan

Posted Jody Shannon on November 20th, 2007 | Filed under Articles, Gary Boggan, The DRC

Jeff Howell, driver of the 2008 Taylor-Shaw/ Dyno Tech Performance Engines/ Kitfox Vineyards/ Sauza Tequila #00 IMCA Open Wheel Modified has contested the big named drivers anywhere from all the way West to Kennedale, Texas to the Southeast in Milton, Florida back to Little Rock, Arkansas and many tracks in between. Based out of Memphis, Tennessee he has seen the struggles of making it on the road to the up’s of being on top of his game. Jeff Howell claimed a 4^th place in overall points in 2006 on the USCS Modified National Tour.

That success didn’t come without bad luck though. Jeff flipped twice in 2006. Once at Garnertown Speedway in Luray, Tennessee as well as once at Batesville Speedway in Locust Grove, Arkansas. With that being said, strength and consistency kept Jeff on top of his game for much of the 2006 season. After having engine trouble at the Winter Classic in Columbus, Mississippi and just barely missing the show at the Topless Nationals in Little Rock, Arkansas Jeff roared to life and made most of the A-Mains thereafter, as well as posting more Top 10’s than not en route to a 4^th place in points. Jeff Howell, as well as I, believe 2008 could be the year he has been looking for since he started racing modifieds in 2004. Jeff is looking forward to driving the Taylor-Shaw Modified in the 2008 season.

Here is my one on one conversation with Jeff Howell:

Q: How many years have you raced?

A: PRETTY MUCH MY WHOLE LIFE! CANT REALLY REMEMBER WHEN IT STARTED…I WAS YOUNG! THIS WILL BE MY 5TH IN A MOD

Q: How many races/championships have you won?

A: NONE YET IN A MOD. I WON OVER 75 IN KARTS AND 1 CHAMPIONSHIP IN 2000 AT ATOKA RACEWAY PARK

Q: What’s your favorite race?

A: ANYTHING TOPLESS

Q: What’s your most memorable experience at the track?

A: PROBABLY FLIPPING OFF THE END OF GARNERTOWN, AND EVERYONE COMING TOGETHER TO HELP ME GET THE CAR BACK READY FOR THE NEXT NIGHT, WHICH I MADE THE SHOW!

Q: In your words, how would you recap your 2007 season?

A: MEDIOCRE START…LOOOOONG MIDDLE…AND A HELL OF A FINISH! REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO 08. WE TRAVELED ALOT THIS YEAR, AND WERE GOING TO EVEN MORE NEXT YEAR!

Q: What are your plans for 2008?

A: WE ARE GOING TO TAKE OUR 2008 SHAW BY TAYLOR/DYNOTECH PERFORMANCE/ KITFOX VINEYARD/SAUZA TEQUILA IMCA TO MANY EVENTS AND GETS SOME W’S

Q: How has placing in the top 5 in the USCS series affected your career?

A: WE HAD A GREAT TIME RUNNING FOR THE USCS LAST YEAR, AND OVERALL WITH ALL THE BAD LUCK TO COME OUT IN 5TH WAS GREAT. WE EXPERIENCED NEW TRACKS AND LEARNED ALOT. WE LOOK TO TAKE THOSE EXPERIENCE ON TO OUR TRAVELS ELSEWHERE.

Q: Who are you sponsors?

A: KITFOX VINEYARD, SAUZA TEQUILA, VICTORY SPORTSWEAR, DYNOTECH PERFORMANCE, JEFF TAYLOR MOTORSPORTS, PHILLIPS AUTO BODY, WOODSTOCK AUTOMOTIVE, JFR RACE WRAPS, AND VICTORY LANE WEB DESIGNS!

Q: Who is your crew?

A: MY CREW CONSISTS OF MY GIRLFRIEND ASHLEY, MY TEAMMATE BEN REED, AND MY DAD. ALSO ON OCCASION JERRY, KEN AND GARY

Q: With the UMP rules going to Quick Change rear ends, what’s your opinion? And do you think IMCA should do it?

A: I LIKE THE IDEA OF QC’S. I DONT THINK THEY SHOULD BE MANDATORY, BUT I DO THINK THEY SHOULD BE AN OPTION. ITS GETTING HARD TO FIND CASINGS FOR THIRD MEMBERS, AND IT WOULD REDUCE THE TIME IT TAKES TO CHANGE A GEAR DRAMATICALLY! ALSO, IT WOULD PROVIDE ALOT OF CHEAPER GEARS TO FLOOD THE MARKET FOR THE TEAMS WHO WISHED NOT TO MAKE THE SWITCH!

Q: Aside from racing what do you do for fun?

A: I REALLY LIKE FISHING AND RIDING 4-WHEELERS. ALSO WE HANG OUT IN THE SHOP IN OUR SPARE TIME!

Q: Do you see yourself moving to a different class?

A: NOT ANY TIME SOON. I REALLY IKE THE COMPETITION IN THE MOD CLASS, AND WITH THE MANY DIFFERENT TRACKS THAT RUN MODS HOW COULD YOU GO WRONG

Q: Do you one day expect racing to be your career?

A: I WOULD LOVE IT TO BE, BUT WITH FAMILY BUSINESS, I KNOW RACING COMES SECOND! YOU’VE GOT TO TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS BEFORE YOU CAN PLAY. MY FAMILY, AND WORK COME FIRST, BUT RACING IS RIGHT BEHIND!

Up next I will be doing a review/interviews on The Indoor Kart Nationals in Tunica, Ms. on Thanksgiving weekend. I will do a review for several classes, overall weekend, and interview with several of the younger drivers, as well as some older drivers who have made their name on the racing world. You will get a glimpse at some young up and coming race car drivers. Any questions or comments, you can email me at theatokaoutlaw90@yahoo.com

Thanks,

Gary Boggan.