Richard "Rick" Howard (Richard D. Howard, aka Ricky, aka Rick, was born on September 2nd, 1959. And grew up in a racing family that included his father “Dick Howard” a future CARB Hall of Fame Inductee. Over the years that followed Rick would achieve as a mechanic, engine builder, car owner, car builder, and driver. By age 13 Rick would show the mechanical prowess that would become a big part of his own racing legacy over the years. According to Bill Goodson Jr. it was at this age Rick started to work on his dad’s racing cars. He would later build his first winning motor for a fellow competitor from miscellaneous parts in his father’s garage. And, after that was accomplished the younger Howard would build his first race car from the ground up. As well as the trailer to haul it on. This was all accomplished at the small garage located at his parents’ house. Over the years Rick would race successfully at tracks that included Lakeside, Linn County, Missouri State Fairgrounds, Marshall, aka Saline County, Moberly, Topeka, and Knoxville among other venues racing his winged sprint cars. Among Rick Howard’s many accomplishments in racing were two most improved driver awards, 1980 at Saline County Speedway in Marshall, Mo and 1981 from NSCA (National Speedway Contest Association) and the Mike Hill Memorial award in 1981. Followed by three track championships, including the 1988 and 1989 season points championships at Linn County Speedway in Pleasanton, Kansas, and the 1990 track title at the Moberly Motorsports Complex. Joe Booth, the promoter of Moberly Motorsports Complex put up a $500 Bounty on Rick that no one ever collected. While in 1991 Howard would win the opening night feature at the Wheat Shocker Nationals in Hutchinson, Kansas. Rick has painted numerous race cars for many racers. He did paint and body work on John Layne Restorations of the Vulkovich Rookie Test Indy Car(originally built and raced at Indy in 1954) for Bill Smith of Speedway Motors. It is the Center piece of the Indy Display at the Speedway Museum. )
