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Written by Chris Moore
OLEY, PA – Back on track.
In 2024, Duane Howard will return to full-time action with the Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco on the NJ Quality Drywall South Region.
The Oley, Pa., native and his team owner Butch Getz have paired together since the 2021 season, and now for the first-time will chase the full South Region.
“I’m having a great time racing with Butch and his family,” Howard proclaimed. “Everything is family oriented and I’m just really enjoying racing with them.
“On top of that, he gives me all the best equipment to go racing.”
Howard has a storied career across Northeast Modified racing, including several track championships at numerous facilities throughout his career.
With all his success, Howard has just one STSS win to his credit, coming at Georgetown (Del.) Speedway in August of 2017 when he drove for Norm Hansell in the iconic No. 357.
Now, in year four as a team, Howard and Getz are set to take their No. 15G on the road chasing the $15,000 NJ Quality Drywall South Region championship.
“I cut back and focused on the weekly racing because that is what made the most sense for our team,” Howard explained of his reduced schedule. “I definitely did miss racing with the STSS and all the big races.
“I think that makes you better as a team also, so I definitely missed it.”
Howard and team acquired a Kevlar big-block engine from Glenn Hyneman over the off-season. Howard can’t wait to put it to use.
“I love big-block racing and racing on the bigger tracks,” he explained. “I wanted to do some more racing this year and with the big-block now we can go to places like Port Royal (Pa.), Georgetown, and Delmar (Delaware) and compete.
“I loved racing at places like the big track at Bridgeport (N.J.) so I’m really chomping at the bit to get racing at Georgetown and Port Royal.”
Despite the years away from the STSS, Howard has no doubt he and his team can still run up front.
“I think we can get a win or two and hover around the top five in points,” he stated. “I think that’s a realistic goal for us and we can definitely do it.”
As far as the chances of seeing Howard chase some North races? He says that’s still up in the air.
“We’ll play it by ear,” he proclaimed. “Our bread and butter is the weekly racing at home but if we’re competing and feel like it’s something we can do, it’s definitely something we’ll look at as a possibility.”
Howard and the rest of the STSS contingent kick off the 2024 season in the Northeast at Georgetown Speedway for the ‘Jake Marine Memorial’ on Saturday, March 9.
The entire night of racing will be broadcast live on FloRacing (www.floracing.tv) via the annual subscription.
To learn more about the Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco, visit www.shorttracksuperseries.com, e-mail bdmotorsportsmedia@gmail.com, check out ‘Short Track Super Series’ on Facebook, @ShortTrack_SS on Twitter or @ShortTrack_SS on Instagram.
