Airman spends free time living only way he knows -- fast

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Tammie Adams
  • 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. (AFPN) --  While other 16-year-olds were satisfied driving around the neighborhood, Warren Howard was not happy unless he was driving at least 85 mph around an oval track.

Now a master sergeant and the environmental coordinator with the 4th Equipment Maintenance Squadron here, began stock car racing in 1977 near Fort Wayne, Ind., where he grew up.

“Off and on, I’ve raced for about 11 years,” he said. “It’s spread out because I joined the military and then went overseas.”

Racing runs in his family. His dad began racing in 1964 while stationed here.

“I was born at Seymour Johnson,” Sergeant Howard said. “I’ve been in the Air Force 24 years and am retiring here in May 2007. So I pretty much started here, trekked around the world and finished up back here.”

Shortly after his racing career began, he won the track championship near Fort Wayne, Ind., and 10 other races in 1978.

“Before they made it big, I got to race against Mark Martin, Rusty Wallace and Dick Trickle,” he said.

Sergeant Howard currently races at Southern National Speedway in Kenly, N.C. He raced there and finished fifth out of 15 drivers recently.

“I won five feature races in 2003 during my rookie season at Southern National,” he said. “We won six heat races last year, but no feature races.”

Heat races qualify drivers for the feature races, he said.

“After 1978, I didn’t win another race until 2003,” Sergeant Howard said. “That’s when my dad came to watch me. It was the first one he’d been to watch in 25 years. My mom is coming down pretty soon. Maybe I can get a win while she’s here.”

Besides learning about racing from his dad, he said he also loves racing because of the camaraderie.

“I make a lot of friends out at the track, but beating them is fun too,” he said.

When it comes to preparation, Sergeant Howard said he spends 10 to 15 hours per week getting his 1992 Chevrolet Camaro ready.

“My wife understands the amount of hours I spend on racing and supports it fully,” he said. “I’m lucky she loves racing, and a lot of times, (she) and my son come out and work with me.”

He plans to race a few more years and then hopes to continue the tradition by eventually getting his son into racing, he said.

Sergeant Howard said racing relates to his Air Force job.

“The thoroughness I’ve learned from maintenance techniques out on the flightline kind of blends over to what I do in racing,” he said. “Paying attention to detail is important. A racer doesn’t want to go into a turn and have a wheel fall off. I have to ensure everything is done accurately. Same follows for the military.”