Final Season In ’17 For Former Patriots Champ Bryan Howland

Column By: STEVEN OVENS / RACE CHASER ONLINE – HORSEHEADS, NY – “This is kind of the same situation as Carl Edwards (announcing his retirement), but on a much smaller scale.”

Those were the words of ‘Flyin’ Bryan’ Howland, who announced on Monday night that 2017 will be his final season aboard the family-owned Filtrec Corporation No. 51 sprint car. The four-time Patriot Sprint Tour series champion, and only PST champion to have won three titles in-a-row, took to social media to lay out a schedule of events for his fans that want to see him race in his last season. His reasons for stepping away include spending more time with his growing children and family, as well as spending more time on the boat fishing.

Howland spoke with RaceChaserOnline.com on Monday evening and was far from saying he would never drive a sprint car again.

“I’m going to keep my suit and helmet handy in case someone wants me to drive once in a while, but I’m not counting on anything,” admitted Howland.

Howland’s career in winged race cars began with racing in the Central New York Mini Sprints, but a love for 360 sprint cars prompted the family to purchase a full-size car toward the end of 2003. His very first race in a 360 sprint car took place at the fast track of the North as the Can Am Speedway.

“The looks and excitement of sprints drew me to them,” said Howland. “I remember watching an ESS race at Utica-Rome Speedway (Vernon, NY). (It was) insane fast and wild. I needed full size sprints in my life. We pursued it, and I was fortunate enough to have a supportive family and a few sponsors to help afford the habit.”

It didn’t take Howland long to get acquainted with his new love of sprint cars. 2004 marked his first full season with the Patriots, and his first series title would come just a year later. Chuck Hebing dominated the series in 2006 and 2007, but Howland would then stake his claim on the tour currently operated by Mike Emhof Motorsports.

To read Steven’s column in it’s entirety, click here.