September 6, 2013- At the start of the year, drivers plan a schedule of events they’ll run during the upcoming season. Often, it’s with a goal of earning points toward a track championship. Howie Crowe was a regular at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park Speedway and when that track closed after the July 27th event, he was awarded the 2013 Thunder Car title. Without a regular Saturday night ‘home’, the veteran campaigner started looking for a new place to race.
“The team had a great season and I didn’t want to lose any momentum by taking time off,” admitted Crowe. “Peterborough Speedway is close to our home base, so we decided to finish the year there. Coming in late, there was no pressure. We wouldn’t be running for points, so our plan was to have fun and hopefully win some more races.”
He’d been a fixture around the speedways of Central Ontario for a number of years, but Howie Crowe’s star really started to shine with his performance over the last couple of seasons. Purchasing the 2011 championship winning Thunder Car from the Donaldson Motorsports team produced a unique bond, a lasting friendship and helped the driver discover his hidden potential. Wheeling the #28 Crowe Brothers Roofing/Trail’s End/Custom Steering/Clarke Motorsports Communications machine to a second place finish in Kawartha’s 2012 final standings gave the Alderville First Nation speedster a much needed shot in the arm.
“The Donaldson guys were a big help. I didn’t just buy a racecar from them. They gave me access to their set-up notes and helped me become a better racer,” said Crowe. “My own equipment had been around for a while and getting behind the wheel of the car Junior had driven to a championship just a year before was a big change. Even when I was racing the older cars in our stable, I took the green flag with confidence and had some strong results. I honestly believed we had the chance to win every time I took to the track.”
It didn’t take long for Howie Crowe to convert his confident attitude to a trip to victory lane. With his black Monte Carlo at home in the team’s garage, he steered the old faithful ride he lovingly calls ‘the school bus’ to a feature event win during just his second Saturday night start – August 17th – at Peterborough Speedway. That checkered flag gave him the drive he needs heading into the track’s biggest event of the year.
“No matter how we finished the season, this is the car we were bringing to Autumn Colours,” said Crowe. “It’s the Super Bowl of Stockcar Racing and we’ve already shown we know how to win on this track. The competition will be tough throughout the entire weekend, but I’m sure we’ll be in contention.”
The 21st Annual Autumn Colours Classic – presented by Lucas Oil Products – takes the green flag with the opening round of qualifying Friday, October 11th and continues throughout the Thanksgiving Weekend. Teams will get a chance to practice their raceday set-ups during an open test Saturday, September 14th. The run-through – beginning at 9:AM – will precede a 250 lap endurance race, taking the green flag at 7:00. For event details, see www.peterboroughspeedway.com.
Prepared by: Jim Clarke – Clarke Motorsports Communications/First Draft Media
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