Indianapolis: Shelly Howard preview

INDIANAPOLIS - They say no racing resume is complete without a win at Indy. NHRA Federal Mogul Dragster driver Shelly Howard has had a career year, and enters this weekend's Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at the famed Indianapolis Raceway Park with her sights on becoming the first woman to win in the category. Anchored by the strength of two wins this year, Howard already is the winningest woman in the class' history, and would love to add 'Indy' to her resume.

Howard is quick to realize the challenge ahead of her, however. With close to 40 cars pre-entered into the 'Big Go' as it's called, the competition at this year's race may indeed be the fiercest ever. Rather than get caught up in the hype, she plans to concentrate on running her own race, and concentrate on consistency.

"I just have to treat it like any other race," said Howard. "It doesn't matter how many cars are there, they are going to qualify 16, and I hope to be one of them."

While winning is the objective more than ever in Indy, drag racing's most prestigious race, Howard's strategy is to the winner's circle is to focus only on the rounds at hand, four in a row, that is. A win this weekend would be the icing on the cake to what has already been a career year for the Tulsa, Okla., based team.

"They consider Indy to be the biggest race of the year," stated Howard. "We would feel like it was a big accomplishment if we could win Indy. There's going to be a lot of other people there that want the same thing. I just want to win the first round. Then I want to win the second round, and if I can win the subsequent rounds, then it is that much better. We are looking forward to the potential of qualifying and advancing round by round."

Qualifying begins on Thursday for the Federal Mogul Dragsters. Stay tuned to InsideFMRacing.com for daily updates of the action from Indy.

-ShellyHoward.com