Ridin'
high
Milton
teen has risen to the top
at Durands D-Track Motocross
By
Konnie McCollum
Contributing Writer
MILTON, Ky. (April 2006) Just about every
night, weather permitting, racers of all ages wind and grind and fly
their motorcycles around the dirt-laden D-Track Motocross on Nubbin
Ridge Road in Milton, Ky.
|
Photo
by Don Ward
Nick
Howard of Milton
is one of the top racers at D-Track
Motocross in Trimble County.
|
Owners Travis and Amanda Durand said they never realized
how busy the track would become when they opened it for racing in 2002.
Travis said he is thrilled at how locals in the area have embraced his
track. Actually, riders from all over the United States and Canada come
to Durands track to practice and race.
Durand believes the tracks popularity is due to his high safety
standards and the good condition in which the track is kept. Before
every race, he has a riders meeting where either he or friend,
Jeff Wolf, hold a brief Christian devotional service to witness about
Jesus Christ. At the season opening weekend races on March 18, Wolf
conducted the service and invited anyone interested to come talk to
him about Christ. After a brief prayer, Durand then climbed into the
officials tower and explained the race rules over the loudspeaker.
Boys and girls from ages six and up listened intently and then anxiously
waited for their turns to take the track.
Its really nice to have a place like this locally where
people can come and race because in this day and age, with all the zoning
laws, its not easy to find something like it anywhere, said
La Grange, Ky.s Jon Bednarski, whose teenaged son, Kyle, races
there.
During the rules briefing, Durand stresses to the riders the need for
safety, including safe speeds. Few injuries have ever occurred at his
track, and he credits strict safety rules for this.
D-Track offers 30 different classes for motorcycle racers and also has
ATV races. All ages of riders are welcome at the track. Durand said
that children as young as 3 years old have competed on little 50 motorcycles,
while adults older than age 50 have also enjoyed racing.
Since its opening, Trimble Countys own Nick Howard, 16, has emerged
as one of the tracks top racers. Howard has been racing since
he was 7 years old. He is a regular at D-Track, and When he races,
he usually wins, said Kyle Bednarski.
For the past several years, Howard has raced in various national competitions
around the country, and he has garnered many awards.
Cleveland Howard, Nicks father, said he used to race back when
he was a kid, and he decided to allow his son to try it. Nick
took to racing like a duck to water, Cleveland said.
|
Photo
by Don Ward
Nick
Howard in action.
|
Debbie Howard, Nicks mother, said that they are
kept pretty busy with his schedule, but both parents are extremely proud
of their son, and both help work the gates at D-Track on race weekends.
With pride in his voice, Cleveland claimed, Nick is pretty good.
In 2003, the younger Howard won his first national title. He competed
at the Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac, Mich., and was named the 2003
Supercross Amateur National Champion. In 2004, he won three classes
in the Kentucky State Series.
Last year, Howard qualified to compete at the Loretta Lynn National
Championships in Hurricane Mills, Tenn. From March to June, riders compete
in 64 area qualifiers and 13 regional championships to determine final
rosters for the Annual AMA Air Nautiques National Motocross Championships.
More than 22,000 riders in 33 classes attempted to earn a spot competing
in this event. Only 42 riders in each class qualified. Howard qualified
in two classes, which is an amazing accomplishment. Howard finished
28th in the 125cc stock 12-15 class, and he finished 19th in the 250
Open B Modified Class. He rides a Yamaha YZ 250 and owns two of them.
Howard said he used to get nervous when he first started racing, but
now he simply focuses on getting through the race. During his amateur
career, he has been injured a few times. His injuries include a broken
collar bone and broken wrists, but despite this, he has no plans to
quit racing.
Because his racing and training schedule is so demanding, Howard has
been homeschooled for the past two years. He will finish his high school
next year while he is working on his plans for his professional career.
He plans to race amateur for another year and then work on going professional.
In order to go pro, he must fill out applications and get a professional
riding card. With his record, he should have no problem, he says.
Howard said he is very grateful to the sponsors who have helped him
throughout his racing career. In addition to being supportive of him,
he said they have provided him with discounts on his equipment and motorcycles
and helped with funding to send him to the Loretta Lynn Nationals. He
particularly thanked Pauls Cycle Supply, which helps supply his
motorcycle parts, Yamaha of Carrollton, Ky., Yamaha of Louisville, Ky.,
Troylee Designs, which helps with his riding gear, and Amsoil, which
sponsors the oil for his motorcycle. Daniel and Terri Dean are the Amsoil
representatives who help him.
For a race schedule, visit the D-Track website
at: www.dtrackmotocross.com.
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