Woody Howard Brings Home Second Place Finish at Mark Brooks Memorial Bi-Lo 250

Photo © 2006 by USAR Kathy Bond

HUNTERSVILLE, NC (October 30, 2006) - It was no ordinary "day at the beach" for Woody Howard and the #55 Dean Motorsports Team this past weekend at Myrtle Beach Speedway's Mark Brooks Memorial Bi-Lo 250. Hard work, perseverance, and determination played a huge part in their second place finish.

After tying Bobby Gill with a qualifying time of 21.125 sec. Woody would start behind Gill in the 9th spot on the starting grid. What had been the second fastest car in practice now appeared to be a liability during the race.

The #55 became ill handling and was losing track position as Woody fought to stay in the game. Eventually the #55 Dean Motorsports Chevrolet would go a lap down.

A few adjustments to the car and fresh tires had the #55 back in the game. Woody was able to make up his lap and work his way back through the field. It was on his next pit stop where he would lose the lap again and again he raced his way back to the lead lap.

"Our car just didn't work on the first set of tires for some reason. We put on the second set and the car was perfect. We're just really glad that we could show what the car was capable of there at the end. I never got to race with Clay, but I'm happy we were able to come back and finish second," said Howard.

Woody pressured Gordon for the runner-up spot during the last 20 laps before slipping past at the finish line. Woody moved to second place in points.

You can catch the action this Wednesday, Nov. 1st @ 4PM ET on SPEED and again on Fri., Nov. 3rd @ noon. Check your local listings.

The next race in the Championship series is the Dan Duncan Memorial Travel Country 250 on Nov. 11, 2006 at the South Georgia Motorsports Park @ 7PM.