Gary Howard won't return to the Prince George Auto Racing Association speedway tonight to defend his hornets championship title he won a year ago.
Instead, he's moving up to the Chieftain Auto Parts mini stocks class, getting behind the wheel in a 2002 Cavalier this year.
Qualifying for the double points races begin at 6 p.m., followed by racing at 7 p.m.
"There will be more competition in the mini stocks," said Howard, 55. "It's going to be tougher. I'm definitely looking forward to it."
Prior to 2014, Howard had been part of pit crews for years dating back to the 1980s in the hit to pass events at the PGARA track.
Then last year he chose to put the pedal to the metal for the first time as a driver competing in the hornets division.
For the first couple of races it was in a 1984 Ford Festiva with a 76-horse power engine. He ended the season in a 1990 Mazda 323 with a 92-horse power engine.
He found success right away.
Howard wound up capturing the hornets championship, accumulating 95 points in five races.
"I've always wanted to try it," he said. "I just love the adrenaline. On the first race day, I didn't know the car. I had never driven it before and never handled it. The first (qualifying race) I got beat by half a lap. The second (qualifying) heat, it was fender to fender and then I won the main event by five car lengths."
Howard bought the Cavalier in the off-season from fellow mini stocks driver Devin Barks. He didn't have to do any work on it over the winter. It was all ready to go.
