Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Bryan Howerton is the son of Donald and Regina Howerton of Tazewell, and he has one brother, Josh.

Howerton played basketball for Springdale, Soldier’s Memorial Middle School and was one of the few to play for both Claiborne County Blue Devils and Claiborne Bulldogs. After he was done playing basketball, he decided to replace it with motor sports. Work friends got him interested in kart racing and in three years he was able to win around 30 features.

Howerton said this about karts, “I realized one day that for the money I was spending on kart racing that I could build a V-8 motor and race a limited late model.”

He soon traded his karting equipment for a Warrior late model. Howerton began racing the late model in 2011 with his best finish to date being third in 2015. He has had good moments and bad in both karting and late model racing, but his happiest moment behind the wheel of a late model was his third place finish. He was running in first before suspension woes slowed him down to the third spot.

Howerton says his parents are his driving force, and he owes lots to them for all the help over the years. He also had lots of help in karting from Johnny Carpenter, Tater Petty, Will and Tyler Brock and Jerry Welch.

After switching to the late model, his best and most faithful helper is still his dad but many others have been out there helping him, “I couldn’t do any of this without mom and dad, but this year I am getting help from Billy Gordon, Chris Raines, Jason Sizemore, Brian Shockley, Tony Horton and more. My weekly crew consists of dad, myself and Julia Miracle.”

His Warrior is powered by a self-built engine and is sponsored by Mahle Motorsports, Southern Outdoors, Get Gorgeous Hair Salon, Dale Seals Logging, Stanifer Drugs, Quality Muffler and Tire, Maggie’s Treasures and his parents. He uses No. 21 as a tribute to his late cousin Chris Louthan, but during his karting years he used No. 88 as he was a fan of NASCAR’S Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Howerton wouldn’t pass up the opportunity to run in larger series if the funding was there, but he’s enjoying racing at Tazewell Speedway in the Sportsman Class.

When asked what advice he would give to someone wanting to try racing he said, “If you love it then do it. We need new drivers so the sport will continue being alive and well.”

Howerton wanted to take a moment to thank his supporters, “I want to thank mom and dad first and foremost and all my great sponsors. I also want to thank anyone involved in my racing in kart and late models.”

Bryan Howerton is a driver without a nickname, but if he continues to keep his car fast and running up on the bars. He feels like the rest of the season will be good for him as he tries to get the first ever win in his late model.

Bryan Howerton is turning wrenches and chasing his dreams.