Chase Howard

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    Image of Driver Chase Howard

    Chase Howard Bio

    Chase Howard (born November 20, 2003) is an American professional stock car racing driver. He last competed part-time in the ARCA Menards Series and the ARCA Menards Series West, driving the No. 31 Toyota for Rise Motorsports. A native of Nesbit, Mississippi, Howard progressed from open-wheel sprint car racing to the ARCA platform in 2025.

    Early Life and Background

    Chase Howard was born on November 20, 2003, in Nesbit, Mississippi, a small community in DeSoto County in the northern part of the state. Growing up in the American South, Howard was exposed to grassroots short-track racing, a tradition that has produced many stock car drivers from the region. His early years were shaped by a family environment that supported his interest in motorsports.

    Howard began his racing career in sprint cars, a discipline that rewards car control, throttle precision, and the ability to navigate tight, dirt ovals. Competing in sprint car series helped him build the fundamentals of race craft, including managing tire wear, reading traffic, and adapting to changing track conditions during a single event.

    Path to NASCAR

    Howard’s route toward NASCAR’s development ladder ran through regional and national sprint car organizations. He gained experience in the American Sprint Car Series, the United Sprint Car Series, the POWRi Lucas Oil WAR Sprint League, and the Western Iowa Non-Wing Sprints Series. Each series allowed him to compete against veteran drivers and refine his skills on a variety of track shapes and surfaces.

    In 2025, Howard transitioned from open-wheel sprint cars to stock cars, joining Rise Motorsports to make his ARCA Menards Series debut. The ARCA platform is widely viewed as a developmental step toward the NASCAR national series, giving young drivers the chance to race on larger ovals with heavier cars and greater downforce. His selection by Rise Motorsports signaled a deliberate move toward a NASCAR-aligned career path.

    Chase Howard Career

    Early Career (Sprint Cars)

    Howard’s early career was built in sprint car racing, where he raced in both winged and non-winged formats. His appearances in the American Sprint Car Series and the United Sprint Car Series exposed him to high-profile sprint car events across the Midwest and South. He also competed in the POWRi Lucas Oil WAR Sprint League and the Western Iowa Non-Wing Sprints Series, broadening his experience on regional short tracks.

    These sprint car seasons allowed Howard to develop the consistency and mechanical sympathy required to handle a purpose-built open-wheel race car. The discipline of sprint car competition, with its narrow tolerance for error on short ovals, prepared him for the heavier, more aerodynamically demanding stock cars he would later drive.

    ARCA Menards Series Breakthrough (2025)

    In 2025, it was revealed that Howard would make his ARCA Menards Series debut at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds, driving the No. 31 Toyota for Rise Motorsports. The event marked his first competitive outing in stock car racing at a national development level. After placing ninth in the lone practice session, he qualified in eleventh and finished on the lead lap in seventh place, a clean and competitive debut.

    Several weeks later, it was announced that Howard would return with Rise Motorsports at Salem Speedway. The continued partnership showed confidence from the team in his rookie stock car performances and gave him additional seat time on a different oval layout. His part-time ARCA Menards Series and ARCA Menards Series West schedule positioned him as an emerging driver to watch within the Toyota development ecosystem.

    Rise Motorsports Era (2025–Present)

    Howard’s time with Rise Motorsports represents his first organized effort at the national development level of stock car racing. Driving the No. 31 Toyota, he has competed in selected ARCA Menards Series and ARCA Menards Series West events, balancing a part-time schedule while continuing to gain experience on intermediate and short ovals. The Toyota manufacturer’s involvement places him within a manufacturer-supported framework commonly associated with future NASCAR opportunities.

    The Rise Motorsports era has been defined by measured progress, with Howard focusing on completing laps, finishing on the lead lap, and adapting to heavier stock cars after years in lighter sprint cars. His results at DuQuoin and Salem suggest a steady learning curve as he builds a foundation for potential advancement to NASCAR’s national touring series.

    Notable Races and Milestones

    Howard’s most notable race to date is his ARCA Menards Series debut at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds, where he qualified eleventh and finished seventh on the lead lap. His return engagement at Salem Speedway with Rise Motorsports further confirmed his commitment to a part-time ARCA schedule in 2025 and marked his continued progression as a stock car driver.

    Chase Howard Career Wins

    As of the 2025 season, Chase Howard is in the early stages of his stock car career and has not recorded feature wins at the ARCA national development level. His documented results center on clean finishes and on-track learning rather than victory lane appearances. Sprint car results at the regional level are not detailed in the available verified sources.

    ARCA Menards Series Highlights

    Howard’s ARCA Menards Series highlights are anchored by his debut at DuQuoin, where he posted a seventh-place finish on the lead lap, and his subsequent return at Salem Speedway. While no wins have been recorded, the consistent finishes and continued partnership with Rise Motorsports highlight his development trajectory.

    Chase Howard Family

    Family Background and Racing Lineage

    Howard was raised in Nesbit, Mississippi, in a region with a strong short-track racing culture. While specific details about his parents and family members are not documented in verified sources, his early entry into sprint car racing suggests a family environment supportive of motorsports.

    Personal Life

    Howard resides in the United States and maintains a presence on social media, where fans can follow his racing updates. Verified personal details beyond his hometown and racing activities are limited at this stage of his career.

    2025 Season Performance

    Chase Howard’s 2025 season represents his rookie year in stock car racing, with a part-time schedule split between the ARCA Menards Series and the ARCA Menards Series West. Driving the No. 31 Toyota for Rise Motorsports, his campaign began at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds with a seventh-place finish on the lead lap, a strong debut by ARCA standards. His subsequent return at Salem Speedway provided additional track time and reinforced the team’s confidence in his development.

    The 2025 season is best viewed as a learning year, with Howard focused on adapting from sprint cars to the heavier, more aerodynamically sensitive stock car platform. Each event has given him experience in longer runs, pit strategy, and racing in traffic, all critical skills for a potential future step up the NASCAR ladder.

    Looking ahead, Howard’s outlook is shaped by his association with Rise Motorsports and Toyota, both of which maintain ties to NASCAR’s national series. Continued part-time ARCA participation in 2026 could position him for a fuller schedule or a move to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, depending on sponsorship and team growth.