NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

After missing a few events earlier this season, Clayton Howey comes to Indy as the No. 10 ranked rider in the Pro Stock Motorcycle class, and he’s just one point ahead of No. 11 Steve Johnson, so the mission this week is simple; earn enough points to stay ahead and earn the right to compete in the Countdown to the Championship playoffs.

Howy hasn’t raced in an NHRA event since the Maryland race in May, but he was a semifinalist that weekend, so he continues to hang on to a bit of momentum as he returns to action aboard the Vance & Hines powered Suzuki that he leases from Chris and Kelly Clontz.

“I can’t say I expected to be here right now, but the opportunity these guys are giving me is great,” said Howey. “Believe me, I've been at home studying the points. I've been watching what everyone else is doing. I think if I get it right, I’ll be in good shape. I know what I have to do, and I think we’ve got a good chance to do it.”

After two of five qualifying runs at Indy, Howey is qualified No. 9 with a 6.973, but he’s quick to note that there is both time and room for improvement.

“So far, it's going okay. I mean, the riding's been good, and I love the track,” said Howey. “Both passes down that left lane have been straight as an arrow. This is my first time here [in Indianapolis] and I love it. We just need to run a bit quicker, and I’m sure we can do it.”


Howey might be a longshot to win the Mission Foods Pro Stock Motorcycle title, but that doesn’t mean he won’t won a championship during the 2026 season.

In addition to his tenth-place ranking in Pro Stock Motorcycle, Howey is also tied for the No. 2 spot in the Sportsman Motorcycle class in NHRA’s Pacific Division. In that series, Howey has a win, a semifinal, and a quarterfinal in just four races so he is a leading title contender.

“I’ve got three races left in that deal and depending on how the rest of the season goes, I think I’ve got a shot,” said Howey. “If I make it to all six Countdown races, I might have a conflict or two, but we’ll see how that plays out. I’m still working on a few things so we’ll see what happens.”

Racing in the Sportsman Motorcycle class isn’t just a way to stay busy, it also helps keep Howey’s skills sharp. Its hard to argue with the results because Howey is the class leader in Pro Stock Motorcycle reaction times, and he’s also the leader in completed runs. In 31 attempts, he’s failed to make it to the finish line under power just once. That is a troublesome combination for his opponents because they know the likelihood of getting a free pass is slim.

“My bracket bike is pretty quick; it has 1.10-sixty-foot times so it’s not too far off a Pro Stock Motorcycle,” Howey said. “The [reaction times and consistency] come with being a bracket racer. When I come out here [to NHRA events] I pretty much don’t feel rusty at all. As soon as I throw that [clutch] lever in a burnout box, it's second nature.”