Super Stock driver Grace Howell will team with Cunningham Motorsports and make her Pro Stock driving debut at the NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway Park in Indianapolis over Labor Day weekend.

The 25-year-old from Aiken, S.C., has been around racing and cars her entire life. Growing up in a racing family, she began racing Jr. Dragsters at the age of eight. She was able to travel to Puerto Rico to race three times and also had the opportunity to race in Australia at the ANDRA Jr. Championship race, where she was crowned champion in the 8.50 class. Howell achieved the highest honor in Jr. Drag Racing by winning the NHRA National Championship in 1996 at Texas Motorplex.

In 2002, at the age of 16, Howell made the change from Jr, Dragster to a full-bodied car in the Super Stock class. She finished No. 7 in the Division 2 ranks while scoring a runner-up finish at her very first race.

Super Stock driver Grace Howell will team with Cunningham Motorsports and make her Pro Stock driving debut at the NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway Park in Indianapolis over Labor Day weekend.

The 25-year-old from Aiken, S.C., has been around racing and cars her entire life. Growing up in a racing family, she began racing Jr. Dragsters at the age of eight. She was able to travel to Puerto Rico to race three times and also had the opportunity to race in Australia at the ANDRA Jr. Championship race, where she was crowned champion in the 8.50 class. Howell achieved the highest honor in Jr. Drag Racing by winning the NHRA National Championship in 1996 at Texas Motorplex.

In 2002, at the age of 16, Howell made the change from Jr, Dragster to a full-bodied car in the Super Stock class. She finished No. 7 in the Division 2 ranks while scoring a runner-up finish at her very first race.

After several years of competing in NHRA national and divisional events, Howell was tagged as a factory driver in Sport Compact Pro Stock in the NOPI Import Series. In 2008, she won back-to-back events in Sport Compact and Stock eliminator. She drove a Ford factory-built Cobra Jet Stock eliminator car in 2010 where she won the AA/SA class in Indy.

“I cannot thank Mr. and Mrs. Cunningham enough for this opportunity," said Howell. "Our family has a long history with Ford, drag racing and the Cobra Jets, so to make our debut in Pro Stock, in a Mustang, is truly a dream come true!”

Also joining the Cunningham Motorsports team will be two-time NHRA Pro Stock champion Jim Yates. Yates has been working with Howell, getting her ready for Indy and joining the team in the crew chief position.

"We have made about 50 hits at Capital Raceway and have completed all the necessary work to get Grace her Pro Stock License," said Yates, a two-time series champion. "We will be testing three days each week, in order to get everything ready for our Indy debut. I am really excited about the opportunity."

Howell Racing receives support from K1 RaceGear, Cheerwine, Ignite Motorsports Marketing, Ford, and Howell Printing.