Briss looks to build off of first career track championship in INEX Legends

Howie Briss didn’t have a racing background in the go-karts or anything, but a prompting from a pair of area veteran drivers got him to give driving a car.

He’s been hooked ever since.

“You can thank Joseph Thomas and Corky Thomas for helping me get into it,” Briss said. “Joe spit-balled the idea to me, and pretty much said why don’t you get a Legend. Tony Brockhouse had Elzetta Bitker’s old car, it was for sale and I bought it from him. I haven’t left, that’s a good sign.”

The Glyndon resident is in his fourth year of driving, piloting the #97 INEX Legend machine at area tracks.   The INEX Legend class is the most populous at area tracks in the Red River Valley, often with 20, 25 or even 30 cars a night signed in to compete.

Briss described his first couple of years in the INEX Legends class as “a little bit rocky” but has shown progress each year.

 The 2025 season was his best yet with two top five finishes and 11 top 10s in 20 starts.  Twice, he finished fourth in features at Norman County Raceway.

“Now, we’re starting to figure it out,” Briss said. “Last year we really got it dialed in.”

The big accomplishment from last season was winning his first career track championship, capturing the title at Norman County Raceway by 11 points over Mason Lemar of Casselton.

“It was really special,” Briss said. “Yes, I finally have an accomplishment. It’s not a race win, but I’ll take it. It’s in the books.”

Learning to drive an INEX Legend car takes some time, and Briss got some advice from local Legends guru Tony Brockhouse a while back.

“Tony Brockhouse described it: he said think of it, you are on a frozen lake in the middle of winter, it’s 20 below, and you’ve got a pickup truck that is rear-wheel drive only. You’re just trying to go around it,” Briss said.

He plans to run Norman County Raceway regularly in 2026 with hopes of defending his track championship with some trips to Buffalo River Speedway near Glyndon and Fix It Forward Speedway in West Fargo.

“I’m trying to go out and have fun,” Briss said. “Just have fun. That’s all that matters.”

This season is off to a solid start for Briss with one top five and four top 10s in five starts. He finished fifth in the feature at Norman County Raceway on May 15 and also has fnished sixth twice.

But he does have a goal in mind for on the track – and that is getting to victory lane for the first time.

“I would like to get a win. The competition is so tough,” Briss said. “It’d be pretty special if I get it. Hopefully we’re able to find something.”

What does he enjoy about racing?

“Just the thrill, just getting into the seat, and hanging out with your friends,” Briss said.

Driver profile

Howie Briss

INEX Legend #97

Residence: Glyndon, Minn.

Age: 24

Sponsors: T Eckert & Sons, Novacek Honey Farms, Pioneer Rolloff, Fugate Farming Company