Howdy Holmes

Howdy S. Holmes (born December 14, 1947, Ann Arbor, Michigan), is a former driver in the CART Championship Car series. He began racing in the early 1970s and was based in Stockbridge, Michigan, about 15 miles (24 km) northeast of Chelsea, Michigan where his family owned a milling company.

He raced in the CART series for 7 seasons (1979-1980, 1982-1985, and 1988), with 72 career starts, including the Indianapolis 500 each of those years except 1980. He finished in the top ten 26 times, with his best finish in 2nd position in 1984 at Phoenix. He was the Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the year in 1979, with a 7th-place finish. In 1978, he was the Formula Atlantic champion.

Holmes is currently the President of Chelsea Milling Company, his family's firm that was founded in 1901. Holmes' grandmother Mabel became famous for inventing the Jiffy line of baking mixes in 1930, and the family brand served as a sponsor for Holmes' cars.

Holmes would make his indy car debut in the USAC National Championship during 1979 for AMI Racing in the #46 Jiffy Mixes/Armstrong Mould Wildcat Mk. 2-Drake Goosen Sparks at the Indianapolis 500. In the race Holmes qualified in 13th place and would be the only rookie to qualify, meaning Holmes would win the rookie of the year award. Holmes would finish the race in 7th place. Holmes would drive a second race, the Music 500 Presented by Musicland & Sam Goody at Pocono International Raceway, starting and finishing 7th. Holmes would finish 12th in the USAC points, while going unranked towards the rival SCCA/CART PPG World Series due to Indianapolis counting towards the points for drivers competing in their championship.

In 1980 USAC and CART merged to form the Championship Racing League while also counting for points in the CART championship. Holmes would return with AMI Racing to drive the #43 Jiffy Mixes/Armstrong Mould Orbitor-Cosworth DFX. While Holmes was attempting to qualify the car he spun out and missed the race in that car. Holmes also tried to qualify AMI's #45 Armstrong Mould Lola T6000-Cosworth DFX, failing to qualify in that car also. During the season the Orbitor showed some promise, such as qualifying 6th at the Kent Oil 150 at Watkins Glen Grand Prix Circuit and an 8th-place finish at the True Value 500 at Pocono International Raceway. Holmes would finish 12th in the CRL/USAC standings and 22nd in the CART standings. Holmes would not compete in any races in 1981.

In 1982 Holmes would drive for Doug Shierson Racing in the #30 Domino's Pizza March 82C-Cosworth DFX. During the season Holmes would get best finishes of 4th at the Provimi Veal Tony Bettenhausen 200 at Wisconsin State Fairgrounds Park Speedway and 5th at the Detroit News Grand Prix at Michigan International Speedway to finish 13th in points. During the year Holmes qualified for the Indianapolis 500 (counted towards the USAC Gold Crown Championship) to finish 10th in the race and 26th in the USAC standings.

For 1983 Holmes would return with Doug Shierson Racing to drive the #30 Domino's Pizza March 83C-Cosworth. During the year Holmes got a best finish of 5th at the Cribari Wines 300K at Laguna Seca Raceway. Holmes would also compete in the Indianapolis 500 (sanctioned by USAC, but counted for points by CART), starting 12th and finishing 6th. Holmes would finish 13th in the CART standings and 9th in the USAC standings.

In 1984 Holmes would join Mayer Racing to drive the #41 Jiffy Mixes March 84C-Cosworth DFX. The season would start off well as Holmes would finish 2nd to teammate Tom Sneva at the Dana Jimmy Bryan 150 at Phoenix International Raceway. Holmes would then qualify 2nd to Sneva at the Indianapolis 500. Holmes' car suffered mechanical problems throughout the race and Holmes finished 13th, 15 laps down. The rest of the season brought some more points finishes, although none were as good as Holme's early season form. Holmes would finish the season 12th in the CART points and unranked in the USAC points due to scoring no points at Indianapolis.

For 1985 Holmes would join Forsythe Racing to drive the #33 Jiffy Mixes Lola T85/00-Cosworth DFX. Holmes would get a best finish of 9th at the Michigan 500 at Michigan International Speedway. Holmes would also finish 10th at the Indianapolis 500. The result came under some controversy as Holmes was criticized for making contact with then-2nd place driver and former teammate Tom Sneva, which caused Sneva and Rich Vogler to crash. Following the Detroit News 200 at Michigan International Speedway Holmes was replaced by Jan Lammers. Holmes would finish the season 25th in the CART standings and 10th in the USAC standings. Holmes would not compete in any races in 1986 or 1987.

In 1988 Holmes would drive for Morales Motorsports in the #21 Jiffy Mixes March 88C-Cosworth DFX. During the season Holmes got a best finish of 7th at the Quaker State 500 at Pocono International Raceway. Holmes would also have a good run at the Indianapolis 500, starting 33rd (last) and finishing 12th. Holmes would finish out the season with an 8th-place finish at the Nissan Indy Challenge at Tamiami Park in what would end up being Holmes' final Indy car race. Holmes would finish 18th in the CART standings and 12th in the USAC standings.

After retiring from racing, Holmes became the president of Chelsea Milling Company, the manufacturer of Jiffy Mixes, which was invented by Holmes' grandmother Mabel White Holmes. Holmes has also made appearances at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Legends Day (a day that honors past drivers of the Indianapolis 500) and other times simply as a spectator. Holmes was also likely among the drivers who previously competed in Indianapolis 500s and appeared in a special event prior to the 2011 Indianapolis 500 (100th anniversary of the first race).

SCCA National Championship Runoffs

(key)

Complete USAC Mini-Indy Series results

Year	Entrant	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Pos	Points
1977	Wilbur Bunce Racing	TRE 2	MIL 3	MOS 9	PIR 23							3rd	340
1978		PIR1	TRE1	MOS	MIL1 27	TEX	MIL2	OMS1	OMS2	TRE2	PIR2	69th	2

CART/Champ Car World Series

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)

Indianapolis 500 results