First NLRA winner dies after stroke
Former West Fargo, N.D., Late Model racer Howie Schill, the first-ever winner on the Northern LateModel Racing Association and the first-ever Late Model champion at River Cities Speedway, died Christmas Day, one day after suffering a massive stroke while continuing recovery from November operation to remove a brain mass. He was 55.
The NLRA, WISSOTA and upper Midwestern dirt racing community reached out in support of the Schill family, which includes Howie's brother Troy Schill, NLRA's first champion in 1998, and Howie's son Cole Schill, whose three career NLRA victories matches his father's total.
"We are very devastated by this," the family posted on CaringBridge.org. "We lost a husband, son, father, grandfather, brother, friend, best friend, mentor and hero. We would like to you pray for our family at this time as this is going to be a difficult time for all of us."
Along with his victory in the inaugural NLRA event on June 17, 1998, at Victory Lane Speedway in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Howie Schill won series races in 2007 and '08. Overall he won 33 feature races, including 12 at River Cities, where he captured the '99 title. The driver of the No. 4*, Howie Schill's best finish in NLRA points (third) came in the tour's first season. He also served as NLRA president from 2004-09.
Schill's Late Model career began in 1994 and ended 20 years later as he stepped back to assist his son's racing, along with other drivers including Jon Samuelson, Jeff Hapala and David Buringrud and Dan Dowling. He climbed back behind the wheel for a 2019 Late Model start at Jamestown (N.D.) Speedway, posting a top-five finish in the backup car of Cole, the $4,000 Stock Car Stampede feature winner.
"He was a racing mentor to so many. He knew setup like no other. He was honestly an inspiration to everyone." Cole Schill told DirtonDirt.com. "But outside of his family he always lended a hand when he was asked. Or a lengthly conversation when a phone call arose. But that was the man he was. He had such a huge heart. And he was widely respected."
Besides Cole, Howie Schill's survivors include wife Juanita and another son, Cody. Arrangements are incomplete.
Editor's note: Updates with more details.
