Pat took his first stab at the Super DIRTcar Series in 1989, driving for R.C. Putnam. Then he was back in his own equipment until 1995, when he started a successful six-season stint in John Finch’s No. 56, which produced 26 wins, including a Super DIRTcar event at Can-Am and a Labor Day 50 win on the Syracuse mile.
In 2000, a sponsorship from Gypsum Express owner John Wight turned into an offer for a full-blown ride. Ward has driven for Wight’s “red team” ever since, with current stablemates Larry Wight and Billy Decker. The team’s Bicknell cars have been powered by engines built by Kevin Lamphere since 2008.
There are two things that can be said about Ward: he steadfastly sticks with it, no matter the odds; and he’s a nice guy who’s maintained friendships and steered clear of controversy his entire career.
To the first point, Ward came from hardscrabble beginnings to record wins in five decades, from his first victory in his own car at Fonda Speedway in 1987 to his most recent win at Land of Legends on June 6, 2020, driving for John Wight’s Gypsum Express team.
Strung between those moments are 143 more victories, earned at 17 tracks in New York, Pennsylvania and Florida.
Among Ward’s career highlights are the Syracuse Fair race in 1998; the 2012 Outlaw 200 at Fulton; a pair of Florida tour titles; championships at Can-Am, Utica-Rome and Fulton speedways; three consecutive ROC Dirt Modified titles from 2007-‘09; and the 2004 overall Mr. DIRT 358 series title.
“We followed the whole tour that year. Didn’t start out planning to, but we got to running well and decided to stay with it,” Ward said of the 23-race DIRT 358 series in ‘04. “It was down to me and Alan there for the last half of the year — every week, we’d switch the lead back and forth, for points. I think I ran top three everywhere we went with that car.”
He credited team manager Scott Jeffery, who came aboard that year along with star driver Billy Decker, with “changing everything for us.”
“I don’t want to put anybody down, but I think he’s the best mechanic out there,” Ward said of Jeffrey.
To the second point — that “nice guy” appraisal — Ward’s loyalties and longtime relationships speak volumes.
Jennifer Saville has been with Ward since they met in high school, never missing a race in all that time.
“She’s a wonderful girl — no matter what, she was always with him and on his side,” said Aida Conkey, who went on to talk about leaning on Ward in 1989, when a fire decimated the Show Car shop and Howard was diagnosed with cancer.
“In the early ‘90s, Howard was in the hospital for three years, on and off. If it wasn’t for Pat, the shop probably wouldn’t have kept going,” she tipped. “He was just so loyal. No matter what I asked him, he always did it.”
Likewise, Ward has established an enviable 20-year relationship with John and Laura Wight, both personally and professionally.
“They’re definitely my second family, that’s for sure. All of my family has passed away, pretty much,” said Ward. “I’m very lucky to be with them, and see Larry grow up and get married and have kids.”
Now a force to be reckoned with everywhere he races, John and Laura’s son Larry was the little guy who shadowed Ward in the Gypsum shop 20 years ago.
“He’d be struggling to lift a tire up and put it on my car when he was eight years old,” Ward chuckled. “Now, look at him! I’m just proud as heck, as if he was my own son or little brother.”
As for his own career, at age 64 Ward looks back and wonders at the success he had, against the kind of cutthroat competition that would make other men weak.
“I raced against everybody when they were in their prime! At Fonda, I had Jack, Lape, C.D., Ray Dalmata. At Canandaigua and Weedsport, I had Bob, Will Cagle, Alan, Danny, Billy, Fuller, Sheppard. Then I went on the series — ran against Brett, Doug Hoffman, Horton, Brightbill, Cozze,” said Ward as he listed the legendary names. “Now, Larry’s getting into his prime.
“I was thinking about that the other day. I don’t know how the heck I won any races, running against that crew!”
But Ward won plenty, and that record of success earned him a call to the Northeast Dirt Modified Hall of Fame.