Jack Bowsher
Jack Edward Bowsher (October 2, 1930 – April 8, 2006) was an American race car driver and car owner. He obtained more than ten national championships in his 58 year racing career including, three ARCA Championships. He is also the father of 2-time ARCA Champion Bobby Bowsher.[1]
| Jack Bowsher | |
|---|---|
| Nationality |  |
| Born | October 2, 1930 Harmony, Ohio, United States |
| Died | April 8, 2006 (aged 75) |
| Retired | 1989 |
| Related to | Bobby Bowsher (son) Todd Bowsher (son) Jimmy Bowsher (son) |
| ARCA Permatex Super Car Series | |
| Years active | 1957-1966, 1989 |
| Teams | Jack Bowsher |
| Starts | 97 |
| Wins | 56 |
| Poles | 11 |
| Best finish | 1st in 1963, 1964, 1965 |
| Previous series | |
| 1959, 1966-1979 1966-1967 1954-1955 1954-1955 | USAC Stock Car NASCAR Winston Cup Series NASCAR Sportsman Division NASCAR Modified Series |
| Championship titles | |
| 1963 1964 1965 | MARC Champion ARCA Racing Series Champion ARCA Racing Series Champion |
| Jack Bowsher | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Achievements | 1966 Daytona ARCA 250 Winner | ||||||
| NASCAR Cup Series career | |||||||
| 4 races run over 2 years | |||||||
| First race | 1966 National 500 (Charlotte) | ||||||
| Last race | 1967 American 500 (Rockingham) | ||||||
| |||||||
| Statistics current as of May 3, 2013. | |||||||
Early life
Jack Edward Bowsher was born on October 2, 1930 in Harmony, Ohio. He graduated from Plattsburg High School in 1948 and served a year in the Navy in 1949.[2]
Career
Bowsher began his racing career in 1949 after attending his first race. In 1953 Jack joined the newly sanctioned ARCA Series. In 1963 Jack accumulated 16 wins on his way to win his first ARCA Title. Bowsher went on to win the championship the next two years. In 1971 Bowsher competed in the USAC Stock Car Series finishing 2nd in the series standings.[2] He accumulated 21 wins in the series. As an owner Bowsher won five ARCA titles (three while driving for himself and two with his son Bobby driving). He also won a USAC Title in 1968 with A. J. Foyt driving. Bowsher and Foyt were among the first drivers to test stock cars at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the late 1960s. Bowsher's Ford won the 1976 24 Hours of Daytona in the stock car class.[1]
Bowsher was the first person to build a down-tube open-wheel modified race car. This became a standard in modern open wheel racing. In 1988 Bowsher returned to the ARCA series as an owner for his son Bobby. The father son duo produced 17 victories on the way to two national titles.[2]
In 1989, a month shy of his 59th birthday, Bowsher, who had not driven in a decade, reluctantly stepped out of retirement subbing for defending ARCA champion Tracy Leslie on the Springfield Mile Dirt Oval where he won the pole and finished 10th in the race on the lead lap. His other son Todd is currently prevalent in the ARCA Series.[2]
Death
On April 8, 2006 Bowsher died. He is survived by wife Julie Bowsher, and sons Jack Bowsher, Jr., Gary Bowsher, Jim Bowsher, Bobby Bowsher, Todd Bowsher and daughter Jodie Bowsher.[2]
See also
References
- "Owner Info". Toddbowsher.com. 1930-10-02. Retrieved 2010-07-04.
- PaddockTalk. "Jack Bowsher Dies :: PaddockTalk :: F1, Formula 1, NASCAR, IndyCar, MotoGP, ALMS, And More!". PaddockTalk. Retrieved 2010-07-04.
External links
- Jack Bowsher driver statistics at Racing-Reference
- Ultimate Racing History Profile
- The Third Turn Profile
| Sporting positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Iggy Katona |
MARC/ARCA Series champion 1963–1965 |
Succeeded by Iggy Katona |