Jack Bowsher
Encyclopedia
Jack Edward Bowsher 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.
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. 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 AJ 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.
Bowsher was the first person to build a down-tube open-wheel modified racecar. This became a standard in modern open wheel racing. In 1988 Bowsher returned to the ACRA series as an owner for his son Bobby. The father son duo produced 17 victories on the way to two national titles.
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.
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.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 ARCAAutomobile Racing Club of America
Automobile Racing Club of America is an auto racing sanctioning body in the United States, founded in 1953 by John Marcum. The current president of ARCA is Ron Drager. The ARCA RE/MAX Series races stock cars similar to those seen in past years in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and indeed most cars...
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. 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 AJ Foyt driving. Bowsher and foyt were among the first drivers to test stock cars at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, located in Speedway, Indiana in the United States, is the home of the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race and the Brickyard 400....
in the late 1960s. Bowsher's Ford won the 1976 24 Hours of Daytona
24 Hours of Daytona
The 24 Hours of Daytona, currently known as the Rolex 24 Daytona for sponsorship reasons, is a 24-hour sports car endurance race held annually at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is run on a combined road course, utilizing portions of the NASCAR tri-oval and an infield...
in the stock car class.
Bowsher was the first person to build a down-tube open-wheel modified racecar. This became a standard in modern open wheel racing. In 1988 Bowsher returned to the ACRA series as an owner for his son Bobby. The father son duo produced 17 victories on the way to two national titles.
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
Tracy Leslie
Tracy Leslie is an American professional stock car racer. He currently races in the ARCA RE/MAX Series, against his son, Billy. He also raced in the NASCAR Winston Cup and Busch Series.- Early career :...
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.