Ron Bouchard
Encyclopedia
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
driver who was the 1981 NASCAR Winston Cup Rookie of the Year. His brother Ken Bouchard
Ken Bouchard
Ken Bouchard is an American former NASCAR driver. His brother Ron Bouchard was the 1981 NASCAR Winston Cup Rookie of the Year and one time Winston Cup race winner.-Modified career:...
was the 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Rookie of the Year.
Local driving career
Ron began racing career at Brookline Speedway as a substitute driver in 1963 by replacing the ill driver for his father's car. After high school he began racing in his father's car, and he rapidly moved up the ranks to late modelLate model
A "late model car" is a car which has been recently designed or manufactured, often the latest model. The term is broadly used in car racing, and often appears in common use, as in "The officer was driving an unmarked, late model sedan."There is no precise...
s at Seekonk Speedway
Seekonk Speedway
Seekonk Speedway is a semi-banked 1/3 mile paved oval located on U.S. Route 6 in Seekonk, Massachusetts.The track holds the distinction of being the longest continually operated race track in the United States, under the guidance of the Venditti family since it opened on May 30, 1946...
. He claimed five consecutive track championships from 1967 to 1971. He began racing at other local tracks in the Camaro, and he was noticed by Bob Johnson.
Johnson quickly put Bouchard in his Modified car at the famous Stafford Speedway, and he won his first of his 35 career victories at Stafford in April 1972. He won the 1973 and 1979 track Modified championships.Bouchard also drove for Legendary car owners Bob Judkins (#2)and also Len Boehler (#3)where he won numerous races at Stafford Speedway,Thompson Speedway,Seekonk Speedway,Waterford Speedbowl and Westboro Speedway.One of Bouchard's biggest modified victories came at Thompson Speedway driving Dick Armstrong's #1 in the Thompson 300 in 1980.
NASCAR career
Ron began his NASCAR career in 1981 in the #47 J.D. Stacy Buick for owner Jack Beebe (Race Hill Farm team). He captured the 1981 NASCAR Rookie of the Year title even though he only raced in 22 of 31 events. He posted 12 Top 10 finishes in the 22 races, including his only career win in the Talladega 500UAW Ford 500
The Good Sam Club 500 is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race held at Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, Alabama. The AMP Energy 500 is also one of four races currently run with restrictor plates, the others being the Aaron's 499, the Coke Zero 400, and the Daytona 500. Through 1996, the...
at Talladega Superspeedway
Talladega Superspeedway
Talladega Superspeedway is a motorsports complex located north of Talladega, Alabama, United States. It is located on the former Anniston Air Force Base just outside the small city of Lincoln. It was constructed by International Speedway Corporation, a business controlled by the France Family, in...
. Running third to Darrell Waltrip
Darrell Waltrip
Darrell Lee Waltrip is a 3-time NASCAR Cup Series champion , 3-time runner-up , winner of the 1989 Daytona 500 and 5-time winner of the prestigeous Coca-Cola 600 ,...
and Terry Labonte
Terry Labonte
Terrance Lee Labonte is a semi-retired NASCAR driver who occasionally drives in the Sprint Cup Series when called upon and is a two-time Winston Cup and IROC champion. He currently drives the #32 U.S. Chrome Ford for FAS Lane Racing. Labonte was introduced to the sport through his father, who had...
on the last lap, he swooped under both of them as they battled side-by-side out of the final turn. The three cars crossed the finish line nearly simultaneously, with Bouchard winning in a photo finish. After the race, Waltrip, who had thought Bouchard was a lap down, asked, "Where the hell did he come from?"
In 1982 Bouchard finished a career-high eighth in the final points standing with 15 Top 10 finishes in 30 races.
He ran full-time in 1983, 1984, and 1985. He finished between eleventh and sixteenth in the final points standing each of these years.
In 1986 he changed to the #98 Valvoline Pontiac for owner Mike Curb
Mike Curb
Michael Curb is an American musician, record company executive, NASCAR and IRL race car owner. A Republican, he served as the 42nd Lieutenant Governor of California from 1979-1983 under Democratic Governor Edmund G. "Jerry" Brown, Jr...
(Curb-Agajanian Motorsports). The team generally finished in the Top 20 when they completed a race, but they had 9 DNF's (did not finish) in their 17 events.
In 1987 he raced in the #1 Bull's Eye Barbecue Sauce Chevrolet for owner Hoss Ellington
Hoss Ellington
Hoss Ellington is a retired NASCAR driver and team owner. He made 31 starts as a driver between 1968 and 1970 in the Grand National ., finishing in the top 10 four times, all in 1969. He later became a successful team owner, with five wins, four of them by Donnie Allison and the other one by David...
in five events. Their two finishes were eighth and twelfth. He has not raced in a NASCAR event since then.
Award
In 1998 he was inducted into the New England Auto Racers Hall of FameNew England Auto Racers Hall of Fame
The New England Auto Racers Hall of Fame is a hall of fame for racing-related people in the New England region of the United States. NEAR was established in 1981. The New England Auto Racers Hall of Fame was established in 1998 by the New England Antique Racers.-New England Antique Racers:The...
in its inaugural class.