Tommy Houston, is a retired NASCAR

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...

 Busch Series

Busch Series

The NASCAR Nationwide Series is a stock car racing series owned and operated by the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing. It is promoted as NASCAR's "minor league" circuit, and is a proving ground for drivers who wish to step up to the organization's "big leagues"; the Sprint Cup circuit...

' drivers. Over his career, Houston and Jack Ingram

Jack Ingram (NASCAR)

Jack Ingram is a former NASCAR Busch Series race car driver and champion. Nicknamed the "Iron Man", during eight seasons in the Busch Series, he won 31 races and 5 poles, as well as the 1982 and 1985 championships. Unlike most younger competitors, Ingram won his 31 races between the age of 45 and...

 became known as the pair journeymen drivers that helped that series grow throughout the 1980s and early 1990s.

Houston was born in Hickory, North Carolina

Hickory, North Carolina

Hickory is a city in Catawba County, North Carolina. Hickory has the 162nd largest urban area in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 341,851, making it the 4th largest metropolitan area in North Carolina. The city's population was 37,222...

, and was in the NASCAR Late Model Sportsmen division, winning nearly 150 races before the series was formed into the Busch Series.

Busch Series Career

Houston made the inaugural race of the Busch Series at the 1982 Daytona

Daytona International Speedway

Daytona International Speedway is a race track in Daytona Beach, Florida, United States. Since opening in 1959, it has been the home of the Daytona 500, one of the most prestigious races in NASCAR. In addition to NASCAR, the track also hosts races of ARCA, AMA Superbike, Grand-Am and Motocross...

 race. Driving the #27 Kings Inn Chevy for Mike Day, Houston started 23rd and finished the race in 9th position. The very next week, Houston started 15th at North Carolina Speedway

North Carolina Speedway

Rockingham Speedway, formerly North Carolina Motor Speedway and later North Carolina Speedway is a racetrack located near Rockingham, North Carolina...

. From there, Houston moved solidly through the field and held off Bubba Nissen for the win. After problems at Bristol, Houston put together a run of 5 top-10 finishes. However, inconsistency through the year cost him. He did not finish the last 3 races as well as 7 others. That cost him any shot at the title. At Hickory Speedway in August, however, Houston held off Tommy Ellis

Tommy Ellis

Tommy Ellis was a NASCAR short track ace of the 1970s and 1980s. Often referred to as "Terrible" Tommy Ellis for his rough tactics, he won the National Late Model Sportsman championship in 1981 and was one of six drivers enrolled in the Winner's Circle plan at the formation of the Busch Series in...

 for his second career win after starting 4th. All told, he finished 4th in the 1982 Busch Series points.

In 1983, Houston began running his #6 full-time. He was able to reduce his DNF

DNF

DNF may stand for:* Derek and Francis* Disjunctive normal form in boolean logic* Duke Nukem Forever, a video game notable for its extremely long development time* "Did not finish" in racing parlance* Dynamic No Fins - a discipline of freediving...

 count from 10 to 6. He had four more top-10 finishes. He won two races at Orange County Speedway

Orange County Speedway

Orange County Speedway is a 3/8 mile asphalt oval in Orange County, near Rougemont, North Carolina. It first opened in 1966 as 1/4 mile and 5/8 mile dirt ovals, which operated until 1967 and 1973, respectively...

, and one each at Indianapolis Raceway Park and Hickory. He also finished 2nd three times. His sponsors over the years included Southern Biscuit Flour, Roses Stores, and later Red Devil Paints. His family was very involved in his efforts. He was inducted into the National Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame in 2008.

Personal life

Tommy Houston is the uncle of Teresa Earnhardt

Teresa Earnhardt

Teresa Earnhardt was the third wife and is the widow of Dale Earnhardt. She is the biological mother of Taylor Nicole Earnhardt and she is the stepmother of Kerry Earnhardt, Kelley Earnhardt Miller and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Teresa is currently the president and Co. Chief Executive Officer of...

, the president and Co. Chief Executive Officer

Chief executive officer

A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...

 of Earnhardt Ganassi Racing

Earnhardt Ganassi Racing

Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates is a NASCAR team based in Concord, North Carolina, United States, owned by Dale Earnhardt's widow Teresa Earnhardt, Chip Ganassi, and Felix Sabates. This team was formed when Dale Earnhardt, Inc...

. His son Andy Houston

Andy Houston

Andy Houston is a veteran of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, scoring three wins. Houston is the son of legendary Busch Driver Tommy Houston and the youngest of three brothers, one of them being part-time NASCAR driver Marty Houston and the other being the oldest of the three, Scott Houston...

 raced in all of the three major NASCAR series.

External links

• Houston's career stats