Bobby Bowsher (born October 5, 1966) is an American former professional racing driver. He is a two-time

ARCA Racing Series The ARCA Menards Series is an American stock car series, the premier division of the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA). It is considered a minor, semi-professional league of stock car racing, used as a feeder series into the three nationa ...

champion, winning the title in 1992, and again in 1994. He is the son of three-time

champion

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-t ...

, and the brother of fellow ARCA competitor Todd Bowsher.

Racing career

Bowsher first made his ARCA Permatex SuperCar Series in 1988 driving the No. 01

Ford Ford commonly refers to: * Ford Motor Company, an automobile manufacturer founded by Henry Ford * Ford (crossing), a shallow crossing on a river Ford may also refer to: Ford Motor Company * Henry Ford, founder of the Ford Motor Company * Ford F ...

Kil-Kare Raceway Kil-Kare Raceway is a motorsports complex located in Xenia Township, Greene County, near Xenia and Dayton, Ohio, USA. Kil-Kare was first built by the Marshall Brothers, and first opened up as a 1/5-mile dirt track in 1951. After one race kicked ...

driving father

Jack's Jack's Family Restaurants, LP (doing business as Jack's) is an American fast food restaurant chain, headquartered and based in Birmingham, Alabama. Restaurants feature sit-down dining, drive-thrus and takeout service. The menu features primari ...

family owned team, finishing 21st after starting 22nd. He would make 10 more starts and earn two top tens with a ninth at

Pocono Raceway Pocono Raceway (formerly known as the Pocono International Raceway in early years) is a tri-oval track in Blakeslee, Pennsylvania. The track has held a variety of events since its opening in 1969, including NASCAR, IndyCar Series, and IMSA GT ...

, and a fifth at

Salem Speedway Salem Speedway is a long paved oval racetrack in Washington Township, Washington County, near Salem, Indiana, United States, approximately south of Indianapolis. The track has 33° degrees of banking in the corners. Major auto racing series ...

. Bowsher would run his first full season in ARCA the following year in 1989, driving the No. 01 Ford for his fathers team, and he would fourth overall in the series standings that year with eight top-10's, including two top-5's at

Talladega Superspeedway Talladega Superspeedway (Alabama International Motor Speedway from 1969 to 1989) is a tri-oval superspeedway in Lincoln, Alabama. Built in 1969, the track has hosted a variety of racing events, primarily races sanctioned by NASCAR. The track is ...

, where he would finish fifth, and at Salem, where he would finish third. In 1990, now in the No. 21, he would win his first ARCA race at

Flat Rock Speedway Flat Rock Speedway is a race track in Monroe County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located in Ash Township just south of the city of Flat Rock along U.S. Route 24. Opened in 1953, it is owned by NASCAR and is the sister track to Toledo ...

after leading the 116 out of 150 laps. He would win again at Kil-Kare and would get seven more top-10's to finish third in the points. In 1991, he would win four races, tying with

Bob Keselowski Robert Allen Keselowski (August 1, 1951 – December 22, 2021) was an American professional stock car racing driver. He owned K Automotive Racing and was a competitor in the ARCA Hooters SuperCar Series and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Ra ...

with the most wins in the year. He would also win his first career pole at Flat Rock, a race he would later win. He would finish runner-up in the standings behind Bill Venturini. In 1992, Bowsher would start the season, finishing in second place at the season opener at

Daytona International Speedway Daytona International Speedway is a race track in Daytona Beach, Florida, Daytona Beach, Florida, United States, about north of Orlando, Florida, Orlando. Since opening in 1959, it has been the home of the Daytona 500, the most prestigious race ...

. He would then finish in the top 10 in fifteen times in the next twenty races, including back-to-back wins late in the season at the

Illinois State Fairgrounds Racetrack Illinois State Fairgrounds Racetrack is a one mile long clay oval motor racetrack on the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, the state capital. It is frequently nicknamed The Springfield Mile. Constructed in the late 19th century and r ...

and

Toledo Speedway Toledo Speedway is a half-mile paved oval racetrack located in Toledo, Ohio, United States. It is owned by ARCA President Ron Drager, and is the sister track to Flat Rock Speedway in Flat Rock, Michigan. History Toledo Speedway opened in 1 ...

on his way to his first ARCA series title ahead of

. In the following year, he would win one race at Toledo and earn twelve top-10's to finish third in the standings behind Keselowski and eventual champion Tim Steele. In 1994, Bowsher would start out the year with seven straight top-10's, including a win at

Louisville Motor Speedway Louisville Motor Speedway was a 3/8-mile race track located in Louisville, Kentucky. It was opened in 1988. Louisville Motor Speedway hosted 5 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races from 1995 to 1999. Also hosted 2 NASCAR Busch Series events, one in ...

, which ended at

Michigan Speedway Michigan International Speedway (formerly named as the Michigan Speedway from 1997 to 2000) is a D-shaped oval superspeedway in Brooklyn, Michigan. It has hosted various major auto racing series throughout its existence, including NASCAR, CAR ...

, where he would finish 22nd. He would then have a streak of ten straight top-10's, including two wins at Kil-Kare and Toledo to win his second title ahead of future series champion

Frank Kimmel Francis James Kimmel (born April 30, 1962) is an American former stock car racing driver. He competed primarily in the ARCA Racing Series, from 1990 through 2016. Kimmel is the most successful driver in ARCA history. He has won the ARCA championsh ...

. In the following year in 1995, he would win two races during the year, including Shady Bowl Speedway, where he would lead every lap, and would finish second in the standings behind

Andy Hillenburg Andrew Miles Hillenburg (born April 30, 1963) is an American former professional stock car racing driver and current team owner and track owner. His race team, Fast Track Racing, fields multiple cars in the ARCA Menards Series and formerly fielde ...

. In 1996, he would start the season on a low note finishing 40th at Daytona, but would win the pole in three of the next five races, including at Louisville, where he would win the event. He would earn his final two wins at Shady Bowl Speedway, and Kil-Kare, and would once again finish second in the standings behind Tim Steele. This would end up being his final full-time season in ARCA. During his time away from ARCA from 1997 to 2002, he would run three races in the

ASA National Tour The American Speed Association (ASA) is a sanctioning body of motorsports in the United States formed in 1968. The Association was based in Pendleton, Indiana, and later in Daytona Beach, Florida. The ASA sanctioned asphalt and dirt tracks in t ...

in 2001, getting a best result of 18th at

Memphis International Raceway Memphis International Raceway (formerly known as Memphis Motorsports Park) was an auto racing park located near the Loosahatchie River in Shelby County, Tennessee, United States, approximately ten miles south of Millington, and a few miles nort ...

and

Winchester Speedway Winchester Speedway is a paved oval motor racetrack in White River Township, Randolph County, just outside Winchester, Indiana, approximately 90 miles (144.8 km) northeast of Indianapolis. It seats 5,000 spectators. It is also known as the "Wo ...

. After a five year hiatus, Bowsher would return to the now

ARCA Re/Max Series The ARCA Menards Series is an American stock car series, the premier division of the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA). It is considered a minor, semi-professional league of stock car racing, used as a feeder series into the three national ...

, returning to his family team driving the No. 55

at Talladega as a teammate to his brother

Todd Todd or Todds may refer to: Places Australia * Todd River, an ephemeral river United States * Todd Valley, California, also known as Todd, an unincorporated community * Todd, Missouri, a ghost town * Todd, North Carolina, an unincorporated c ...

. After starting 41st and last, he would go on to finish 25th in the race, albeit nine laps down. He would run three races in the following year, mainly serving as a start and park entry with a best finish of 32nd at

Kansas Speedway Kansas Speedway (formerly known as Kansas International Speedway in initial planning and construction stages) is a tri-oval Oval track racing#Intermediate, intermediate speedway in Kansas City, Kansas. The track, since its inaugural season of ...

. In 2004, Bowsher would run eight more races, finishing only two of those races, including his final top ten at Springfield with a seventh place result. This would be his final season in ARCA competition as he has not raced since then.

Personal life

Bowsher is married and has a daughter named Brittany.

Motorsports results

ARCA Re/Max Series

( key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. ''Italics'' – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led. ** – All laps led.)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Bowsher, Bobby 1966 births Living people NASCAR drivers ARCA Menards Series drivers Racing drivers from Ohio Sportspeople from Springfield, Ohio