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.
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
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.
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
Anthony Joseph Foyt Jr. (born January 16, 1935) is an American retired auto racing driver who has raced in numerous genres of motorsports. His open wheel racing includes United States Automobile Club Champ cars, sprint cars, and midget cars. H ...
driving. Bowsher and Foyt were among the first drivers to test stock cars at the
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is an automobile racing circuit located in Speedway, Indiana, an enclave suburb of Indianapolis, Indiana. It is the home of the Indianapolis 500 and the Verizon 200, and and formerly the home of the United State ...
in the late 1960s. Bowsher's Ford won the 1976
24 Hours of Daytona
The 24 Hours of Daytona, also known as the Rolex 24 At 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 the Sports Car Course layou ...
in the stock car class.
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.
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 (born October 24, 1957) is an American former professional stock car racing driver. He last raced in the ARCA Racing Series against his son, Billy. He also raced in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series and NASCAR Busch Series.
Early care ...
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.
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.
See also
Bowsher Racing
References
External links
*
Ultimate Racing History ProfileThe Third Turn Profile
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bowsher, Jack
1930 births
2006 deaths
Sportspeople from Springfield, Ohio
Racing drivers from Ohio
24 Hours of Daytona drivers
ARCA Menards Series drivers
United States Navy sailors
USAC Stock Car drivers