Richard Charles Bown Jr. (born February 22, 1954) is an American former race car driver who competed in various levels in NASCAR. He won two NASCAR championships; the 1976 NASCAR Winston West Series championship and the 1990 NASCAR Busch Series championship. His last ride came in 1999. He lives with his wife in Asheboro, North Carolina. He is the older brother of former fellow NASCAR competitor Jim Bown and son of former competitor Dick Bown.
1970s Bown made his NASCAR debut in 1972 in the Winston Cup Series. At the age of seventeen, he ran the Winston Western 500 at Riverside International Raceway the No. 27 Plymouth owned by his father Dick. Bown started 22nd but finished 32nd that day after crashing on lap 88. Bown made two more starts in the No. 27 that year, with his best finish being fourteenth at the second Riverside race.
In 1973, Bown returned to the Winston Cup Series driving his father's No. 03 Dodge, finishing in the top-ten for the first time in his career at the Tuborg 400 at Riverside. In 1974, Bown again competed in the three California races on the Winston Cup Series schedule, the two events at Riverside as well as at Ontario Motor Speedway. His best finish was 20th. In 1976, Bown began driving for Gerald Cracker, driving the No. 01 Chevrolet in four races, and the No. 03 at Riverside, where he had his best finish. Bown was named the Most Popular Driver of the Year in the NASCAR Winston West Series in 1977. In 1979, Bown drove Jim Testa's No. 68 Buick and Chevrolet in seven Winston Cup events. He scored a seventh place finish in the Daytona 500 and a sixth place finish in the Firecracker 400. He drove eleven races for the next two years for different owners, but did not reach the top-ten.
1986–1993 In 1986, Bown returned to NASCAR, running in the Busch Series. His first start came at the Goody's 300, where he started 28th but finished 40th after wrecking his No. 67 Buick early in the race. He made his only other start of the year at the Oxford 250 at Oxford Plains Speedway, where he's started thirteenth and won his first career Busch race. The following season, Bown ran three races in the No. 7/56 Pontiac, but did not finish a race.
In 1989, Bown ran his first full season in Busch driving the No. 63 Pontiac at Lanier Speedway and at South Boston Speedway. He finished the season with five top-fives and twelve top-tens wound up ninth in the championship standings. The following year, Bown won six races and four poles. He had a total of thirteen top-fives and won the Busch Series championship over Jimmy Hensley by two-hundred points. That same season, he returned to the Cup series, running three races in the No. 97 Pontiac for Tex Powell, his best finish 23rd at the Atlanta Journal 500.
In 1991, Bown won three times and garnered four poles, but dropped fourth in the Busch Series points. He made one Winston Cup start driving Cale Yarborough's No. 66 Pontiac at North Wilkesboro Speedway where he finished 26th. The following season, Bown failed to win a race and had only five top-five finishes, and dropped to eleventh in the standings. In 1993, Bown won his final career pole at Richmond International Raceway and won his final race at Martinsville Speedway. He recorded five top-fives and thirteen top-tens en route to a fourth-place points finish. He made one Winston Cup start driving the Roulo Brothers' No. 39 Chevrolet at Phoenix, finishing 24th.
Final years
In 1994, Bown moved back up to the Cup Series, driving the No. 12 Ford Thunderbird for Bobby Allison. He won the pole for the Food City 500, setting a new track record. He was seriously injured in a wreck at Pocono Raceway which sidelined him for the season.
Bown returned to racing in 1995 in four Busch races, finishing ninth at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the No. 05 Key Motorsports Ford. He competed in nine Cup races in the No. 32 Chevrolet Monte Carlo for Active Motorsports, his best finish a 21st at Charlotte. In 1996, Bown drove for a variety of teams in the Busch Series, his best finish 21st at Darlington Raceway. He drove the Sadler Brothers Racing' No. 95 Ford in three Winston Cup Series events but only finished one race.
In 1997, Bown began racing in the Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 99 Ford F-150 for Roush Racing. Despite not winning a race, he had four top-fives and finished ninth in the standings. The next season, Bown qualified on the pole at the season opener at Walt Disney World Speedway, but finished 25th. After that race, he was released from Roush due to downsizing. He moved to the No. 57 CSG Motorsports Ford driving in six events before being released. He ended the season driving the No. 67 Chevrolet Silverado in a pair of races, finishing seventeenth at Phoenix.
In 1999, Bown returned to Hensley to drive their No. 63 Chevrolet. Despite a seventh-place finish at Charlotte, Bown was released from the team halfway into the season, and soon retired.
Motorsports career results
NASCAR (key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)
Winston Cup Series NASCAR Winston Cup Series results Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Pts Ref 1972 Bown Racing 27 Plymouth RSD32 DAY RCH RSD14 TWS DAY BRI TRN ATL TAL MCH NSV DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR TWS 69th 636.75 27W ONT33 CAR ATL BRI DAR NWS MAR TAL CLT DOV MCH 1973 03 Dodge RSD29 DAY RCH CAR BRI ATL NWS DAR MAR TAL NSV CLT DOV TWS RSD10 MCH DAY BRI ATL TAL NSV DAR RCH DOV NWS MAR CLT CAR 73rd 1974 RSD35 DAY RCH CAR BRI ATL DAR NWS MAR TAL NSV DOV CLT 93rd 2.7 03W RSD20 MCH DAY BRI NSV ATL POC TAL MCH DAR RCH DOV NWS MAR CLT CAR Plymouth ONT39 1975 Dodge RSD27 DAY RCH CAR BRI ATL NWS DAR MAR TAL NSV DOV CLT 57th 319 03 RSD34 MCH DAY NSV POC TAL MCH DAR DOV NWS ONT38 26 Chevy MAR26 CLT12 RCH CAR BRI ATL 1976 Gerald Craker 03 Dodge RSD16 DAY CAR RCH BRI ATL NWS DAR MAR TAL NSV DOV CLT 49th 481 01 Chevy RSD19 MCH DAY NSV POC TAL MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR28 NWS CLT CAR ATL31 ONT19 1977 RSD13 DAY RCH CAR ATL NWS DAR BRI MAR TAL NSV DOV CLT RSD25 MCH DAY NSV POC TAL MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR ATL ONT39 60th 258 1978 Johnny Ray 77 Chevy RSD DAY RCH CAR ATL30 BRI DAR30 NWS MAR24 TAL33 DOV CLT NSV RSD MCH DAY NSV POC TAL MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR ATL ONT 56th 301 1979 Testa Racing 68 Buick RSD DAY7 CAR RCH ATL16 NWS BRI DAR MAR23 TALDNQ NSV DOV CLT40 TWS RSD MCH DAY6 NSV POC TAL MCH BRI DAR17 RCH DOV MAR 38th 523 Chevy CLT33 NWS CAR ATL ONT 1980 47 Chevy RSD36 51st 329 Testa Racing 68 Olds DAY35 RCH CAR ATL BRI DAR NWS MAR TAL NSV DOV CLT TWS RSD Halpern Enterprises 02 Olds MCH31 DAY37 NSV Chevy POC35 TAL MCH BRI CLT25 CAR ATL RahMoc Enterprises 75 Chevy DAR11 RCH DOV NWS MAR John Kieper 93 Dodge ONT27 1981 Ulrich Racing 99 Buick RSD DAY RCH CAR ATL BRI NWS DAR MAR TAL NSV DOV CLT39 TWS RSD MCH DAY NSV POC TAL MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT 67th Bown Racing 16 Buick CAR28 ATL15 RSD 1990 Tex Racing 97 Chevy DAY RCH CAR ATL DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL CLT DOV SON POC MCH DAY POC TAL GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT24 CAR ATL23 50th 276 Olds PHO24 1991 72 DAYDNQ RCH CAR ATLDNQ DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL CLT DOV SON POC MCH DAY POC TAL GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR 76th 85 Cale Yarborough Motorsports 66 Pontiac NWS26 CLT CAR PHO ATL 1992 Donlavey Racing 90 Ford DAY CAR RCH ATL DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL CLT DOV SON POC MCH DAY POC TAL GLN MCHDNQ BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR PHO ATL NA - 1993 Roulo Brothers Racing 39 Chevy DAY CAR RCH ATL DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL SON CLT DOV POC MCH DAY NHA POC TAL GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR PHO24 ATL 71st 91 1994 Bobby Allison Motorsports 12 Ford DAY23 CAR25 RCH17 ATL41 DAR12 BRI23 NWS35 MAR7 TAL27 SON21 CLT13 DOV21 POC39 MCH DAY NHA POC TAL IND GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR PHO ATL 42nd 1211 1995 Active Motorsports 32 Chevy DAY CAR RCH ATL DAR39 BRI31 NWSDNQ MARDNQ TAL SON CLT21 DOV33 POC29 MCH24 DAY29 NHA40 POC TAL37 IND GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR PHO ATL 43rd 618 1996 Sadler Brothers Racing 95 Ford DAYDNQ CAR RCH ATL40 DARDNQ BRIDNQ NWS MAR TAL25 SON CLT42 DOV POC MCH DAY NHA POC TAL IND GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR PHO ATL 53rd 168
Daytona 500 results Year Team Manufacturer Start Finish 1979 Testa Racing Buick 28 7 1980 Oldsmobile 15 35 1991 Tex Racing Chevrolet DNQ 1994 Bobby Allison Motorsports Ford 37 23 1996 Sadler Brothers Racing Ford DNQ
Busch Series NASCAR Busch Series results Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 Pts Ref 1986 Quint Boisvert 67 Buick DAY40 CAR HCY MAR BRI DAR SBO LGY JFC DOV CLT SBO HCY ROU IRP SBO RAL 95th 43 Pontiac OXF1* SBO HCY LGY ROU BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR ROU CLT CAR MAR 1987 56 DAY HCY MAR DAR BRI LGY SBO CLT DOV29 IRP ROU JFC DOV22 MAR CLT CAR MAR 77th 7 OXF42 SBO HCY RAL LGY ROU BRI JFC DAR RCH 1988 56 DAY HCY CAR MAR DAR24 BRI LNG 52nd 306 7 NZH24 SBO NSV CLT DOV ROU LAN LVL MYB OXF10 SBO HCY LNG IRP ROU BRI DAR RCH 1 DOV13 MAR CLT CAR MAR 1989 HVP Motorsports 63 Pontiac DAY32 CAR23 MAR8 HCY19 DAR18 BRI13 NZH23 SBO8 LAN20 NSV8 CLT23 DOV6 ROU26 LVL5* VOL3 MYB28 SBO3* HCY29 DUB2* IRP8* ROU15 BRI23 DAR36 RCH34 DOV6 MAR8 CLT22 CAR30 MAR5 9th 3349 1990 DAY21 RCH6 CAR12 MAR10 HCY3 DAR13 BRI10 LAN1* SBO1 NZH3 HCY1* CLT17 DOV8 ROU1* VOL5 MYB9 OXF1* NHA3 SBO2* DUB2 IRP4 ROU1* BRI17 DAR13 RCH21 DOV12 MAR17 CLT13 NHA24 CAR18 MAR27 1st 4372 1991 DAY33 RCH12 CAR36 MAR7 VOL10 HCY17 DAR11 BRI10 LAN5 SBO12 NZH1* CLT25 DOV19 ROU25 HCY11 MYB1* GLN7 OXF12 NHA2 SBO16 DUB1* IRP4* ROU5 BRI8 DAR17 RCH29 DOV17 CLT23 NHA2 CAR42 MAR2 4th 3922 1992 DAY32 CAR35 RCH9 ATL41 MAR3 DAR27 BRI12 HCY3 LAN2 DUB18 NZH4 CLT38 DOV23 ROU19 MYB9 GLN7 VOL8 NHA24 TAL12 IRP24 ROU27 MCH15 NHA22 BRI2 DAR28 RCH14 DOV10 MAR24 HCY7 11th 3580 Chevy CLT12 CAR6 1993 Pontiac DAY13 CAR10 RCH18 DAR12 BRI25 HCY8 ROU6 MAR5 NZH6 DOV16 MYB12 GLN6 MLW17 TAL26 IRP22 NHA27 BRI5 RCH14 DOV23 ROU3* MAR1 HCY2 4th 3532 Chevy CLT8 MCH10 DAR20 CLT8 CAR13 ATL36 1995 Key Motorsports 05 Ford DAY CAR RCH ATL NSV DAR BRI HCY NHA NZH CLT DOV MYB GLN MLW TAL SBO IRP MCH BRI DAR RCH38 DOV CLT9 CAR30 59th 306 Group III Racing 18 Ford HOM39 1996 Day Enterprise Racing 16 Pontiac DAY28 CAR 51st 629 Key Motorsports 05 Ford RCH31 Bobby Jones Racing 50 Ford ATLDNQ NSV27 DAR21 BRI37 HCY23 NZH CLT Bown Racing 51 Chevy DOV26 SBO MYB GLN MLW NHA TAL IRP32 MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV CLT CAR HOM 1998 Bown Racing 51 Chevy DAY CAR LVS NSV DAR BRI TEX HCY TAL NHA NZH CLT DOV RCH PPR GLN MLW MYB CAL SBO IRP MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV CLT GTY CARDNQ ATL NA - Martin Motorsports 92 Chevy HOMDNQ 1999 HVP Motorsports 63 Chevy DAY11 CAR24 LVS25 ATL40 DAR17 TEX23 NSV40 BRI31 TAL25 CAL35 NHA18 RCH29 NZH31 CLT7 DOV41 SBO22 GLN MLW MYB PPR GTY IRP MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV CLT CAR MEM PHO HOM 38th 1370
Craftsman Truck Series NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series results Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 Pts Ref 1997 Roush Racing 99 Ford WDW12 TUS9 HOM3 PHO8 POR27 EVG14 I703 NHA10 TEX4 BRI9 NZH7 MLW10 LVL22 CNS26 HPT20 IRP12 FLM12 NSV7 GLN34 RCH8 MAR16 SON14 MMR14 CAL16 PHO2 LVS9 9th 3320 1998 WDW25* 33rd 927 CSG Motorsports 57 Ford HOM12 PHO23 POR15 EVG20 I7022 GLN16 TEX BRI MLW NZH CALPPR IRP NHA FLM NSV HPT LVL RCH MEM GTY MAR SON MMR Don VanDenBos 67 Chevy PHO17 LVS30
Awards Bown was inducted in the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame in 2009 along with Wayne Spears, Doug George, and Rick Carelli.
References
External links
Speedway Media profile