Jack Bowsher

Background

Jack Edward Bowsher was born on October 2, 1930 in Harmony, Ohio.

Education

He graduated from Plattsburg High School in 1948 and served a year in the Navy in 1949.

Career

He obtained more than ten national championships in his 58 year racing career including, three Associate of the Royal College of Art Championships. He is also the father of 2-time Associate of the Royal College of Art Champion Bobby Bowsher. Bowsher began his racing career in 1949 after attending his first race.

In 1953 Jack joined the newly sanctioned Associate of the Royal College of Art Series.

In 1971 Bowsher competed in the Universal Service Administrative Company Stock Carolina Series finishing 2nd in the series standings. He accumulated 21 wins in the series.

Bowsher and Foyt were among the first drivers to test stock cars at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the late 1960s. Bowsher was the first person to build a down-tube open-wheel modified race car.

This became a standard in modern open wheel racing.

The father son duo produced 17 victories on the way to two national titles. On April 8, 2006 Bowsher died.

Achievements

• In 1963 Jack accumulated 16 wins on his way to win his first Associate of the Royal College of Art Title. Bowsher went on to win the championship the next two years. As an owner Bowsher won five Associate of the Royal College of Art titles (three while driving for himself and two with his son Bobby driving). He also won a Universal Service Administrative Company Title in 1968 with A. J. Foyt driving. Bowsher"s Ford won the 1976 24 Hours of Daytona in the stock car class. 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 Associate of the Royal College of Art champion Tracy Leslie on the Springfield Mile Dirt Oval where he won the pole and finished 10th in the race on the lead lap.