# Bobby Wawak

Robert Laurence Wawak (September 4, 1939 – April 17, 2004) was an American NASCAR driver from Villa Park, Illinois. He made 141 Grand National/Winston Cup Series starts, with fourteen top-10 finishes.

## Racing career
### Local racing

He began drag racing as a teenager. He raced in his first stock car race at around 1958 at Mance Park Speedway in Hodgkins, Illinois. He raced regularly at the O'Hare Stadium in Schiller Park, Illinois. He competed in both the cadet (sportsman) and late model divisions.
In 1974 he was the late model stock car champion at Illiana Motor Speedway in Schererville, Indiana. He competed at the track in 1973 and 1974, winning 14 features at that half mile asphalt track in his 1971 Ford Torino. He won 21 total races (including preliminary events) in 1974.

### National touring series
#### USAC

Wawak competed on the USAC stock car circuit in 1965. He made six races with a sixth-place finish in one event during his rookie season. He finished 18th in the final USAC standings that year. Wawak did not return to USAC racing until 1969 and would compete on a limited basis into the early 1970s.

#### NASCAR

Wawak made occasional NASCAR starts before 1976, except for making 14 NASCAR starts in 1967. His first start was in the 1965 Southern 500 at Darlington Speedway. He started 27th, and finished 36th with engine problems.
His most successful year was 1976, when he finished 22nd in the points. His highest career finish was a sixth-place finish in the final race of the season at Ontario.
The fuel line on his car came loose on the third lap of the 1977 Daytona 500, and the fire came into the car's cockpit. Wawak jumped from the car while it was still moving (and slammed into the inside wall moments later), held up his burnt hands, and ran to the infield care center. "It was like sitting in front of a blow torch," Wawak said later. He made six more starts that year.
He continued racing in NASCAR, and made 96 more NASCAR starts. His career ended when he crashed in the first qualifier for the 1988 Daytona 500, Wawak suffering a fractured vertebra and detached retinas. Randy LaJoie raced in one race in his car in 1988, and Mike Potter raced three races in 1990.
After his NASCAR career ended, he helped Hendrick Motorsports with their show cars.

## In media

He appeared in NASCAR Thunder 2004 as an unlockable driver in a car numbered 36.

## Death

At age 64, Wawak died on April 17, 2004. He was survived by his wife Stevi, daughters, Jaclin Wawak and Robin Wawak Pemberton and grandchildren, Lauri Trotter and River Pemberton, in addition to two brothers, Allen Wawak and Richard Wawak; three sisters, Carole Tarvash, Joyce Annanie, and Marilyn Zmich.

## 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.)

#### Grand National Series

NASCAR Grand National 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 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48 | 49 | 50 | 51 | 52 | 53 | 54 | 55 | NGNC | Pts |
| 1965 | Wawak Racing | 4 | Mercury | RSD | DAY | DAY | DAY | PIF | AWS | RCH | HBO | ATL | GPS | NWS | MAR | CLB | BRI | DAR | LGY | BGS | HCY | CLT | CCF | ASH | HAR | NSV | BIR | ATL | GPS | MBS | VAL | DAY | ODS | OBS | ISP | GLN | BRI | NSV | CCF | AWS | SMR | PIF | AUG | CLB | DTS | BLV | BGS | DAR 36 | HCY | LIN | ODS | RCH | MAR | NWS | CLT | HBO | CAR | DTS | 117th | 116 |
| 1967 | Wawak Racing | 92 | Plymouth | AUG | RSD | DAY | DAY | DAY | AWS | BRI | GPS | BGS | ATL | CLB | HCY | NWS | MAR | SVH | RCH | DAR | BLV | LGY | CLT 13 | ASH | MGR | SMR | BIR | CAR 25 | GPS | MGY | DAY 24 | | OXF 10 | FDA 27 | ISP 22 | BRI | | | ATL 10 | BGS | CLB | SVH | DAR | HCY | RCH | BLV | HBO | MAR 31 | NWS 30 | CLT 7 | CAR 43 | AWS | | | | | | | 31st | 9078 |
| 1967 | Wawak Racing | 92 | Dodge | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | TRN 17 | | | | | SMR 23 | NSV 21 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 31st | 9078 |
| 1968 | Wawak Racing | 77 | Plymouth | MGR | MGY | RSD DNQ | DAY | BRI | RCH | ATL | HCY | GPS | CLB | NWS | MAR | AUG | AWS | DAR | BLV | LGY | CLT | ASH | MGR | SMR | BIR | CAR | GPS | DAY | ISP | OXF | FDA | TRN | BRI | SMR | NSV | ATL | CLB | BGS | AWS | SBO | LGY | DAR | HCY | RCH | BLV | HBO | MAR | NWS | AUG | CLT | CAR | JFC | | | | | | | NA | - |
| 1969 | Wawak Racing | 73 | Dodge | MGR | MGY | RSD | DAY | DAY | DAY | CAR | AUG | BRI | ATL | CLB | HCY | GPS | RCH | NWS | MAR | AWS | DAR | BLV | LGY | CLT | MGR | SMR | MCH 31 | KPT | GPS | NCF | DAY | DOV | TPN | TRN | BLV | BRI | NSV | SMR | ATL | MCH | SBO | BGS | AWS | DAR | HCY | RCH | TAL | CLB | MAR | NWS | CLT | SVH | AUG | CAR | JFC | MGR | TWS | | 80th | 60 |
| 1971 | Wawak Racing | 75 | Dodge | RSD | DAY | DAY | DAY | ONT 20 | RCH | CAR 19 | HCY | BRI | ATL | CLB | GPS | SMR | NWS | MAR | DAR | SBO | TAL | ASH | KPT | CLT | DOV | MCH | RSD | HOU | GPS | DAY | BRI | AST | ISP | TRN | NSV | ATL | BGS | ONA | MCH | TAL DNQ | CLB | HCY | DAR | MAR | CLT | DOV | CAR | MGR | RCH | NWS | TWS | | | | | | | | 76th | 93 |

#### 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 | NWCC | Pts | Ref |
| 1976 | Gwinn-Wawak | 36 | Chevy | RSD | DAY | CAR | RCH | BRI | ATL DNQ | NWS | DAR | MAR | TAL 29 | NSV | DOV 26 | | | MCH 26 | DAY 14 | NSV 10 | POC 14 | TAL 24 | MCH 10 | BRI 9 | DAR 10 | RCH 10 | DOV 22 | MAR 25 | NWS 8 | CLT 10 | CAR 33 | ATL 10 | ONT 6 | | 22nd | 2062 | |
| 1976 | Gwinn-Wawak | 26 | Chevy | | | | | | | | | | | | | CLT 26 | RSD | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 22nd | 2062 |
| 1977 | Gwinn-Wawak | 36 | Chevy | RSD 18 | DAY DNQ | RCH | CAR | ATL | NWS | DAR | BRI | MAR 30 | TAL | NSV | DOV | CLT | RSD | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 45th | 522 | |
| 1977 | Gwinn-Wawak | 32 | Chevy | | DAY 42 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 45th | 522 |
| 1977 | Wawak Racing | 74 | Chevy | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | MCH 18 | DAY | NSV | POC | TAL | MCH 15 | BRI | | | | | | | CAR 11 | ATL 29 | ONT | | 45th | 522 | |
| 1977 | Gray Racing | 19 | Chevy | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | DAR 22 | RCH | DOV | MAR | NWS | CLT | | | | | | | | 45th | 522 |
| 1978 | Wawak Racing | 74 | Chevy | RSD | DAY DNQ | RCH | CAR | ATL | BRI 29 | DAR | NWS | MAR 12 | TAL | DOV 28 | CLT DNQ | NSV 13 | RSD | MCH | DAY | NSV | | | | BRI 28 | DAR 37 | RCH | DOV | MAR | NWS | CLT | | | ONT DNQ | | 38th | 680 | |
| 1978 | Greg Heller | 85 | Ford | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | POC 34 | TAL | MCH | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 38th | 680 |
| 1978 | Richard Childress Racing | 31 | Chevy | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | CAR 27 | ATL | | | | 38th | 680 | |
| 1979 | Wawak Racing | 74 | Olds | RSD | DAY 21 | CAR | RCH | ATL | NWS | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 46th | 376 | |
| 1979 | Wawak Racing | 74 | Chevy | | | | | | | BRI 29 | DAR 28 | MAR | TAL | NSV 14 | DOV | CLT | TWS | RSD | MCH | DAY | NSV | POC | TAL | MCH | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | MAR | CLT | NWS | CAR | ATL | ONT | 46th | 376 | |
| 1980 | Wawak Racing | 74 | Chevy | RSD | DAY | RCH 10 | CAR 17 | ATL | BRI 31 | DAR 13 | NWS 16 | MAR 31 | | NSV 18 | DOV 29 | | | | | | | | | | | | RCH 27 | DOV | NWS 11 | MAR | CLT | CAR | ATL | ONT | 25th | 1742 | |
| 1980 | Wawak Racing | 74 | Dodge | | | | | | | | | | TAL 30 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 25th | 1742 | |
| 1980 | Wawak Racing | 74 | Buick | | | | | | | | | | | | | CLT 25 | TWS 24 | RSD 22 | MCH 29 | DAY | NSV 23 | POC | TAL 24 | MCH 33 | BRI | DAR 39 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 25th | 1742 | |
| 1981 | Wawak Racing | 94 | Buick | RSD | DAY DNQ | RCH | CAR 14 | | | NWS 30 | DAR 24 | MAR 19 | TAL 10 | NSV 18 | DOV | CLT 31 | TWS 26 | RSD | MCH 33 | DAY | NSV | POC | TAL 19 | MCH 31 | BRI | DAR 24 | RCH | DOV | MAR | NWS | CLT 36 | CAR | ATL DNQ | RSD | 31st | 1212 | |
| 1981 | Wawak Racing | 94 | Pontiac | | | | | ATL 42 | BRI | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 31st | 1212 |
| 1982 | Wawak Racing | 94 | Buick | DAY 32 | RCH | BRI DNQ | ATL | CAR 28 | | | | | | | CLT 20 | POC 14 | RSD | MCH | DAY | NSV | POC 19 | TAL 26 | MCH | BRI | | | | | CLT DNQ | MAR | CAR 13 | | | | 31st | 1002 | |
| 1982 | Wawak Racing | 94 | Chevy | | | | | | DAR 21 | NWS | MAR | TAL | NSV | DOV | | | | | | | | | | | DAR 21 | RCH | DOV | NWS | | | | ATL 17 | RSD | | 31st | 1002 | |
| 1983 | Wawak Racing | 94 | Buick | DAY DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 36th | 825 | |
| 1983 | Wawak Racing | 74 | Buick | | RCH DNQ | CAR 16 | ATL 18 | DAR 16 | NWS DNQ | MAR | TAL DNQ | NSV | DOV | BRI | | | | MCH 37 | | | POC 27 | | MCH DNQ | BRI DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 36th | 825 | |
| 1983 | Wawak Racing | 74 | Chevy | | | | | | | | | | | | CLT 18 | RSD | POC | | DAY 27 | NSV | | TAL 34 | | | DAR 21 | RCH | DOV | MAR | NWS | CLT | CAR | ATL | RSD | | 36th | 825 | |
| 1984 | Wawak Racing | 74 | Chevy | DAY DNQ | RCH | CAR | ATL | BRI | NWS | DAR | MAR | TAL | NSV | DOV | CLT | RSD | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 47th | 307 | |
| 1984 | Jimmy Means Racing | 52 | Pontiac | | | | | | | | | | | | | | POC 28 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 47th | 307 |
| 1984 | Wawak Racing | 74 | Buick | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | MCH DNQ | DAY | NSV | POC 32 | TAL | MCH | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | MAR | CLT 22 | NWS | CAR 28 | ATL | RSD | | 47th | 307 | |
| 1985 | Wawak Racing | 74 | Chevy | DAY 13 | RCH | | ATL DNQ | BRI | DAR 34 | NWS | MAR | TAL 32 | DOV | CLT | RSD | POC 23 | | DAY 37 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 32nd | 1226 | |
| 1985 | Wawak Racing | 74 | Buick | | | CAR 27 | | | | | | | | | | | MCH 27 | | POC 25 | | MCH 27 | BRI DNQ | DAR | RCH | DOV 17 | MAR 16 | NWS 20 | CLT | CAR 34 | ATL | RSD | | | | | | 32nd | 1226 | |
| 1985 | Gray Racing | 54 | Chevy | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | TAL 21 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 32nd | 1226 |
| 1986 | Wawak Racing | 74 | Chevy | DAY DNQ | RCH | CAR 38 | ATL 23 | BRI | | | | | | CLT DNQ | RSD | POC | MCH 24 | DAY | POC | TAL | GLN | MCH | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV 33 | MAR | NWS | CLT DNQ | CAR 29 | ATL | RSD | | | 43rd | 480 | |
| 1986 | Wawak Racing | 74 | Buick | | | | | | DAR 19 | NWS | MAR | TAL | DOV | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 43rd | 480 | |
| 1987 | Wawak Racing | 74 | Chevy | DAY DNQ | CAR 27 | RCH 32 | ATL DNQ | | | | | | CLT 19 | DOV | POC 24 | RSD | MCH DNQ | DAY DNQ | POC | TAL | GLN | MCH 32 | BRI | DAR 23 | RCH | DOV | MAR | NWS | CLT DNQ | CAR 36 | RSD | ATL | | | 39th | 638 | |
| 1987 | Wawak Racing | 77 | Chevy | | | | | DAR 29 | NWS | BRI | MAR | TAL | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 39th | 638 |
| 1988 | Wawak Racing | 57 | Chevy | DAY DNQ | RCH | CAR | ATL | DAR | BRI | NWS | MAR | TAL | CLT | DOV | RSD | POC | MCH | DAY | POC | TAL | GLN | MCH | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | MAR | CLT | NWS | CAR | PHO | ATL | | | NA | - | |

##### Daytona 500

| Year | Team | Manufacturer | Start | Finish |
| 1977 | Gwinn-Wawak | Chevrolet | DNQ | DNQ |
| 1977 | Gwinn-Wawak | Chevrolet | 17 | 42 |
| 1978 | Wawak Racing | Chevrolet | DNQ | DNQ |
| 1979 | Wawak Racing | Olds | 30 | 21 |
| 1981 | Wawak Racing | Buick | DNQ | DNQ |
| 1982 | Wawak Racing | Buick | 28 | 32 |
| 1983 | Wawak Racing | Buick | DNQ | DNQ |
| 1984 | Wawak Racing | Chevrolet | DNQ | DNQ |
| 1985 | Wawak Racing | Chevrolet | 26 | 13 |
| 1986 | Wawak Racing | Chevrolet | DNQ | DNQ |
| 1987 | Wawak Racing | Chevrolet | DNQ | DNQ |
| 1988 | Wawak Racing | Chevrolet | DNQ | DNQ |

### ARCA Permatex SuperCar Series

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)
ARCA Permatex SuperCar 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 | APSC | Pts | Ref |
| 1981 | | 94 | Olds | DAY 16 | DSP | FRS | FRS | BFS | TAL | FRS | COR | | | | | | | | | | | | | NA | 0 | |
| 1983 | Wawak Racing | 74 | Buick | DAY | NSV | TAL 17 | LPR | LPR | ISF | IRP | SSP | FRS | BFS | WIN | LPR | POC | TAL | MCS | FRS | MIL | DSF | ZAN | SND | NA | 0 | |
| 1986 | Churchill Motorsports | 11 | Chevy | ATL | DAY | ATL | TAL | SIR | SSP | FRS | KIL | CSP | TAL | BLN | ISF | DSF | TOL | MCS | ATL 22 | | | | | 119th | - | |
| 1987 | Wawak Racing | 77 | Chevy | DAY | ATL | TAL 4 | DEL | ACS | TOL | ROC | POC | FRS | KIL | | | | | | | | | | | 60th | - | |
| 1987 | Wawak Racing | 74 | Chevy | | | | | | | | | | | TAL 29 | FRS | ISF | INF | DSF | SLM | | | | | | | | 60th | - |
| 1987 | Bryan Waters | 77 | Chevy | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ATL 3 | | | | | | 60th | - | |
| 1988 | Wawak Racing | 74 | Chevy | DAY 22 | ATL | TAL DNQ | FRS | PCS | ROC | POC | WIN | KIL | ACS | SLM | POC | TAL | DEL | FRS | ISF | DSF | SLM | ATL | | 132nd | - | |