# Tommy Houston

Tommy Houston (born January 29, 1945) is a retired NASCAR Busch Series driver. Over his career, Houston and Jack Ingram became known as the pair of journeymen drivers that helped that series grow throughout the 1980s and early 1990s.
Houston was born in Hickory, North Carolina, and was in the NASCAR Late Model Sportsman division, winning nearly 150 races before the series was formed into the Busch Series.

## Busch Series career

Houston made the inaugural race of the Busch Series at the 1982 Daytona race. Driving the No. 27 Kings Inn Chevy for Mike Day, Houston started 23rd and finished the race in ninth position. The next week, Houston started 15th at the series' first ever short track race, at Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway. From there, Houston moved solidly through the field and held off Bubba Nissen for the win. After problems at Bristol, Houston put together a run of five top-10 finishes. However, inconsistency through the year cost him. He did not finish the last three races as well as seven others. That cost him any shot at the title. At Hickory Speedway in August, however, Houston held off Tommy Ellis for his second career win, after starting fourth. All told, he finished fourth in the 1982 Busch Series points.
In 1983, Houston began running his No. 6 full-time. He was able to reduce his DNF count from 10 to 6. He had four more top-10 finishes. He won two races at Orange County Speedway, and one each at Indianapolis Raceway Park and Hickory. He also finished second three times. His sponsors over the years included Southern Biscuit Flour, Roses Stores, and, later, Red Devil Paints.
Houston snapped a 50 race winless streak at his home track on Easter Sunday in 1992 after the death of his father the day before. Houston came from three laps down to overtake Bobby Labonte for the win. The USA Today headline read "Divine Intervention".
His family was very involved in his efforts. He was inducted into the National Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame in 2008.

## Personal life

Houston's son, Andy Houston, raced in all of the three major NASCAR series. Additionally, he is the uncle of Teresa Earnhardt, wife of Dale Earnhardt.

## 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 | NWCC | Pts |
| 1980 | Junior Miller Racing | 95 | Chevy | RSD | DAY | RCH 17 | CAR | ATL | BRI 15 | DAR | NWS 31 | MAR | TAL | NSV | DOV | CLT 24 | TWS | RSD | MCH | DAY | NSV | POC | TAL | MCH | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | NWS | MAR | CLT | CAR | ATL | ONT | 48th | 396 |
| 1981 | Hamby Motorsports | 17 | Buick | RSD | DAY | RCH | CAR | ATL | BRI | NWS 20 | DAR | | TAL 12 | NSV | DOV | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 52nd | - |
| 1981 | Hamby Motorsports | 17 | Chevy | | | | | | | | | MAR 20 | | | | | | | | | NSV 19 | POC | TAL | MCH | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | MAR 12 | | | | | | | | 52nd | - |
| 1981 | Hamby Motorsports | 17 | Olds | | | | | | | | | | | | | CLT DNQ | TWS | RSD | MCH | DAY 27 | | | | | | | | | | NWS 11 | CLT | CAR | ATL | RSD | 52nd | - |
| 1982 | Ulrich Racing | 40 | Buick | DAY | RCH 25 | BRI | ATL | CAR | DAR | NWS | MAR | TAL | NSV | DOV | CLT | POC | RSD | MCH | DAY | NSV | POC | TAL | MCH | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | NWS | CLT | MAR | CAR | ATL | RSD | | 88th | 88 |
| 1985 | Houston Racing | 32 | Chevy | DAY | RCH | CAR | ATL | BRI | DAR | NWS | MAR | TAL | DOV | CLT | RSD | POC | MCH | DAY | POC | TAL | MCH | BRI | DAR 36 | RCH | DOV | MAR | NWS | CLT | CAR | ATL | RSD | | | | 91st | 55 |

#### 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 | 33 | 34 | 35 | NBSC | Pts |
| 1982 | Mike Day | 27 | Chevy | DAY 9 | | | MAR 9 | DAR 9 | HCY 4 | SBO 6 | CRW 4 | RCH 20 | LGY 14 | | HCY 5 | | ASH 12 | HCY 7 | SBO 15 | CAR 33 | CRW 23 | SBO 5 | HCY 1 | LGY 4 | | | HCY 3 | RCH 4 | | | HCY 15 | MAR 32 | | | | | | | 4th | 3827 |
| 1982 | Mike Day | 6 | Pontiac | | RCH 1 | | | | | | | | | | | CLT 31 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4th | 3827 |
| 1982 | | 7 | Pontiac | | | BRI 28 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4th | 3827 |
| 1982 | Mike Day | 6 | Chevy | | | | | | | | | | | DOV 6 | | | | | | | | | | | IRP 3 | BRI 10 | | | MAR 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4th | 3827 |
| 1982 | Mike Day | 6 | Olds | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | CLT 32 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4th | 3827 | |
| 1983 | Mike Day | 6 | Olds | DAY 10 | | CAR 7 | HCY 15 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | DAR 8 | | | | | | CLT 21 | | | 3rd | 4933 |
| 1983 | Mike Day | 6 | Chevy | | RCH 2 | | | MAR 6 | NWS 2 | SBO 23 | GPS 4 | LGY 4 | DOV 16 | BRI 5 | CLT 8 | SBO 22 | HCY 17 | ROU 5 | SBO 14 | ROU 1 | CRW 4 | ROU 1 | SBO 6 | HCY 11 | LGY 17 | IRP 1 | GPS 18 | BRI 6 | HCY 1 | | RCH 4 | NWS 2 | SBO 8 | MAR 18 | ROU 3 | | HCY 23 | MAR 14 | 3rd | 4933 |
| 1984 | Mike Day | 6 | Olds | DAY 30 | | CAR 5 | | | DAR 6 | | | | | DOV 5 | CLT 41 | | | | | | | IRP 21 | | | | DAR 34 | | | CLT 20 | | CAR 5 | MAR 10 | | | | | | | 3rd | 4070 |
| 1984 | Mike Day | 6 | Chevy | | RCH 8 | | HCY 2 | MAR 18 | | ROU 4 | NSV 3 | LGY 10 | MLW 7 | | | SBO 3 | HCY 1* | ROU 2 | SBO 3 | ROU 2 | HCY 7* | | LGY 7 | SBO 1 | BRI 19 | | RCH 4 | NWS 2 | | HCY 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3rd | 4070 | |
| 1985 | Mike Day | 6 | Olds | DAY 24 | CAR 5 | | | | DAR 4 | | | | | SBO 11 | | | IRP 2 | SBO 4 | | | | | DAR 24 | | | | CLT 14 | | CAR 2 | | | | | | | | | | 4th | 3936 |
| 1985 | Mike Day | 6 | Chevy | | | HCY 5 | BRI 4 | MAR 4* | | SBO 3* | LGY 10 | | | | HCY 8 | ROU 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4th | 3936 |
| 1985 | Mike Day | 6 | Buick | | | | | | | | | DOV 5 | CLT 23 | | | | | | LGY 5 | HCY 4 | MLW 5* | BRI 18 | | RCH 7 | NWS 4 | ROU 4 | | HCY 1 | | MAR 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4th | 3936 | |
| 1986 | Steve Arndt | 6 | Buick | DAY 27 | CAR 3 | HCY 5 | MAR 15 | BRI 4 | DAR 7 | SBO 23 | LGY 1* | JFC 25 | DOV 23 | CLT 28 | SBO 2 | HCY 1* | ROU 1* | IRP 24 | SBO 7 | RAL 23 | | SBO 18 | HCY 26 | LGY 5 | ROU 14 | BRI 24 | DAR 9 | RCH 3 | DOV 2 | MAR 1* | | CLT 10 | CAR 10 | MAR 22 | | | | | 5th | 4098 |
| 1986 | Steve Arndt | 6 | Pontiac | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | OXF 8 | | | | | | | | | | ROU 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | 5th | 4098 | |
| 1987 | Steve Arndt | 6 | Buick | DAY 36 | HCY 3 | MAR 7 | DAR 37 | BRI 9 | LGY 2 | SBO 23 | CLT 6 | DOV 15 | IRP 20 | ROU 16 | JFC 21 | OXF 20 | SBO 3 | HCY 10 | RAL 31 | LGY 4 | ROU 26 | BRI 8 | JFC 14 | DAR 5 | RCH 4* | DOV 5 | MAR 27 | CLT 31 | CAR 20 | MAR 23 | | | | | | | | | 12th | 3205 |
| 1988 | Steve Arndt | 6 | Buick | DAY 11 | HCY 2 | CAR 36 | MAR 11 | DAR 16 | BRI 7 | LNG 4 | NZH 19 | SBO 5 | NSV 7 | CLT 25 | DOV 20 | ROU 1* | LAN 1* | LVL 17 | MYB 3 | OXF 38 | SBO 3 | HCY 1 | LNG 4 | IRP 2 | ROU 6 | BRI 8 | DAR 11 | RCH 33 | DOV 37 | MAR 9 | CLT 11 | CAR 5 | MAR 9* | | | | | | 5th | 3964 |
| 1989 | Steve Arndt | 6 | Buick | DAY 11 | CAR 5 | MAR 2 | HCY 21 | DAR 15 | BRI 10 | NZH 19* | SBO 3 | LAN 3* | NSV 16 | CLT 7 | DOV 32 | ROU 2 | LVL 1 | VOL 12 | MYB 23 | SBO 1 | HCY 5 | DUB 7 | IRP 3 | ROU 2 | BRI 10 | DAR 17 | RCH 7 | DOV 13 | MAR 1 | CLT 39 | CAR 5 | MAR 24 | | | | | | | 2nd | 3946 |
| 1990 | Houston Racing | 6 | Buick | DAY 38 | RCH 12 | CAR 21 | MAR 1 | HCY 1* | DAR 7 | BRI 27 | LAN 12 | SBO 6 | NZH 9 | HCY 2 | CLT 34 | DOV 6 | ROU 18 | VOL 1* | MYB 27 | OXF 2 | NHA 26 | SBO 1 | DUB 4 | IRP 34 | ROU 13 | BRI 5 | DAR 37 | RCH 34 | DOV 11 | MAR 32 | CLT 6 | NHA 45 | CAR 40 | MAR 2 | | | | | 9th | 3667 |
| 1991 | Houston Racing | 6 | Buick | DAY 16 | RCH 13 | CAR 12 | MAR 8 | VOL 2 | HCY 16 | DAR 36 | BRI 21 | LAN 6 | SBO 11 | NZH 8 | CLT 7 | DOV 30 | ROU 7 | HCY 23 | MYB 19 | GLN 11 | OXF 2 | NHA 13 | SBO 3 | DUB 5 | IRP 5 | ROU 16 | BRI 14 | DAR 26 | RCH 19 | DOV 10 | CLT 21 | NHA 17 | CAR 25 | MAR 27 | | | | | 8th | 3777 |
| 1992 | Houston Racing | 6 | Olds | DAY 26 | | | ATL 19 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | TAL 9 | | | MCH 16 | | | | | | CLT 9 | | | | | | | | 10th | 3599 |
| 1992 | Houston Racing | 6 | Buick | | CAR 26 | RCH 35 | | MAR 14 | DAR 10 | BRI 29 | HCY 1 | LAN 14 | DUB 25 | NZH 14 | CLT 19 | DOV 13 | ROU 13 | MYB 8 | GLN 18 | VOL 14 | NHA 10 | | IRP 3 | ROU 28 | | NHA 7 | BRI 20 | DAR 24 | RCH 24 | DOV 11 | | MAR 10 | CAR 21 | HCY 10 | | | | | | | 10th | 3599 |
| 1993 | Houston Racing | 6 | Ford | DAY 40 | CAR 34 | RCH 15 | DAR 26 | BRI 18 | HCY 4 | ROU 23 | MAR 28 | | CLT 39 | DOV 21 | MYB 14 | | MLW 30 | TAL 13 | IRP 10 | MCH 23 | | BRI 8 | DAR 31 | RCH DNQ | DOV 27 | ROU 29 | CLT 13 | MAR 31 | CAR 31 | HCY 3 | ATL 17 | | | | | | | | 16th | 2852 |
| 1993 | Houston Racing | 0 | Ford | | | | | | | | | NZH 27 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 16th | 2852 | |
| 1993 | Houston Racing | 3 | Ford | | | | | | | | | | | | | GLN 20 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 16th | 2852 |
| 1993 | Houston Racing | 61 | Ford | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | NHA 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 16th | 2852 |
| 1993 | Precision Products Racing | 0 | Olds | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | RCH 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 16th | 2852 |
| 1994 | Houston Racing | 6 | Ford | DAY 33 | CAR 35 | RCH DNQ | ATL | | DAR 42 | HCY 5 | BRI 2 | ROU 25 | NHA | NZH 13 | CLT DNQ | DOV | MYB 22 | GLN | MLW | SBO 29 | TAL 33 | HCY DNQ | IRP 2 | MCH | BRI 25 | DAR 30 | RCH 39 | DOV 35 | CLT DNQ | MAR 9 | CAR 42 | | | | | | | | 28th | 1658 |
| 1994 | Rexrode Galiano Motorsports | 1 | Ford | | | | | MAR 16 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 28th | 1658 | |
| 1995 | Houston Racing | 6 | Ford | DAY 35 | CAR 28 | RCH 7 | ATL DNQ | NSV 22 | DAR 18 | BRI 26 | HCY DNQ | NHA 42 | NZH 11 | CLT 21 | DOV 38 | MYB 12 | GLN 30 | MLW 13 | TAL 16 | SBO 14 | IRP 5 | MCH 36 | BRI 7 | DAR 37 | RCH DNQ | DOV 34 | CLT 30 | CAR 41 | HOM 42 | | | | | | | | | | 21st | 2069 |
| 1996 | Houston Racing | 6 | Ford | DAY DNQ | CAR DNQ | RCH DNQ | ATL 35 | NSV 31 | DAR DNQ | BRI 33 | HCY DNQ | NZH 6 | CLT DNQ | DOV 37 | SBO 27 | MYB 11 | GLN 22 | MLW 8 | NHA 16 | TAL DNQ | IRP 30 | MCH 31 | BRI DNQ | DAR 10 | RCH 39 | DOV 33 | CLT 21 | CAR 39 | HOM DNQ | | | | | | | | | | 28th | 1563 |
| 1996 | Houston Racing | 0 | Ford | | | | | | | | HCY 31 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 28th | 1563 |

#### 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 | NCTC | Pts | Ref |
| 1999 | Addington Racing | 6 | Chevy | HOM | PHO | EVG | MMR | MAR | MEM | PPR | I70 | BRI | TEX | PIR | GLN | MLW | NSV | NZH | MCH | NHA | IRP | GTY | HPT | RCH | LVS 35 | LVL | TEX | CAL | 117th | 58 | |

#### Busch North Series

NASCAR Busch North 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 | NBNSC | Pts |
| 1987 | Steve Arndt | 6 | Buick | DAR | OXF | SEE | OXF | DOV | IRP | CNB | JEN | OXF | EPP | OXF | STA 1* | HOL | TIO | OXF | UNI | DAR | SPE | DOV | SEE | CLT | OXF | CAR | 59th | 185 |
| 1989 | Steve Arndt | 6 | Buick | DAY | CAR | MAR | OXF | NZH | MND | OXF | DOV | OXF | JEN | EPP | HOL | OXF 4 | JEN | OXF | IRP | TMP | OXF | RPS | OXF | RCH | DOV | EPP | 48th | 160 |
| 1992 | Houston Racing | 6 | Buick | DAY | CAR | RCH | NHA | NZH | MND | OXF | DOV | LEE | JEN | OXF 44 | NHA | OXF | HOL | EPP | NHA | RPS | OXF | NHA | EPP | | | | 81st | 31 |

### ARCA Talladega SuperCar Series

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)
ARCA Talladega SuperCar Series results :
| Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | ATSC | Pts | Ref |
| 1985 | Mike Day | 6 | Olds | ATL | DAY | ATL | TAL | ATL | SSP | IRP 2 | CSP | FRS | IRP | OEF | ISF | DSF | TOL | 95th | - | |