# Chuck Bown

Richard Charles Bown Jr. (born February 22, 1954) is an American former NASCAR champion. 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.

## 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 2 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-10 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 7 Winston Cup events. He scored a 7th-place finish in the Daytona 500 and a 6th-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 13th 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 5 top-5s and 12 top-10s 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 200 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 4th 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 5 top-5s and 13 top-10s 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 | NWCC | Pts | Ref |
| 1972 | Bown Racing | 27 | Plymouth | RSD 32 | DAY | RCH | | | | | | | | | | | | RSD 14 | TWS | DAY | BRI | TRN | ATL | TAL | MCH | NSV | DAR | RCH | DOV | MAR | NWS | CLT | CAR | TWS | 69th | 636.75 | |
| 1972 | Bown Racing | 27W | Plymouth | | | | ONT 33 | CAR | ATL | BRI | DAR | NWS | MAR | TAL | CLT | DOV | MCH | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 69th | 636.75 |
| 1973 | Bown Racing | 03 | Dodge | RSD 29 | DAY | RCH | CAR | BRI | ATL | NWS | DAR | MAR | TAL | NSV | CLT | DOV | TWS | RSD 10 | MCH | DAY | BRI | ATL | TAL | NSV | DAR | RCH | DOV | NWS | MAR | CLT | CAR | | | | 73rd | | |
| 1974 | Bown Racing | 03 | Dodge | RSD 35 | DAY | RCH | CAR | BRI | ATL | DAR | NWS | MAR | TAL | NSV | DOV | CLT | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 93rd | 2.7 | |
| 1974 | Bown Racing | 03W | Dodge | | | | | | | | | | | | | | RSD 20 | MCH | DAY | BRI | NSV | ATL | POC | TAL | MCH | DAR | RCH | DOV | NWS | MAR | CLT | CAR | | | | 93rd | 2.7 | |
| 1974 | Bown Racing | 03W | Plymouth | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ONT 39 | | 93rd | 2.7 | |
| 1975 | Bown Racing | 03W | Dodge | RSD 27 | DAY | RCH | CAR | BRI | ATL | NWS | DAR | MAR | TAL | NSV | DOV | CLT | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 57th | 319 | |
| 1975 | Bown Racing | 03 | Dodge | | | | | | | | | | | | | | RSD 34 | MCH | DAY | NSV | POC | TAL | MCH | DAR | DOV | NWS | | | | | | | ONT 38 | | 57th | 319 | |
| 1975 | Bown Racing | 26 | Chevy | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | MAR 26 | CLT 12 | RCH | CAR | BRI | ATL | | | | 57th | 319 | |
| 1976 | Gerald Craker | 03 | Dodge | RSD 16 | DAY | CAR | RCH | BRI | ATL | NWS | DAR | MAR | TAL | NSV | DOV | CLT | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 49th | 481 | |
| 1976 | Gerald Craker | 01 | Chevy | | | | | | | | | | | | | | RSD 19 | MCH | DAY | NSV | POC | TAL | MCH | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | MAR 28 | NWS | CLT | CAR | ATL 31 | ONT 19 | | 49th | 481 | |
| 1977 | Gerald Craker | 01 | Chevy | RSD 13 | DAY | RCH | CAR | ATL | NWS | DAR | BRI | MAR | TAL | NSV | DOV | CLT | RSD 25 | MCH | DAY | NSV | POC | TAL | MCH | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | MAR | NWS | CLT | CAR | ATL | ONT 39 | | 60th | 258 | |
| 1978 | Johnny Ray | 77 | Chevy | RSD | DAY | RCH | CAR | ATL 30 | BRI | DAR 30 | NWS | MAR 24 | TAL 33 | 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 | DAY 7 | CAR | RCH | ATL 16 | NWS | BRI | DAR | MAR 23 | TAL DNQ | NSV | DOV | CLT 40 | TWS | RSD | MCH | DAY 6 | NSV | POC | TAL | MCH | BRI | DAR 17 | RCH | DOV | MAR | | | | | | 38th | 523 | |
| 1979 | Testa Racing | 68 | Chevy | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | CLT 33 | NWS | CAR | ATL | ONT | 38th | 523 | |
| 1980 | | 47 | Chevy | RSD 36 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 51st | 329 | |
| 1980 | Testa Racing | 68 | Olds | | DAY 35 | RCH | CAR | ATL | BRI | DAR | NWS | MAR | TAL | NSV | DOV | CLT | TWS | RSD | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 51st | 329 | |
| 1980 | Halpern Enterprises | 02 | Olds | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | MCH 31 | DAY 37 | NSV | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 51st | 329 | |
| 1980 | Halpern Enterprises | 02 | Chevy | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | POC 35 | TAL | MCH | BRI | | | | | | CLT 25 | CAR | ATL | | 51st | 329 | |
| 1980 | RahMoc Enterprises | 75 | Chevy | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | DAR 11 | RCH | DOV | NWS | MAR | | | | | | | | 51st | 329 |
| 1980 | John Kieper | 93 | Dodge | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ONT 27 | 51st | 329 | |
| 1981 | Ulrich Racing | 99 | Buick | RSD | DAY | RCH | CAR | ATL | BRI | NWS | DAR | MAR | TAL | NSV | DOV | CLT 39 | TWS | RSD | MCH | DAY | NSV | POC | TAL | MCH | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | MAR | NWS | CLT | | | | 67th | | |
| 1981 | Bown Racing | 16 | Buick | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | CAR 28 | ATL 15 | RSD | 67th | | |
| 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 | CLT 24 | CAR | | ATL 23 | | | 50th | 276 | |
| 1990 | Tex Racing | 97 | Olds | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | PHO 24 | | | | | | 50th | 276 | |
| 1991 | Tex Racing | 72 | Olds | DAY DNQ | RCH | CAR | ATL DNQ | DAR | BRI | NWS | MAR | TAL | CLT | DOV | SON | POC | MCH | DAY | POC | TAL | GLN | MCH | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | MAR | | | | | | | | 76th | 85 | |
| 1991 | Cale Yarborough Motorsports | 66 | Pontiac | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | NWS 26 | CLT | CAR | PHO | ATL | | | | 76th | 85 | |
| 1992 | Donlavey Racing | 90 | Ford | DAY | CAR | RCH | ATL | DAR | BRI | NWS | MAR | TAL | CLT | DOV | SON | POC | MCH | DAY | POC | TAL | GLN | MCH DNQ | 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 | PHO 24 | ATL | | 71st | 91 | |
| 1994 | Bobby Allison Motorsports | 12 | Ford | DAY 23 | CAR 25 | RCH 17 | ATL 41 | DAR 12 | BRI 23 | NWS 35 | MAR 7 | TAL 27 | SON 21 | CLT 13 | DOV 21 | POC 39 | 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 | DAR 39 | BRI 31 | NWS DNQ | MAR DNQ | TAL | SON | CLT 21 | DOV 33 | POC 29 | MCH 24 | DAY 29 | NHA 40 | POC | TAL 37 | IND | GLN | MCH | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | MAR | NWS | CLT | CAR | PHO | ATL | 43rd | 618 | |
| 1996 | Sadler Brothers Racing | 95 | Ford | DAY DNQ | CAR | RCH | ATL 40 | DAR DNQ | BRI DNQ | NWS | MAR | TAL 25 | SON | CLT 42 | 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 | Testa Racing | Oldsmobile | 15 | 35 |
| 1991 | Tex Racing | Chevrolet | DNQ | DNQ |
| 1994 | Bobby Allison Motorsports | Ford | 37 | 23 |
| 1996 | Sadler Brothers Racing | Ford | DNQ | 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 | NBGNC | Pts | Ref |
| 1986 | Quint Boisvert | 67 | Buick | DAY 40 | CAR | HCY | MAR | BRI | DAR | SBO | LGY | JFC | DOV | CLT | SBO | HCY | ROU | IRP | SBO | RAL | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 95th | 43 | |
| 1986 | Quint Boisvert | 67 | Pontiac | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | OXF 1* | SBO | HCY | LGY | ROU | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | MAR | ROU | CLT | CAR | MAR | | 95th | 43 | |
| 1987 | Quint Boisvert | 56 | Pontiac | DAY | HCY | MAR | DAR | BRI | LGY | SBO | CLT | DOV 29 | IRP | ROU | JFC | | | | | | | | | | | DOV 22 | MAR | CLT | CAR | MAR | | | | | | 77th | | |
| 1987 | Quint Boisvert | 7 | Pontiac | | | | | | | | | | | | | OXF 42 | SBO | HCY | RAL | LGY | ROU | BRI | JFC | DAR | RCH | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 77th |
| 1988 | Quint Boisvert | 56 | Pontiac | DAY | HCY | CAR | MAR | DAR 24 | BRI | LNG | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 52nd | 306 | |
| 1988 | Quint Boisvert | 7 | Pontiac | | | | | | | | NZH 24 | SBO | NSV | CLT | DOV | ROU | LAN | LVL | MYB | OXF 10 | SBO | HCY | LNG | IRP | ROU | BRI | DAR | RCH | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 52nd | 306 |
| 1988 | Quint Boisvert | 1 | Pontiac | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | DOV 13 | MAR | CLT | CAR | MAR | | | | 52nd | 306 | |
| 1989 | HVP Motorsports | 63 | Pontiac | DAY 32 | CAR 23 | MAR 8 | HCY 19 | DAR 18 | BRI 13 | NZH 23 | SBO 8 | LAN 20 | NSV 8 | CLT 23 | DOV 6 | ROU 26 | LVL 5* | VOL 3 | MYB 28 | SBO 3* | HCY 29 | DUB 2* | IRP 8* | ROU 15 | BRI 23 | DAR 36 | RCH 34 | DOV 6 | MAR 8 | CLT 22 | CAR 30 | MAR 5 | | | | 9th | 3349 | |
| 1990 | HVP Motorsports | 63 | Pontiac | DAY 21 | RCH 6 | CAR 12 | MAR 10 | HCY 3 | DAR 13 | BRI 10 | LAN 1* | SBO 1 | NZH 3 | HCY 1* | CLT 17 | DOV 8 | ROU 1* | VOL 5 | MYB 9 | OXF 1* | NHA 3 | SBO 2* | DUB 2 | IRP 4 | ROU 1* | BRI 17 | DAR 13 | RCH 21 | DOV 12 | MAR 17 | CLT 13 | NHA 24 | CAR 18 | MAR 27 | | 1st | 4372 | |
| 1991 | HVP Motorsports | 63 | Pontiac | DAY 33 | RCH 12 | CAR 36 | MAR 7 | VOL 10 | HCY 17 | DAR 11 | BRI 10 | LAN 5 | SBO 12 | NZH 1* | CLT 25 | DOV 19 | ROU 25 | HCY 11 | MYB 1* | GLN 7 | OXF 12 | NHA 2 | SBO 16 | DUB 1* | IRP 4* | ROU 5 | BRI 8 | DAR 17 | RCH 29 | DOV 17 | CLT 23 | NHA 2 | CAR 42 | MAR 2 | | 4th | 3922 | |
| 1992 | HVP Motorsports | 63 | Pontiac | DAY 32 | CAR 35 | RCH 9 | ATL 41 | MAR 3 | DAR 27 | BRI 12 | HCY 3 | LAN 2 | DUB 18 | NZH 4 | CLT 38 | DOV 23 | ROU 19 | MYB 9 | GLN 7 | VOL 8 | NHA 24 | TAL 12 | IRP 24 | ROU 27 | MCH 15 | NHA 22 | BRI 2 | DAR 28 | RCH 14 | DOV 10 | | MAR 24 | | HCY 7 | | 11th | 3580 | |
| 1992 | HVP Motorsports | 63 | Chevy | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | CLT 12 | | CAR 6 | | | | 11th | 3580 | |
| 1993 | HVP Motorsports | 63 | Pontiac | DAY 13 | CAR 10 | RCH 18 | DAR 12 | BRI 25 | HCY 8 | ROU 6 | MAR 5 | NZH 6 | | DOV 16 | MYB 12 | GLN 6 | MLW 17 | TAL 26 | IRP 22 | | NHA 27 | BRI 5 | | RCH 14 | DOV 23 | ROU 3* | | MAR 1 | | HCY 2 | | | | | | 4th | 3532 | |
| 1993 | HVP Motorsports | 63 | Chevy | | | | | | | | | | CLT 8 | | | | | | | MCH 10 | | | DAR 20 | | | | CLT 8 | | CAR 13 | | ATL 36 | | | | | | | | 4th | 3532 | |
| 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 | RCH 38 | DOV | CLT 9 | CAR 30 | | | | | | | | 59th | 306 | |
| 1995 | Group III Racing | 18 | Ford | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | HOM 39 | | | | | | | | | | | | 59th | 306 | |
| 1996 | Day Enterprise Racing | 16 | Pontiac | DAY 28 | CAR | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 51st | 629 | |
| 1996 | Key Motorsports | 05 | Ford | | | RCH 31 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 51st | 629 |
| 1996 | Bobby Jones Racing | 50 | Ford | | | | ATL DNQ | NSV 27 | DAR 21 | BRI 37 | HCY 23 | NZH | CLT | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 51st | 629 |
| 1996 | Bown Racing | 51 | Chevy | | | | | | | | | | | DOV 26 | SBO | MYB | GLN | MLW | NHA | TAL | IRP 32 | MCH | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | CLT | CAR | HOM | | | | | | | | | | | | 51st | 629 | |
| 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 | CAR DNQ | ATL | | | NA | - | |
| 1998 | Martin Motorsports | 92 | Chevy | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | HOM DNQ | | NA | - | |
| 1999 | HVP Motorsports | 63 | Chevy | DAY 11 | CAR 24 | LVS 25 | ATL 40 | DAR 17 | TEX 23 | NSV 40 | BRI 31 | TAL 25 | CAL 35 | NHA 18 | RCH 29 | NZH 31 | CLT 7 | DOV 41 | SBO 22 | 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 | NCTC | Pts | Ref |
| 1997 | Roush Racing | 99 | Ford | WDW 12 | TUS 9 | HOM 3 | PHO 8 | POR 27 | EVG 14 | I70 3 | NHA 10 | TEX 4 | BRI 9 | NZH 7 | MLW 10 | LVL 22 | CNS 26 | HPT 20 | IRP 12 | FLM 12 | NSV 7 | GLN 34 | RCH 8 | MAR 16 | SON 14 | MMR 14 | CAL 16 | PHO 2 | LVS 9 | | 9th | 3320 | |
| 1998 | Roush Racing | 99 | Ford | WDW 25* | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 33rd | 927 | |
| 1998 | CSG Motorsports | 57 | Ford | | HOM 12 | PHO 23 | POR 15 | EVG 20 | I70 22 | GLN 16 | TEX | BRI | MLW | NZH | CAL | PPR | IRP | NHA | FLM | NSV | HPT | LVL | RCH | MEM | GTY | MAR | SON | MMR | | | | 33rd | 927 |
| 1998 | Don VanDenBos | 67 | Chevy | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | PHO 17 | LVS 30 | 33rd | 927 | |

## Awards

Bown was inducted in the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame in 2009 along with Wayne Spears, Doug George, and Rick Carelli.