Chuck Bown '94: NASCAR's overlooked talent
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- Опубликовано: 2 июн 2024
- An intriguing but forgotten storyline of the 1994 NASCAR Winston Cup Season was of Chuck Bown, the 40-year-old from Oregon who had spent more than two decades climbing the development ladder. From the Winston West Series to the Busch North Series, and then the Busch Grand National Series, Bown won races and championships, and endeared himself to fans as Most Popular Driver many times over. But a full-time Cup ride eluded him - until an opportunity presented itself with Bobby Allison Motorsports. This is his story.
SPECIAL THANKS
*Bryan Hallman at the BRH Racing Archives for providing photos, plus several articles and press releases
*Tom Corbett and Justin St. Louis of the “Uncommon Deeds Motorsports Podcast.” To listen to their full interview with Chuck Bown, be sure to check out Episode 86, aired October 25, 2022, at this link: podcasters.spotify.com/pod/sh...
MUSIC
"Seasons" - Delicate Steve
(RUclips Music Library)
ARTICLES
*Coleman, Anthony. “Allison finding bad luck again,” The Tennessean, June 21, 1994.
*Janeway, Hal. “Bown beaten up, but manages to go distance,” Johnson City Press, April 11, 1994.
*Lonkhuyzen, Lori Van. “Earnhardt’s late gamble fails to knock Wallace off winning roll,” The Baltimore Sun, June 13, 1994.
*Macenka, Joe. “Bown turns fastest lap at Bristol,” The Montgomery Advertiser, April 9, 1994.
*Macenka, Joe. “Kulwicki memorabilia fading on anniversary,” The Montgomery Advertiser, April 9, 1994.
*Martin, Gerald. “Pole run lifts spirits on struggling Alliston team,” The News & Observer, April 10, 1994.
*Pearce, Al. “Daytona Briefs,” Daily Press, February 21, 1994.
*Rupinski, Patrick. “ReLife Inc. will merge with HealthSouth,” Birmingham Post-Herald, September 20, 1994.
*Stinson, Tom. “Chuck Bown,” NASCAR Scene, 1994.
*Vega, Michael and Allen Lessels, “Bown loses ride,” The Boston Globe, June 11, 1994.
UNCREDITED ARTICLES
*“Allison names Steele to replace Bown,” The Greenville News, July 11, 1994.
*“Bown continues to do more with less,” The Item, April 9, 1994.
*“Bown continues to impress,” Green Bay Press-Gazette, April 9, 1994.
*“Lineup, Odds,” The Press Democrat, May 15, 1994.
*(Martinsville Review), Daily Press, April 24, 1994.
*“Mistakes cost Irvan, Schrader at Darlington,” The Item, March 28, 1994.
*(Update on Bown’s condition), The Greenville News, June 13, 1994.
*“Wrecked Chances,” The Daily Oklahoman, February 20, 1994
OTHER SOURCES
*1990 Nestea Press Release
*1990 Kellogg’s Corn Flakes / Tex Powell Press Release, 1990
*1991 Nestea Press Release
*1992 Nestea Press Release
*1993 ReLife / Bobby Allison Motorsports Press Release
*RacersReunion.com
VIDEO CREDITS
• Chuck Bown
CHAPTERS
0:00 - Intro
0:57 - West Coast Star
3:11 - Busch North
5:18 - The Hensley Years
9:43 - Winston Cup
13:50 - Race 1: Daytona
20:25 - Race 2: Rockingham
21:46 - Race 3: Richmond
24:36 - Race 4: Atlanta
26:33 - Race 5: Darlington
29:12 - Race 6: Bristol
37:58 - Race 7: North Wilkesboro
38:44 - Race 8: Martinsville
44:05 - Race 9: Talladega
46:14 - Race 10: Sears Point
48:02 - Race 10a: Winston Select Open
49:04 - Race 11: Charlotte
49:46 - Race 12: Dover
50:51 - Race 13: Pocono
55:58 - Race 14: Michigan
59:20 - Phone Stopped Ringing
1:03:31 - Closing 
Спорт
![Kehlani - Next 2 U [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/MpI7ekFG8A0/mqdefault.jpg)
"...replacing local legend Beaver Dragon", one I'd never heard and an instant contender in my own internal 'best racing names' competition.
Worth McMillion is another amazing race car driver name
And I'm going to be the guy that says the all-time, Hall-of-Famer, the undisputed Champion of the World....
The Great....
The Stupendous...
The One-and-Only....
MR. DICK TRICKLE
!!!!!!
@@IanTheMotorsportsMan_YTI got some modern day awesome names: Sting Ray Robb and Patricio O'Ward.
Slick. Racin'. Gardner.
Nothing tops my boy Sting Ray @@izzdin6228
Wildest part of this whole video was mark Martin dumping bown after his pole
Mark wasn't 100% clean as legend would suggest. It was extraordinarily rare, but Mark did dump some people.
Chuck was holding up the line though.
He was literally in the way. Just because he won the pole didn't mean he had racing pace to be up there and it was obvious
Chuck looked like he was pretty loose and holding them up in fairness
Always loved how Eli Gold pronounced his name.
“Chuck BOWWWWWN”
The broadcast team constantly interviewing Bobby Allison. Leave the man alone. 😂
That Superflo 63 Chevy was AMAZING
Before Greg Biffle, us Portland nascar fans had Chuck Bown to pull for
Mike Bliss, too!
Jimmy Fennig produced miracles as crew chief of the #12 car in those years. That one year with Derrike Cope they were a real factor in many races and almost won that one in Phoenix. All with a team barely hanging on with no money. They did have a full time sponsor in the horse shampoo, but that was pennies compared to other teams. One of the real underrated crew chiefs in NASCAR history, at least he got a chance later on to prove what he could do with a fully funded team. Unfortunately that never happened for Chuck Bown.
And that shampoo company gave the team the short end of the stick as well
Fennig was helluva crew chief
Chuck Bown is definitely one of the biggest "What Ifs" in NASCAR History
Wow I always thought Bown was a New England guy, I've heard of him up here. Really interesting to know his full past!
Yooo GPLaps I love your content bro❤
Beaver Dragon is a hell of a name
Beaver Dragon was one of the best in the northeast and Canada
Great video. The fact that Bown was as fast as he was in 94 was quite an accomplishment. Much better funded teams were missing races, yet Chuck always got it in the show.
Truth is, I think Chuck’s story got lost in the 94 drama. As you point out, so many things happened that season. People forgot how well he ran. The injuries didn’t help things but it’s shocking he didn’t get a better opportunity than the Active and Sadler rides. His performance showed he deserved a chance.
when I think of Chuck Bown, I think about his NASCAR Busch Series career.
It's awesome that he was a Veteran in that series, sucks he never had that much success or opportunities in Cup.
It takes some kind of twisted hex to be crashed by Dale and Mark in the same event.
Poor Chuck. Great video!
Thanks for this video. I primarily knew of Chuck Bown from his 1994 Bristol pole, in Papyrus' NASCAR Racing he's listed as the track record holder though he's not actually one of the NASCAR drivers in the game.
I think this is what separates racing from other sports. The 'what if ' stories are plentiful and amazing.
Chuck, seems to me you made a living following your passion, not everybody can say that. Congratulations on your success, enjoy your golden years with your beautiful family and the blessings you've been givin. Thanks for the privilege of watching. You sir are one class act!
I have a diecast of Bown's 97 Kellogg's car from 1990. It's in a 6-car set along with every Corn Flakes sponsored car from 1990 to 1996.
Yeeha. I love a new Brock Beard history lesson. I will have to save and watch tomorrow, cause it's almost midnight here in Australia.
goodnight. This video is another good one. Can't wait for you to watch it!
It's a shame Jimmy Fennig never got a win for that 12 team, considering the success he would go on to have at Roush Racing.
A rare moment of impatience by Mark Martin.
Bummer
Portland's own, thank you
I've been missing these really good documentaries you do!
I would have liked more story on his truck series ride with Jack Roush. I watched that season recently and it seemed like there was some drama and disputes. Would have been a nice add to Chucks interesting and roller coaster career.
What wasnt mentioned was that Mr. Bown won the title in 90’ in spite of being a complete non factor on any tracks 1 mile or longer. He did ALL of his damage on the short tracks, completely dominating them
Man I love these videos
The fact that his qualifying record was steadily degrading through 1994 tells me that the Allison's forced cost cutting was probably hurting the engine program among other things. Back then they had qualifying engines and a lot of other fat that I'm sure Allison had to cut out of the program as the races went on.
That was a good watch. Thank you for bringing these too us. We appreciate it.
You're very welcome. If you haven't seen them yet, I have other individual driver profiles on this channel you might enjoy.
This was just the time I started watching NASCAR so I only vaguely remembered the No. 12 black car. This was one of my favorite videos because I really didn't know anything about the driver. Thanks Brock.
bobby allison sounding just deflated at times post davey and clifford deaths makes my heart ache
This was a nice surprise! Now I understand why you were asking about some of his sponsors the other day :D
1994 is one of my favorite seasons and I always wondered about that black 12 car and why didn't it have a full time sponsor.
Awesome job Brock!! Can't wait for the Cope book to come out
Both Beaver and Bobby Dragon won a lot of races in the northeast and Canada
1994 was really the beginning of the end for small car owners ..... Chuck was good but got him mixed up with Jim Bown who drove the Lucks Beans BGN car for so long.... You should do a video on how the sport really was changing from 1992 thru 1995 / 96 and how the old guys began to lose out to the Jeff Gordon model of a teams ..... The whole model of how a team was run changed during that time .... By 1998 the sport had officially gone mainstream ! I miss the feeling of going to a nascar race or in garage during those 92,93,94,95 years .... Packed infields,grandstands and the amazing collectables that was put out during that time .... I used to go to my local diecast shop 1 time a week to get a Winston Cup Scene paper and see the new diecast releases etc ....... When the Monte Carlo came back in 1995 there was so much buzz about it ...... Good times... You ain't a true nascar fan if you have never went to a July Nascar race at Talladega infield back in early 90's ! lol . When Bonnett crashed in 93 i took a nap in air conditioned motorhome next to our party bus bc it was sooooo hot and humid ! That was a sad race.
Great video Brock Chuck Bown served as a relief driver for Dick Trickle during the 1990 Busch 500 at bristol. When Davey Allison had heat issues during the race his crew wanted to get Chuck to get in the car but dick trickle said I might still need him later Bob Jenkins said right after boy Chuck Bown is popular person tonight isn't he and then Ned Jarrett said and he might not ever get in a race car and I don't believe he did during that race.
Another absolute banger! Thank you for the great content Brock
Loved this guy, got to meet him at Hickory Speedway NC
when I think of Chuck Bown I think of his first time in the Busch/Nationwide/Xfinity series with Nescafe/Nestea sponsorship, I think if he had some sponsorship opportunities he could have done things in the Cup Series
Chuck Bown was a great driver and a great TV booth guy too...imo
I love the videos of the under appreciated drivers. Keep up the good work 👍🏻
Another great video Brock!! Thank you so much for all the work you put into all of these. Brings back some good memories of when I started watching NASCAR back in the mid 1980s.
I wish a guy like Chuck would of stayed in the Busch series i think he'd have alot more wins than 11 if he did
One of NASCARS Good ol boys boby Allison always had fast cars
Anytime you can throw in a Dick Trickle reference, its gold to me. Good video bud.
Good Show Brock. I remember Chuck quite well. Yeah, All your What If's at the end. He just couldn't catch a break.
As a side note, I remember watching Jimmy & Billy Hensley cutting their teeth in modifides at Bowman Gray every Saturday night, when I was young.
Any updates on future “Rise of the Field Fillers” videos?
I've recorded Episode 11, and am editing it. It will likely come out before the next "500 Days."
Great video Brock! It sucks that Bown still couldn't catch a break even after he finally made it to the cup series. He definitely had some potential if he could had got the right opportunity in cup.
When I think of Chuck Bown I think of this: He would've won 4 races in 1991 if not for this unfortunate incident while leading at IRP with 14 laps to go. ruclips.net/video/iZRBDXiJ-lQ/видео.html After this happened Stock Car Racing Magazine had an article that polled various drivers about what they would do if they were leading and their seat belts came undone.
Somebody in my family I believe worked with him while he was in the Busch North series I think
Oh wow I never knew about that Pocono incident... :(
11:04 WOOAAHH!! 🤣
Spencer would come REAL Close to winning at Phoenix in 92 and 93. Still, Bown was a very fitting replacement.
I still believe…will go to my grave believing…..that Mr. Bown deliberately threw the IRP race he had in the bag but lost because his safety harness was not affixed. Riiiiight.
HE fell off even in the busch series in the mid-latter years, and thats ok everyone does...that 7 skoal bandit was a regular on the north tour, remember it being Curtis Markham in the glory years, by that time Bown was in the 63 south busch series!
Sterling Marlin crashing a black car into the wall... why does that sound so familiar?
How can he go so long with no sponsor?
Bowwn hit the wall a ton in turn one at Pocono.hes licky he didnt hit his head on the wall or mabey he did . Bown just wasnt aggressive enough all the time and always thought that the other drivers would practice Patience like they would and did in the Busch series
wasn't bobby's wreck in turn 1 on the first or second lap?
It was on the first lap, but in Turn 2. Still, a very similar type of accident for the Allison team.
After loosing both his sons in horrific accidents within the past two years, what a dick thing for Hobbs to ask Bobby Allison during the interview here
can i have ummmmmmmmm....sequel?
Chuck was driving like a clown in that Bristol race. He was holding up Mark Martin big time and put Mark on the apron a couple times. Then he's laps down and won't get out of Earnhardt's way.
If nascar started in Georgia and Alabama why is North Carolina considered home of nascar?
kourafas is pronounced kurr - ra - fus
Ah - thank you.
@@LASTCARonBROCK Fun story on that, though I'd have to look it up for the full details: Kourafas and car owner Sandy MacKinnon had trouble in the season finale, with Bown closing to within five points. There was one more race on the schedule, a combination race at Rockingham, and so Kourafas and MacKinnon thought they had lost the title. They found out that week from NASCAR that Bown and Quint Boisvert hadn't filed an entry for Rockingham...so if they showed up, they'd be a post-entry and ineligible for points! And that was how Kourafas clinched the inaugural Busch North championship. Another fun fact, Kourafas' car that year was built by Don Letarte, whose son Steve's name should be familiar.
What happen 500 day series
Already recorded the next episode!
Seen this guy make some bonehead moves in Busch North
If you think Bown was good and he was good, look up Robbie Crouch.