RONALD R "RON" BOUCHARD - 11/23/1948 - 12/10/2015
a former NASCAR driver who was the 1981 NASCAR Cup Rookie of the Year. His brother Ken Bouchard was the 1988 NASCAR Cup Rookie of the Year. Ron Bouchard began racing career at Brookline Speedway as a substitute driver in 1963 by replacing the ill driver for his father's car. After high school he began racing in his father's car, and he rapidly moved up the ranks to late models at Seekonk Speedway. He claimed five consecutive track championships from 1967 to 1971. He began racing at other local tracks in the Camaro, and he was noticed by Bob Johnson. Bouchard began his NASCAR career in 1981 in the No. 47 J.D. Stacy Buick for owner Jack Beebe (Race Hill Farm team) Ron captured the 1981 NASCAR Rookie of the Year title even though he only raced in 22 of 31 events. He posted 12 Top 10 finishes in the 22 races, including his only career win in the Talladega 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. Running third to Darrell Waltrip and Terry Labonte on the last lap, he swooped under both of them as they battled side by side out of the final turn. The three cars crossed the
finish line nearly simultaneously, with Bouchard winning in a photo finish. After the race, Waltrip, who had thought Bouchard was a lap down, asked, "Where the hell did he come from?". Bouchard's victory is considered by many as the biggest upset in NASCAR history and the win essentially clinched the Cup Series Rookie of the Year award for Bouchard. In 1982 Bouchard finished a career-high eighth in the final points standing and posted three top 5 finishes; with a best finish of third at both Nashville and Daytona. In 1983 he was only able to claim one top five finish; and once again it would come in the July
1981 Talladega Cup win
Daytona race. 1984 saw Bouchard almost win again; this time at Martinsville but he would get out-ran by Geoff Bodine who got the win. He posted five top 5 in '84 and finished 11th in points. Bouchard had raced his whole career for car owner but 1985 would be his final year with the team. Once again, he posted five top 5 finishes and almost get a win at Rockingham where he finished second. Bouchard would lead 68 laps on the day; but Darrell Waltrip would pass Bouchard with 31 laps to go and would hold on to take the win by only one second. This would be Bouchard's last top five finish of his career. In 1986 he changed to the #98 Valvoline Pontiac for owner Mike Curb (Curb-Agajanian Motorsports). The team generally finished in the Top 20 when they completed a race, but they had 9
DNF's. He posted two top 10 finishes with a best of sixth in the Daytona 500. In 1987 he raced in the #1 Bull's Eye Barbecue Sauce Chevrolet for owner Hoss Ellington in five events. Their best finish was an eighth at Darlington. His final Cup start came at Talladega on May 3, 1987. He started 13th but would get involved in a major crash involving such drivers as Alan Kulwicki; Cale Yarborough, Bobby Allison, Sterling Marlin, and Richard Petty among others. Bouchard would finish 38th. Ron also
1986 Cup ride
Cup ride 1987
raced some in the Xfinity Series. He made 20 starts in thefive year span from 1983-1987; also while driving for Jack Bebee. He won on two occasions with both races held at Darlington in 1984. After racing in Winston Cup, Bouchard returned home to Fitchburg, Massachusetts, opening Ron Bouchard's Auto Stores. Ron passed away on 12/10/2015 after battling cancer for several years. For his career Bouchard made 160 cup starts, posting the one win; with 19 top five and 60 top ten finishes. He also posted two wins in the Xfinity series in 20 starts. Info from WikiPedia
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