Tommy Houston

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Tommy Houston
Born (1945-01-29) January 29, 1945 (age 79)
Hickory, North Carolina
NASCAR Cup Series career
13 races run over 4 years
Best finish48th (1980)
First race1980 Richmond 400 (Richmond)
Last race1985 Southern 500 (Darlington)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 0 0
NASCAR Xfinity Series career
417 races run over 15 years
Best finish2nd (1989)
First race1982 Goody's 300 (Daytona)
Last race1996 AC Delco 200 (Rockingham)
First win1982 Eastern 150 (Richmond)
Last win1992 Mountain Dew 400 (Hickory)
Wins Top tens Poles
24 198 18
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series career
1 race run over 1 year
Best finish117th (1999)
First race1999 The Orleans 250 (Las Vegas)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 0 0
Statistics current as of February 26, 2007.
NASCAR Stock Car

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[edit]

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.[1]

Personal life[edit]

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[edit]

NASCAR[edit]

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Winston Cup Series[edit]

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
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 [2]
1981 Hamby Motorsports 17 Buick RSD DAY RCH CAR ATL BRI NWS
20
DAR TAL
12
NSV DOV 52nd - [3]
Chevy MAR
20
NSV
19
POC TAL MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR
12
Olds CLT
DNQ
TWS RSD MCH DAY
27
NWS
11
CLT CAR ATL RSD
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 [4]
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 [5]

Busch Series[edit]

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 Ref
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 [6]
6 Pontiac RCH
1
CLT
31
7 Pontiac BRI
28
Mike Day 6 Chevy DOV
6
IRP
3
BRI
10
MAR
3
Olds CLT
32
1983 DAY
10
CAR
7
HCY
15
DAR
8
CLT
21
3rd 4933 [7]
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
1984 Olds DAY
30
CAR
5
DAR
6
DOV
5
CLT
41
IRP
21
DAR
34
CLT
20
CAR
5
MAR
10
3rd 4070 [8]
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
1985 Olds DAY
24
CAR
5
DAR
4
SBO
11
IRP
2
SBO
4
DAR
24
CLT
14
CAR
2
4th 3936 [9]
Chevy HCY
5
BRI
4
MAR
4*
SBO
3*
LGY
10
HCY
8
ROU
9
Buick DOV
5
CLT
23
LGY
5
HCY
4
MLW
5*
BRI
18
RCH
7
NWS
4
ROU
4
HCY
1
MAR
4
1986 Steve Arndt 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 [10]
Pontiac OXF
8
ROU
5
1987 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 [11]
1988 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 [12]
1989 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 [13]
1990 Houston Racing 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 [14]
1991 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 [15]
1992 Olds DAY
26
ATL
19
TAL
9
MCH
16
CLT
9
10th 3599 [16]
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
1993 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 [17]
0 NZH
27
3 GLN
20
61 NHA
5
Precision Products Racing 0 Olds RCH
4
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 [18]
Rexrode Galiano Motorsports 1 Ford MAR
16
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 [19]
1996 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 [20]
0 HCY
31

Craftsman Truck Series[edit]

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 [21]

Busch North Series[edit]

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[edit]

(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 - [22]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Jensen, Tom. Barrett-Jackson Wrapped, It's NASCAR Time Archived 2008-01-23 at the Wayback Machine, SpeedTV.com, January 21, 2008
  2. ^ "Tommy Houston – 1980 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved October 6, 2016.
  3. ^ "Tommy Houston – 1981 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved October 6, 2016.
  4. ^ "Tommy Houston – 1982 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved October 6, 2016.
  5. ^ "Tommy Houston – 1985 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved October 6, 2016.
  6. ^ "Tommy Houston – 1982 NASCAR Budweiser Late Model Sportsman Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved October 6, 2016.
  7. ^ "Tommy Houston – 1983 NASCAR Budweiser Late Model Sportsman Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved October 6, 2016.
  8. ^ "Tommy Houston – 1984 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved October 6, 2016.
  9. ^ "Tommy Houston – 1985 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved October 6, 2016.
  10. ^ "Tommy Houston – 1986 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved October 6, 2016.
  11. ^ "Tommy Houston – 1987 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved October 6, 2016.
  12. ^ "Tommy Houston – 1988 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved October 6, 2016.
  13. ^ "Tommy Houston – 1989 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved October 6, 2016.
  14. ^ "Tommy Houston – 1990 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved October 6, 2016.
  15. ^ "Tommy Houston – 1991 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved October 6, 2016.
  16. ^ "Tommy Houston – 1992 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved October 6, 2016.
  17. ^ "Tommy Houston – 1993 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved October 6, 2016.
  18. ^ "Tommy Houston – 1994 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved October 6, 2016.
  19. ^ "Tommy Houston – 1995 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved October 6, 2016.
  20. ^ "Tommy Houston – 1996 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved October 6, 2016.
  21. ^ "Tommy Houston – 1999 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved October 6, 2016.
  22. ^ "Tommy Houston – 1985 ARCA Talladega SuperCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved October 6, 2016.

External links[edit]