Picture of A.J. Foyt, Edsel Ford, Jack Bowsher, Bobby Unser

Rewind to 1965: ARCA Menards Series at Mid-Ohio

The ARCA Menards Series returns to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in 2020 for some road racing action the last weekend in May. It hasn't happened since 1965. Take a look at what else is notable from that year in history as we rewind the clock:

Regular Gas Per Gallon - 31 cents

Loaf of Bread - 21 cents

Gallon of Milk – 95 cents

Cost of New Home - $21,500

Average Income per year - $6,450

Significant Events:

Film “Doctor Zhivago” premieres

St. Louis Gateway Arch completed

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. leads civic rights march in Alabama

Maple leaf becomes Canada’s new national flag symbol

The Grateful Dead play their first concert in San Francisco

U.S. President – Lyndon B. Johnson

Indianapolis 500 winner – Jim Clark

Mid-Ohio ARCA winner - Jack Bowsher

 

That’s right. In July 1965, Jack Bowsher from Springfield, Ohio, won the 250-mile ARCA race by a half lap around Mid-Ohio in his No. 21 1965 Ford. The purse was $10,000, and the race encompassed 105 laps (click for the race results). Read all about Jack’s victory from this archive clip penned by Mansfield writer Phil Linne.

Bowsher had a great racing career amassing 55 career wins as an ARCA driver while earning three series championships.  He also made his mark as a long-time car owner including even fielding an USAC entry with Ford factory backing for racing legend A.J. Foyt in 1968! That year was one of five championships he notched as a car owner. He is also the father of two-time ARCA Champion Bobby Bowsher. 

Learn more about Jack’s dominance in this tribute story from the ARCA Menards Series (Remembering the amazing Jack Bowsher...3-time Nashville winner...3-time ARCA champ).  A Wikipedia search uncovers even more of the legendary status and fantastic success he had in ARCA and stock car racing.  Jack Bowsher passed away in 2006, but his brilliance will be remembered when the ARCA Menard Series makes its return to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course during the Mid-Ohio 170 NASCAR Xfinity Series weekend, May 29-30.