Clash gives 53-year-old changed racing chance to live the NASCAR CUP DREAM

When Tim Brown told his family the news, his wife and 8-year-old son cried.

They were “happy tears,” Megan Brown explained to 3-year-old daughter Marley, confused by the outbreak.

Almost a quarter of a century after Tim Brown gave up his dream of running in NASCAR’s Premier series, the 53-year-old is debuting this weekend’s Cook Out Clash.

He runs after Rick Ware Racing, the team he works for as a suspension and drive -out specialist. The fact that his debut is coming to Bowman Gray Stadium – where Brown has 12 changed championships and 101 wins – makes the moment more special.

“I mostly look forward to sharing it with my family,” Brown told NBC Sports about his first cup race. “It’s hard, I mean it’s really hard to talk about because it’s such a big thing and my age to get this opportunity … This is big for me. It’s super huge for them (his family). “

When Cam’s tears dried after hearing the news, he peppers his father with questions.

“Dad, do you think they get your car on iracing?

“Will there be Diecast and Matchbox cars?”

When the news became public, Cam couldn’t stop telling his friends about what his father wants to do.

Cam’s sister also understands now.

“Marley,” said Brown, “running around the house (says), ‘Dad has to run a cup car.’ “

Grandpa Advice

Brown was about 5 years old when he knew he would run, but it was almost 15 years later until he did.

His grandfather, Eb Clifton, was a long -time car builder and mechanic who also drove some. Clifton’s home ground was Bowman Gray Stadium, which first hosted an auto race in 1939 on a dirt track around the football field.

NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. And Alvin Hawkins had tracked in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Broed and Bowman Gray held his first NASCAR-sanctioned race in 1949.

It was on this quarter -mile track that cup car owner Richard Childress sold peanuts in the stands as a youth and later drove. Richard Petty won his 100. Cup race there in 1969.

Bowman Gray Stadium is where Brown started in Racing when he was 19 years old after years of watching the races from the stands. The first time he drove a modified racing car was in a Saturday morning exercise there.

Brown then impressed his grandfather in that session that his grandfather took the car back to his place and changed gears in the vehicle so that Brown could drive that night on half a mile in Concord, North Carolina.

This race remains fresh to brown all these years later.

“It actually scared me to be honest with you, because it’s a big racing track, and I had never driven a racing car,” he said. “When Jay Hedgecock came by me and jumped me, it was actually like, ‘my gosh, how is he going so fast?’ Because I thought I was going fast and he passed me and drove away from us.

“On the way home, I said, ‘Grandpa, I don’t know if I’m cut out of this. The doors fly. ‘He likes,’ oh, it was your first race. You are doing well. ” ‘

He was right. Clifton’s guidance continues, even after his death in 2018 at the age of 91.

When Brown leaves his racing shop, which ends a day that begins before dawn includes a 90-minute drive to his job at Rick Ware Racing and a similar commuting to work on his modified racing car is the last thing he sees, a Photo by his grandfather.

“If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t have any of this,” Brown said. “He taught me how to run, and he basically got me up to me and my brother. I have a lot more, I owe him than just racing. I’ve been thinking a lot about him recently. I wish he was here to see it, but I know he’s up in heaven smiling. “

Champion races

No driver has won more races or championships at Bowman Gray Stadium than Brown. It is a tribute to his ability, but also a sign of time.

Brown had won three of his championships when he was 30 years old in 2001. But most Cuphold owners were not looking for changed drivers at that time. Few searching drivers in their 30s.

The valuable targets were sprint -car drivers as owners searched for the next Jeff Gordon. Kenny Irwin was the Cup Rookie of the Year in 1998, Tony Stewart won it in 1999, Ryan Newman in 2002, and Kasey Kahne claimed the honor in 2004. They all came from Sprintbil Racing.

As the popularity of the sport increased in these years, the costs did too. For some teams, it was about how much money a driver brought for a trip in any of NASCAR’s top three series as opposed to talent.

Brown did not have the money and did not get his chance.

“He has had some disappointments over the years when he was expected or hoping something would get through, and it didn’t,” Megan said.

Brown continued to run on Bowman Gray and continued to win. It eased the breast of not getting a shot on NASCAR’s top joint.

“I’m still going to run at a high level, and I’m proud of it,” he said.

If he goes on to Sunday’s 23-car clashing field, Brown would be the oldest driver to debut in the Cup since 2011, when Andy Pilgrim, at 54, competed on Sonoma Raceway.

While some fans may not know Brown, says cup driver Ryan Preece, who has been driving against him in Modifieds, not to underestimate Brown’s ability. Or Burt Myers, Brown’s long -time rival at Bowman Gray with 11 modified titles, and also entered in the clash.

“There are two of the hometown’s guys who have the opportunity to do it at the highest level and they will be good,” Preece said.

Absorb the experience

Rick Ware understands the value of even a nascar start. A lifelong racer started Ware a single cup of start in his career. It came in 1990 on Watkins Glen for the owner DK Ulrich. Ware started 35. And ended 36. After braking problems before the halfway point in the race.

Ware was a late filling for that trip. While admitting that he was “on Sky nine” with the opportunity, everything happened so fast that it was hard to be able to enjoy it.

Ware announced six weeks ago that Brown would compete at the clash and give Brown time to enjoy the experience.

“I understand what it’s like to go and do something you’ve dreamed of doing,” Ware said. “Driving a cup car, for anyone who has grown up (North Carolina), I think it’s like the holy grail of motorsport.

“I’m just happy to be part of being able to give it to him and the fact that he has his children there. I brought my children there at a young age when he was still fought and won championships, and that he could have his son there, his family and for him to be in a place that is kind of his house I hope that He can just absorb it. “

Megan looks forward to experiencing this with his family. She hopes to get a picture of them all with her husband’s car finally on a cup.

“That,” she said, “would be really cool to have.”