Ken Bouchard



	CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: • 1988 Winston Cup Series "ROOKIE OF THE YEAR" • Over 200 Career Victories • Over $1 Million in Career Earnings • 11 NASCAR Modified Wins in a Single Season • Won 3 of 8 NASCAR Invitational Modified Races • Over 100 Career Winston Cup, Busch Grand National, and Craftsman Truck Starts
It’s easy to understand why Ken Bouchard would have a burning ambition to make his mark in big time stock car racing. He comes from a family steeped in auto racing tradition, a legacy that goes back over 30 years. Father Robert Bouchard owned and prepared Modified Division cars through three decades, directing his entries to a dozen-plus track championships at every major facility in New England, including several with his sons as his driver. In 1959, Bouchard’s team won an unprecedented 46 short-track races, still a single-season NASCAR Modified Division mark. Brother Ron began his racing in 1962 and, in the next two decades, won every major Modified event at every track in the Northern United States. In 1981, Ron Bouchard became Winston Cup Rookie of the Year and won his first race before mid-season, becoming one of the earliest winners in that division’s history. Ken Bouchard owned his first stock car at age 13. After two years, Bouchard decided to go from bystander to competitor, telling racing officials he was actually a year older than he really was. In 1973, when he was officially 16 years old, the strapping six footer began driving the family racer, compiling four wins and capturing Rookie-of-the-Year honors at Seekonk Speedway in Massachusetts. He quickly moved into NASCAR Modified competition, eventually to walk away with victories at every oval that series competed on. In his Late Model and Modified career, Bouchard racked up over 190 feature wins and posted over one million dollars in winnings.
In 1984, Ken purchased his own super speedway car from Harry Gant and began racing in NASCAR’s Busch Grand National Series.. In 1985, he ran races in the South in the Busch Series and ran his Modified car in the North. He accumulated 11 more NASCAR Modified wins. The following year he ran in 13 Busch Grand National races and placed in the top ten 3 times. Ken ran in his first Winston Cup race in 1987 while continuing to run in 8 Grand National and 21 Modified events. The opportunity to compete in a full Winston Cup schedule came in 1988. Team owner Bob Whitcomb hired Ken as a driver because of his experience and career statistics. Although it was a first year team with a struggling engine department, Ken was able to post very good finishes and beat Ernie Irvan as Winston Cup’s "Rookie of the Year." Ken and Ron Bouchard are the first brothers to wear rookie crowns in NASCAR’s premiere division, and that’s a special accomplishment for Ken. "That’s something that will go down in the NASCAR record books that no one will ever be able to erase," Bouchard said. "It really means a lot to me, but it means even more to my parents and friends back home." Ken’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series participation began in 1996 with Loudon and Las Vegas in Purolator PURE ONE backed F150’s for D.W. Toys Racing. In 1997, Ken drove for "The King" and a 10th place at the Texas Craftsman race in the Petty Enterprises Dodge Ram. He also won the ‘97 Craftsman Truck Las Vegas Open Qualifier for Doran Enterprises. Ken was the ‘97 and '98 Chrysler factory "test" driver for the Craftsman Truck Series Dodge program. 1998 has Ken in the #11 PBR Chevy Craftsman Truck with 2 top twenties in three events and some selected Winston Cup shows. Ken Bouchard is "NASCAR’s best kept secret".