Clash gives a 53-year-old custom Racer chance to live the Nascar Cup dream

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

They were ‘happy tears’, Megan Brown explained to 3-year-old daughter Marley, confused by the outburst.

Almost a quarter of a century after Tim Brown gave up with his dream of chasing in the leading series of Nascar, the 53-year-old makes his cup debut in this weekend’s Cook Out Clash.

He will drive for Rick True Racing, the team he works for as a specialist in suspension and drivetrain. That his debut comes at Bowman Gray Stadium – where Brown has 12 modified championships and 101 wins – makes the moment more special.

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

After Cam’s tears became dry after hearing the news, he peppered his father with questions.

“Dad, do you think they will have your car?

“Will there be a thecast and match cars?”

When the news was revealed, Cam couldn’t stop telling his friends what his father was going to do.

Cam’s sister also understands now.

“Marley,” Brown said, “running around the house (and saying),” Dad is going to run a cup of car. ”

Grandpa’s advice

Brown was about 5 years old when he knew he wanted to chase, but it was almost 15 years later until he did.

His grandfather, EB Clifton, was a long -standing car builder and mechanic who also chased a few. Clifton’s home lane was Bowman Gray Stadium, which first offered a car race in 1939 on a ground lane around the soccer field.

The founder of the Nascar, Bill France Sr. and Alvin Hawkins, paved the track in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and Bowman Gray in 1949 held its first Nascar-sanctioned race.

It was on this quarter-mile track that Richard Childress owner of the cup sold as a youth as youth and later chased. Richard Petty won his 100th cup race there in 1969. The cup series chased there from 1958-71 and the list of winners was David Pearson, Bobby Allison and Junior Johnson.

Bowman Gray Stadium is where Brown started when he was 19, after years of racing from the plots. The first time he was driving a modified race car was there in a Saturday morning exercise.

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

The race remains fresh for brown all these years later.

“It actually scared me to be honest with you because it’s a big racetrack and I’ve never driven a race car,” he said. “When Jay Hedgecock arrived at me and defeated me, it was actually like, ‘My gosh, how is he doing 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 for this. The dudes fly. “He’s like,” Ah, 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.

If Brown leaves his race shop, which ends a day that starts before dawn, contains a 90 -minute drive to his job at Rick True Racing and a similar commute to work on his modified race car is the last thing he sees A picture of him grandfather.

“If it wasn’t for him, I would have had none of this,” Brown said. “He taught me how to chase, and he basically raised me and my brother. I have a lot more, I owe him than just the races. I’ve been thinking a lot about him lately. I wish he was here to see it, but I know he smiles in heaven. ‘

Champion racer

No manager won more races or championships at Bowman Gray Stadium as Brown. It is a tribute to his ability, but also a sign of the times.

Brown won three of his championships when he was thirty years old in 2001. But most Cup team owners were not looking for modified drivers. Few searched drivers in their thirties.

The valued targets were sprint car drivers as owners searched for the next Jeff Gordon. Kenny Irwin was the cup of the year in 1998, Tony Stewart won it in 1999, Ryan Newman in 2002 and Kasey Kahne demanded the honor in 2004. They all come from the sprint of the sprint.

As the popularity of the sport rose during those years, so did the cost. For some teams, it was about how much money a manager brought in any of the top three series of Nascar, as opposed to talent.

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

“He had a few disappointments over the years where he kind of expected or hoped for something to come through and not,” Megan said.

Brown ran to Bowman Gray and continued to win. This relieved the sting not to get a shot on the upper echelon of Nascar.

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

If he progressed to Sunday’s 23-car collision field, Brown would be the oldest driver who made their cup debut since 2011 when Andy Pilgrim, at 54, competed at Sonoma Raceway.

Some fans may not know Brown, but cup manager Ryan Preece, who chased him in amended, does not say to underestimate Brown’s ability. Or that of Burt Myers, Brown’s longtime rival at Bowman Gray with 11 modified titles and also entered in the collision.

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

Absorb the experience

Rick real understands the value of even one nascar start. True, a lifelong driver, made a single cup in his career. It came to Watkins Glen for the owner DK Ulrich in 1990. Ware started 35th and finished 36th after braking problems before the halfway in the race.

True was a late fill in for that ride. While acknowledging that he was “on Cloud Nine” with the event, everything happened so quickly that it was difficult to enjoy it.

Ware announced six weeks ago that Brown would compete for the collision, giving Brown time to enjoy the experience.

“I understand what it’s like to do something you dreamed about,” real said. ‘To drive a cup of car, for anyone who grew up (North Carolina), I mean, it’s like the holy grail of motorsports.

“I’m just happy to be part of the fact that he can 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 chasing and winning championships, and that he could have his son, his family, and that he could be in a place that is his home, I hope He can only absorb it. “

Megan is looking forward to experiencing it with her family. She hopes to get a photo of them all with her husband’s car, finally on a cup of track.

“It,” she said, “would be really nice to have.”