We are not quite to 2025 yet, but that doesn’t mean NASCAR teams aren’t getting prepared for the season-opening Clash at Bowman-Gray Stadium. It has become clear that Rick Ware Racing will only have one chartered team in 2025 with the No. 51 car. That, however, isn’t the biggest news coming from the team. RWR has tabbed a track legend to pilot their No. 15 Ford for the exhibition race.
Rookie or Ringer? The all-time winningest driver at @BGSRacing is going Cup racing. RWR is putting Tim Brown in the #NASCARClash.
101 victories
146 poles
12 track championships pic.twitter.com/Bz8lc2N2sy— Rick Ware Racing (@RickWareRacing) December 17, 2024
Ironically enough, Tim Brown, whose name is synonymous with Bowman Gray, will get a shot behind the wheel of a NASCAR Cup car in early February. Brown who works for the team already in the team shop, helping assemble cars, will get to do that and race the car he helps put together. That’s quite an opportunity. It also gives a new meaning to the phrase racing ringer.
Track Legend Tabbed by Rick Ware Racing For Clash at Bowman-Gray
Brown is the track’s all-time wins leader and has a record 12 Bowman-Gray championships in the featured modified division. He established that mark in 2022. The 53-year-old is fresh off a season where he won 100 features at the historic venue. Sure he will have a tough task ahead of him trying to qualify his way into the main event on February 2nd, but the fact that Mr. Ware is giving him an opportunity is pretty cool.
Brown appears ready for the Challenge
Many might be questioning how he can even have the opportunity given he has never driven a cup car. That doesn’t matter in this case it is an exhibition race, and I for one think it’s a great opportunity to showcase the local short-track talent. Bowman-Gray is a special place and this opportunity doesn’t appear to be taken for granted. Brown spoke about the opportunity in a news release shared via NASCAR.com.
” I’ve worked my whole life to try to be a Cup driver,” Brown said. “I’m good with working on race cars for a living because it’s still a pretty cool gig, but I always wanted to drive for a living. For Rick Ware and everybody involved here at RWR to be given the chance to go run a Cup race is so humbling and so heartwarming. It’s really cool.”
Not His First venture with NASCAR
Brown has long been involved with the sport behind the scenes, when not dominating in the modified series at Bowman-Gray. Brown made one Craftsman Truck Series start at Martinsville back in 2009. He finished the race in 27th.
That isn’t his day job as he said, though as he works for RWR full-time as a suspension and drivetrain specialist. He has helped build race cars throughout his life, as he has also worked on cars for the late Cale Yarborough, Michael Waltrip, and Jack Roush, before making it big with Rick Ware’s team.
What are Brown’s Chances?
NASCAR has always had ringers show up and perform pretty well. Sure it will be his first time in a Cup car, but he knows how to get around Bowman-Gray. Who’s to say he can’t make some noise? I for one hope this becomes a new normal. Why not invite a track legend or local talent to try and make the Clash race? Maybe NASCAR could set up a car for this event every year for the Xfinity Champ or Truck Champ to get a shot. A sort of wild-card car just for this event.
I for one wish Tim the best of luck, and take advantage of this great opportunity.
