Ron Bouchard drove this Race Hill Farms NASCAR Cup car to victory in the Talladega 500 in 1981
Bouchard began his NASCAR career in 1981 in the No. 47 (Race Hill Farm team). He captured the 1981 NASCAR Rookie of the Year title even though he only raced in 22 of 31 events.
He posted 12 top 10 finishes in the 22 races, including his only career win, in the Talladega 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. Running third to Darrell Waltrip and Terry Labonte on the last lap, he swooped under both of them as they battled side-by-side out of the final turn. The three cars crossed the finish line nearly simultaneously, with Bouchard winning in a photo finish.
After the race, Waltrip, who had been watching Labonte and not seen Bouchard pass him, asked, “Where the hell did he come from?”
Waltrip has stated in interviews over the race that part of the reason he lost was because he did not try to block Bouchard as he believed that Bouchard was a lap down.
Bouchard’s victory is considered by many as the biggest upset in NASCAR history and the win essentially clinched the Cup Series rookie of the year award for Bouchard.
