7/8/2025
Bloomington Speedway
Red Clay Legend: Danny Bowlen
Danny was born on March 6, 1939 in Kirksville, Indiana to Bob and Elsie (Kinser). He first raced motorcycles but moved to T.Q. midgets in 1961. But the pull of supermodified/sprint cars were just to strong and he had to give it a try. To say he jumped into the deep end of the pool would be a vast understatement.
He went wheel to wheel with legends but on June 9th 1967 his ship came in when he took the Dave McIntire 100 at the Historic Bloomington Speedway. Consider this top 10. 1) Bowlen 2) Don Nordhorn 3) Cecil Beavers 4) Butch Wilkerson 5) Calvin Gilstrap 6) Dick Gaines 7) Larry Miller 8) Allen Barr 9) Sheldon Kinser 10) Mike Johnson. The victory was worth $1,000
He was on his way, or so it seemed. In September of that same year he was racing at Bunker Hill Raceway near Peru when he reportedly flipped ten times. He was trapped in his burning car when Orval Yeadon and Don Burroughs stopped their cars and raced to the scene. Yeadon received serious burns rescuing Bowlen who was severely burned and gravely injured. He was hospitalized in Peru Indiana and would hear from men like Mel Kenyon and Jim Hurtubise who had shared Danny's plight.
He was too tough to quit.
By 1970 he was a top gun and looked to be on his way to the South Central Indiana Racing Association Championship. However, in August he was struck above the eye by a clod of dirt at Paragon Speedway during hot laps and was forced to sit out for a time. As a result he was edged for the title by Bob Kinser. Good days would come at Paragon however. He took the 150 lap Midwest Championship race in August 1972 and was the 1972 & 1973 Paragon champion. He essentially retired after the 1973 season.
In 1997 he helped his son A J take the Bloomington Speedway modified championship and forever remained close to the Speedway. Danny, a successful Bloomington businessman passed in 2023.
He understood the patience and skill needed to survive long-distance tilts.
This Friday The Legends 50 is a salute to the life and times of men like Danny Bowlen.
Pits open 4
Spectator Gates 5
Adult general admission just $15
Kids 12 and under free
Pits $30
Kids and under $15
Coolers welcome - no glass
Photos A J Bowlen collection
Article Credit: Patrick Sullivan
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