Bondy Long’s story is the quintessential tale of hard work pays off as it did with Bowani Racing in the 1960s and, especially in 1965 when the little team out of Camden, South Carolina turned heads in NASCAR’s Grand National circuit; eventually winning the championship with driver Ned Jarrett. This website is a celebration of Bondy's amazing accomplishments.

31 Grand National career wins in six year career
30 second place finishes
115 top 5 finishes
135 top 10 finishes
27 poles
Total team earnings: $268,754.00
In 208 races started, Bondy finished his career as a car owner with an impressive 14.98 winning percentage on the Grand National circuit.

Long started his ownership career in his 20s, and received factory support from Ford Motor Company.

Bondy was a hands-on car owner. The Bowani team would receive the engines from Holman-Moody like the other teams, but Bondy would rework the heads and do extensive valve work to increase the horsepower. He was a crew chief as well. At 25, Bondy was the youngest car owner and Points Champion in NASCAR history. His hands-on mechanic approach led to his induction into the Mechanics Hall of Fame in 1965. In 208 races started, he finished his career with an impressive 14.98 winning percentage. His hard work approach led to a spectacular career and he remains a pioneer of NASCAR.

Ned Jarrett, Dick Hutcherson, Mario Andretti, Bobby Allison, A.J. Foyt, Bud Moore and Swede Savage all drove for Long during his NASCAR career.

After Jarrett's retirement in 1966, Bowani drivers included such legendary names as Dick Hutcherson, Mario Andretti, Bobby Allison, A.J. Foyt, Bud Moore and Swede Savage. Long's company also fielded cars in three races in NASCAR's Late Model Sportsman division in 1969 and 1970. Their last race was in 1970 when Tiny Lund won the Permatex 300 at Daytona in the #29 car.

All of the vehicles that Long has owned have competed in 208 races with 31 wins, 115 finishes in the top five, and 135 finishes in the top ten.

In 1967, Ford permitted Bondy’s team to race 32 of the 49 races. This allowed the team to focus all of their time and resources competing at a higher level, and as a result finishing 3rd in points standing after skipping 17 races. Also that year, Dick Hutherson finished 2nd, nine times to Richard Petty, supporting the strategy paid off. Dick Hutcherson wins on Bondy’s team consisted of: September 18, 1966, Occoneechee Speedway, Hillsborough, NC; Oct. 2, 1966, North Wilkesboro Speedway, North Wilkesboro, NC; August 6, 1967, Dixie 500, Atlanta, GA; July 27, 1967, Smoky Mountain Speedway, Maryville, TN.

Ned Jarrett and Bondy's car were featured on the first issue of Stock Car Racing magazine, as well as Bondy himself was featured on a future cover.

The Camden, S.C. Archives & Museum exhibit "Camden's Moment in NASCAR History: The Bondy Long Story" brought together legends and history.

The Bondy Long NASCAR exhibit ran through the end of January 2016 at the Camden Archives and Museum in Camden, South Carolina. The exhibit traced the history of Bowani Racing through photographs, artifacts and the words of the people who worked long and hard to field the very best cars and teams in the country. The exhibit's opening included some special activities and guests, including the original No. 11 Ford driven during the 1964 Grand National Circuit by Ned Jarrett cruising from Camden City Hall on Lyttleton Street to the archives and museum on Broad Street. Jarrett and fellow NASCAR Hall of Famers Bobby and Donnie Allison and Cale Yarborough were scheduled to attend the opening day ceremonies.

Nostalgia for Bondy Long's legendary past has inspired many collectibles from model cars to cereal boxes.

A letter from the governor of South Carolina