Craig Lowndes
A beloved Australian motorsport figure whose aggressive driving style and infectious smile made him a three-time Supercars champion and a fan favorite for decades.
Born 1974 (age 52)·Australian racing driver·Birthday: June 21·Generation X
Biography
Craig Lowndes exploded onto the Australian touring car scene in the mid-1990s, immediately tagged as the heir apparent to the great Peter Brock. His early success with Holden was meteoric, securing championships and Bathurst victories with a flamboyant, never-lift approach that thrilled crowds. After a high-profile move to Ford yielded further glory, he returned to Holden, cementing his legacy not just with a third championship title but with an unmatched record of consistency and popularity. In the latter part of his full-time driving career, his role evolved into that of a mentor for younger teammates, while his victory in the 2018 Bathurst 1000, his seventh, proved his enduring class. Transitioning seamlessly to television commentary, Lowndes has maintained his central position in the sport, his voice and insight connecting new generations of fans to the track action.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Craig was born in 1974, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Craig Was Born
The biggest hits of 1974
#1 Movie
The Towering Inferno
Best Picture
The Godfather Part II
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Craig's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1974Born
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1979Started school
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1987Became a teenager
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1990Could drive
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1992Could vote
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1995Turned 21
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2004Turned 30
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2014Turned 40
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2024Turned 50
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 52 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the Supercars Championship (then known as V8 Supercars) three times (1996, 1998, 1999).
- Secured a record-tying seven victories in the prestigious Bathurst 1000 race.
- Holds the record for the most race starts in Australian touring car history.
- Was awarded the Barry Sheene Medal, the sport's top peer-voted honor, a record five times.
Did You Know?
He is known by the nickname 'The Kid,' which stuck from his early racing days.
His famous helmet design, featuring a swooping eagle, was created by his mother.
He once competed in the famous Race of Champions, beating Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher in a head-to-head heat.
After retiring from full-time driving, he joined the broadcast team for the Supercars television coverage.
“You have to enjoy what you're doing. If you're not enjoying it, there's no point in being here.”
