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 won the Bathurst 1000 seven times, his 2018 victory proving enduring class. He exploded onto Australian touring car racing in the mid-1990s, tagged as heir to Peter Brock. His early success with Holden was meteoric, securing championships with a flamboyant, never-lift approach. A high-profile move to Ford yielded further glory before he returned to Holden, winning a third championship. In his latter full-time driving years he mentored younger teammates. He transitioned seamlessly to television commentary, 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.”
