Alan Kulwicki (December 14, 1954 - April 1, 1993) was an American NASCAR driver. He drove the #7 Ford Thunderbird, first sponsored by Zerex and later by Hooters. His first sponsor was Quincy's Steakhouse, and the car number was 35. He was nicknamed "Special K". The National Association for Stock Car Automobile Racing (NASCAR) is the largest sanctioning body of motorsports in the United States. ... The NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series is NASCARs top racing series. ... 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ... 1985 (MCMLXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Chevy Rock and Roll 400 is a NASCAR Nextel Cup stock car race held at the Richmond International Raceway in Richmond, Virginia. ... Richmond International Raceway (RIR) is a A 3/4 mile, D shaped, asphalt race track located outside Richmond, Virginia. ... 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... Carolina Dodge Dealers 400 is the name given to the annual spring NASCAR Nextel Cup race held at Darlington Raceway. ... Darlington Raceway is a race track built for NASCAR racing located near Darlington, South Carolina. ... 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Checker Auto Parts 500 is a NASCAR Nextel Cup stock car race held at Phoenix International Raceway in Avondale, Arizona. ... Phoenix International Raceway is a one mile tri-oval race track located in Avondale, AZ. It opened in 1964, but wasnt used by NASCAR until 1988, with the first race won by the late Alan Kulwicki. ... 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ... The Pocono 500 is the first of two stock car races held at the Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania, on the NASCAR Nextel Cup schedule, the other being the Pennsylvania 500. ... Pocono Raceway is a superspeedway located in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania at Long Pond; it is the site of two annual NASCAR Nextel Cup races held just a few weeks apart in June and July. ... The National Association for Stock Car Automobile Racing (NASCAR) is the largest sanctioning body of motorsports in the United States. ... NASCAR Busch Series logo The Busch Series is a stock car racing series owned and operated by NASCAR. It is NASCARs second division (often compared to Triple-A baseball), and is a proving ground for drivers who wish to step up to the organizations top level, the Nextel... NASCAR Busch Series logo The Busch Series is a stock car racing series owned and operated by NASCAR. It is NASCARs second division (often compared to Triple-A baseball), and is a proving ground for drivers who wish to step up to the organizations top level, the Nextel... 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The AT&T 250 is a NASCAR Busch Series race held at the Milwaukee Mile. ... The Milwaukee Mile (also The Mile and Americas Legendary Oval) is a race track in West Allis, Wisconsin, USA. It is a mile long (1. ... 1985 (MCMLXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The AT&T 250 is a NASCAR Busch Series race held at the Milwaukee Mile. ... The Milwaukee Mile (also The Mile and Americas Legendary Oval) is a race track in West Allis, Wisconsin, USA. It is a mile long (1. ... December 14 is the 348th day of the year (349th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1954 (MCMLIV) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... April 1 is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 274 days remaining. ... 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... The National Association for Stock Car Automobile Racing (NASCAR) is the largest sanctioning body of motorsports in the United States. ... The Ford Thunderbird is a car manufactured in the United States by the Ford Motor Company. ... Hooters logo Hooters is the trade name of two privately held American restaurant chains: Hooters of America, Inc based in Atlanta, Georgia, and Hooters, Inc. ...

Background

Alan Kulwicki was born in Greenfield, Wisconsin, a suburb of Milwaukee. Alan received a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1977. Many attribute his success to his knowledge of engineering, which at the time was considered to be of less value than experience and intuition. Greenfield is a city located in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. ... Nickname: Cream City, Mil Town, Brew City, The City of Festivals Location of Milwaukee in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin Coordinates: County Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett Area    - City 251. ... It has been suggested that Professional degree be merged into this article or section. ... Mechanical engineers design and build engines and power plants. ... The University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee is a public research university located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. ... Personification of knowledge (Greek Επιστημη, Episteme) in Celsus Library in Ephesos, Turkey. ... Look up Experience in Wiktionary, the free dictionary This article discusses the general concept of experience. ... Intuition is an unconscious form of knowledge. ...

Alan won the 1973 Rookie of the Year award at the now defunct Hales Corners Speedway dirt track in Franklin (another Milwaukee suburb). He won the 1979 and 1980 Late Model track championship on the pavement at the Wisconsin International Raceway. The Wisconsin International Raceway (WIR) is a stockcar racing oval and drag strip in Kaukauna, Wisconsin, USA. // Stockcar track The main track is a half mile D-shaped paved oval. ...

Winston Cup Career

In 1985 Alan sold most of his belongings (except a pickup truck and a trailer) to move from Wisconsin to the southern United States. An electrical fire two days before he left destroyed his truck and trailer. He was the source of amusement at first to many veteran drivers. He was a mechanical engineer out of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in a sport in which most of his competitors only made it through high school. He could be seen walking the garage in his race uniform and carrying a brief case. He was driver, owner and oftentimes his own crew chief. He had difficulty acquiring and keeping crew members. Notable crew members include Bobby Norfleet and Paul Andrews. The 1985 NASCAR Winston Cup Season began on Sunday February 10 and ended on Sunday November 17. ... Bobby Norfleet (born c. ...

Kulwicki made his first start near the end of the 1985 season for Bill Terry. In 1986, Kulwicki could not find a ride, so he fielded his first Winston Cup racing team as owner and driver. With just two cars, two engines, and two full-time crew members, he won Winston Cup Rookie of the Year. William Harold Terry (October 30, 1898 _ January 9, 1989) was a Major League Baseball first baseman and manager. ... The 1986 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Season began February 16 and ended November 16. ... The NASCAR Championship is the championship held in NASCARs top stock car racing series. ... The NASCAR Rookie of the Year Award is presented to the first-year driver that has the best season in a NASCAR season. ...

Alan Kulwicki driving his first "Polish Victory Lap" during the Checker 500 on November 6, 1988 at Phoenix International Raceway.

In 1988 he won his first NASCAR race at Phoenix International Raceway. He turned around his car, and made his now famous "Polish Victory Lap" by driving the wrong way on the track (driver's side toward the fans). He got in trouble with NASCAR officials. Image File history File links Kulwicki_Polish_Victory_Lap. ... Image File history File links Kulwicki_Polish_Victory_Lap. ... A Polish Victory Lap is a cooldown lap by the winner of the race where the driver turns the car around (U turn) and drives forward in the opposite direction. ... The Checker Auto Parts 500 is a NASCAR Nextel Cup stock car race held at Phoenix International Raceway in Avondale, Arizona. ... November 6 is the 310th day of the year (311th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 55 days remaining. ... 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Phoenix International Raceway is a one mile tri-oval race track located in Avondale, AZ. It opened in 1964, but wasnt used by NASCAR until 1988, with the first race won by the late Alan Kulwicki. ... The 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Season began February 7 and ended November 20. ... Phoenix International Raceway is a one mile tri-oval race track located in Avondale, AZ. It opened in 1964, but wasnt used by NASCAR until 1988, with the first race won by the late Alan Kulwicki. ... A Polish Victory Lap is a cooldown lap by the winner of the race where the driver turns the car around (U turn) and drives forward in the opposite direction. ...

Championship

The final race of the 1992 season was one of the most eventful races in NASCAR history. It was the final race for Richard Petty, the first race for Jeff Gordon, and six drivers were capable to win the championship that day. Kulwicki received approval from NASCAR and Ford to change the "Thunderbird" lettering on his bumper for the race to "Underbird" because he felt like the underdog for winning the championship. After many top contenders suffered misfortune early in the race, Kulwicki and Bill Elliott were left to duel for the title. Elliott would go on to win the race, with Kulwicki placing second. However, by leading one more lap than Elliott, thus claiming the 5 bonus points for leading the most laps, Kulwicki became the 1992 Winston Cup Champion by just 10 points over Bill Elliott. He celebrated with his second-ever Polish Victory Lap. Before exiting his car postrace to claim his trophy, Kulwicki removed a comb from a glove box especially installed for the race in the event he emerged victorious. He then combed his hair, to the amusement of those in attendance. This was later alluded to at the awards banquet by Elliott, who presented Kulwicki with a "golden comb" award. The 1992 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Season began on February 9 and ended on November 15. ... Richard Lee Petty (born July 2, 1937 in Level Cross, North Carolina) is a renowned former NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver. ... Jeffery Michael Gordon (born August 4, 1971) is an American race car driver. ... The Ford Thunderbird is a car manufactured in the United States by the Ford Motor Company. ... This article is about the NASCAR driver Bill Elliott. ... 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ... NASCAR Nextel Cup logo NEXTEL Cup trophy, adopted in 2004 4-time champion Jeff Gordon poses with the Winston Cup trophy (used prior to 2004) The NASCAR Championship is the championship held in NASCARs top stock car racing series. ... A Polish Victory Lap is a cooldown lap by the winner of the race where the driver turns the car around (U turn) and drives forward in the opposite direction. ... A glove compartment is a compartment built into the dashboard on the passengers side of an automobile, often used for miscellaneous storage. ...

Kulwicki overcame a 278-point deficit in the final six races of the season to claim a 10-point victory over Elliott. It was the closest title win in NASCAR Cup Series history until the implementation of the Chase for the Cup format 12 years later. The championship was noteworthy for other reasons: he was the last owner/driver to win the title, the first Cup champion with a college degree, and the first Cup champion not born in a southern state. The victory was also particularly sweet for Kulwicki, who had turned down offers to drive for other successful owners (including Junior Johnson) to continue fielding his own team. Fittingly, the song played at the awards banquet was "My Way". Robert Glen Johnson, Jr. ... My Way is a popular song, which in its English-language version is an adaptation by Paul Anka of the French song Comme dhabitude, written by Claude François and Jacques Revaux. ...

During his six-year Winston Cup career, Kulwicki won five Winston Cup races and earned 24 pole positions. NASCAR Nextel Cup logo NEXTEL Cup trophy, adopted in 2004 4-time champion Jeff Gordon poses with the Winston Cup trophy (used prior to 2004) The NASCAR Championship is the championship held in NASCARs top stock car racing series. ...

Death

Tragically, Kulwicki was killed at age 38 in a plane crash on April 1, 1993, near Blountville, Tennessee, while returning in a Hooters corporate jet from an appearance prior to spring race at Bristol Motor Speedway. Three days after Kulwicki's death, Bristol race winner Rusty Wallace honored his old short track foe by turning Kulwicki's trademark reverse "Polish Victory Lap". Every winner for the remainder of the season honored Kulwicki with a Polish victory lap. ^[1] Also for the remainder of the 1993 season, all cars entered in Winston Cup and Busch Series races carried stickers of Kulwicki's stylized #7 on their left and right B-posts (the center post between the two side windows). Upon Davey Allison's death on July 13, 1993, Kulwicki's #7 was joined by the stylized #28 from Allison's car. After the final race of the season, series champion Dale Earnhardt and race winner Wallace drove a side by side Polish victory lap carrying flags for fallen heroes Kulwicki and Allison. Capt. ... Blountville is a census-designated place located in Sullivan County, Tennessee. ... Official language(s) English Capital Nashville Largest city Memphis Largest metro area Nashville Area  Ranked 36th  - Total 42,169 sq mi (109,247 km²)  - Width 120 miles (195 km)  - Length 440 miles (710 km)  - % water 2. ... Bristol Motor Speedway is a NASCAR short track located in Bristol, Tennessee. ... Rusty Wallace Rusty Wallace makes a tight turn during the Advance Auto Parts 500 at Martinsville Speedway. ... A Polish Victory Lap is a cooldown lap by the winner of the race where the driver turns the car around (U turn) and drives forward in the opposite direction. ... 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... The NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series is NASCARs top racing series. ... NASCAR Busch Series logo The Busch Series is a stock car racing series owned and operated by NASCAR. It is NASCARs second division (often compared to Triple-A baseball), and is a proving ground for drivers who wish to step up to the organizations top level, the Nextel... David Carl Davey Allison (February 25, 1961 - July 13, 1993) was a NASCAR race car driver, best known as the driver of the Robert Yates Racing #28 Texaco-Havoline Ford. ... Ralph Dale Earnhardt, Sr. ...

For much of the remainder of the 1990s, NASCAR and non-NASCAR drivers alike continued the tradition of executing a Polish Victory Lap following a race or championship win. Mike Joy would often refer to it as a Kulwicki Victory Lap. The National Association for Stock Car Automobile Racing (NASCAR) is the largest sanctioning body of motorsports in the United States. ...

The USAR Hooters ProCup championship, the Four Champions Challenge, is named in memory of all four victims of that plane crash by series sponsor Hooters. Since 2006, the fifth race has been named in memory of Hooters Chairman Bob Brooks, who died in 2006.

He was posthumously inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2002. The International Motorsports Hall of Fame is a Hall of Fame dedicated to enshrining those who have contributed the most to auto racing either as a driver, owner, developer or engineer. ... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ...

Lasting Impact on NASCAR

Kulwicki's success as an owner/driver sparked a small fad among NASCAR veterans. Geoff Bodine (who purchased Kulwicki's team after his death), his younger brother Brett, Ricky Rudd, and Bill Elliott all began racing teams after Kulwicki's death. However, none of them could reach the same success that Kulwicki did, and slowly but surely those drivers either sold their teams, or let them just fade away. NASCAR Nextel Cup driver Robby Gordon, the only current owner/driver in the sport who runs the full schedule, frequently mentions Alan as an inspiration for him as an owner/driver. Gordon, whose car carries the #7, picked this number as a tribute to Kulwicki. In biochemistry, flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) is the precursor molecule to FADH2. ... The National Association for Stock Car Automobile Racing (NASCAR) is the largest sanctioning body of motorsports in the United States. ... Geoffrey Bodine (born April 18, 1949 in Chemung, New York) is the oldest of the three Bodine brothers (Brett Bodine and Todd Bodine) who are all NASCAR drivers. ... Bodine poses with his Ralphs Ford Sponsor a Driver. ... Ricky Rudd in 2005, courtesy of the U.S. Air Force Ricky Rudd racing at the Chevy Rock and Roll 400 at Richmond International Raceway. ... This article is about the NASCAR driver Bill Elliott. ... Robby Gordon (born in Bellflower, California, on January 2, 1969) is an American racing driver, who currently competes in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series although he has also raced in the NASCAR Busch and Craftsman Truck series, Champ Car, the IRL, Trans-Am, IMSA, IROC and Paris-Dakar. ... A tribute (from Latin tribulum, contribution) is wealth one party gives to another as a sign of respect or, as was often case in historical contexts, of submission or allegiance. ...

Kulwicki Subject of Feature Film

On April 1, 2005, the very low budget feature film Dare to Dream: The Alan Kulwicki Story was released which chronicled Alan's life. The movie was created by Kulwicki's Wisconsin fans. The film was produced for less than $100,000 and was seen in 14 states and 80 cities, copies of the DVD could be found on ebay for a time. The film focuses on the events in Kulwicki's life that fed his desire to become champion... at all costs. The star of the film, Brad Webber, was a big Kulwicki fan and credits the late driver with being his inspiration to become an actor. The theme song for the film is entitled "Heroes Never Die" and was written by the writer/director of the film, David Orgas. April 1 is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 274 days remaining. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A reel of film, which predates digital cinematography. ... Generally a chronicle (Latin chronica) is historical account of facts and events in chronological order. ... Official language(s) None Capital Madison Largest city Milwaukee Area  Ranked 23rd  - Total 65,498 sq mi (169,790 km²)  - Width 260 miles (420 km)  - Length 310 miles (500 km)  - % water 17  - Latitude 42°30N to 47°3N  - Longitude 86°49W to 92°54W Population  Ranked...

Trivia

• The sponsor on Kulwicki's first car was radio stationWLPX. He raced #97 at Slinger Super Speedway and Wisconsin International Raceway because of the frequency on the radio station.

• He wore a custom Mighty Mouse patch on his drivers suit (Mighty Mouse had an orange and white drivers suit).

• He clinched his championship at the Hooters 500 in a car sponsored by Hooters.

• Alan Kulwicki Park is located at the corner of Hwy 100 N and W Cold Spring Road in Greenfield, WI.

Track layout The Slinger Super Speedway located in Slinger, Wisconsin, is a quarter mile paved oval automobile race track with a 33-degree bank. ... The Wisconsin International Raceway (WIR) is a stockcar racing oval and drag strip in Kaukauna, Wisconsin, USA. // Stockcar track The main track is a half mile D-shaped paved oval. ... A Mighty Mouse poster. ... The Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 is a NASCAR Nextel Cup stock car race held at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Georgia. ... Hooters logo Hooters is the trade name of two privately held American restaurant chains: Hooters of America, Inc based in Atlanta, Georgia, and Hooters, Inc. ...

See also

• List of famous NASCAR drivers

The following is a list of famous NASCAR drivers. ...

References

1. ^ Tribute to Alan Kulwicki

External links

• Dare to Dream (movie about Alan Kulwicki)
• Career statistics at racing-reference.info