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Alan Kulwicki through the years
By Staff report | Published: 14 Dec, 2020 15
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The racing career of Alan Kulwicki, or 'Special K' as he was known to some, began on the short tracks of Wisconsin before he made his way to NASCAR in 1984. Competing in what is now the NASCAR Xfinity Series, Kulwicki finished second to Sam Ard in his debut at Milwaukee in the Red Carpet 200 driving the No. 7 for Ed Whitaker.
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Kulwicki's Xfinity Series career was short, as he ran only six races between 1984 and 1985. And it was in '85 that he also got his first few starts in NASCAR's premier series.
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September of 1985 saw Kulwicki make his first start in the NASCAR Cup Series, finishing 19th at Richmond Raceway. From Richmond of '85 through the race at Bristol in August 1986, Kulwicki drove for Billy Terry in the No. 35 Quincy's Steak House Ford. The pairing produced one top-five finish, and when Terry closed his team, Kulwicki began fielding his own car.
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Kulwicki's first full season in the NASCAR Cup Series was 1986. Although he finished 21st in the championship standings with only four top-10 finishes, Kulwicki was awarded Rookie of the Year honors.
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Beginning in 1987 Kulwicki not only had a new sponsor but also a new car number. He switched from the No. 35 to the No. 7 while Zerex adorned his Ford. Zerex would be on Kulwicki's car from 1987-'90.
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Speed never appeared to be an issue for Kulwicki, who won seven poles between 1987-'88. However, it would end up taking 85 races before Kulwicki earned his first career win at Phoenix Raceway on Nov. 6, 1988. It was his first of five career wins in the premier series.
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Kulwicki's first win was memorable for what he did afterward, driving around the track backward. The act was coined the 'Polish Victory Lap' and it became an instant hit with fans.
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Following the departure of Zerex, the No. 7 showed up in Daytona to start the 1991 season with U.S. Army as its sponsor. Kulwicki finished eighth in the race, which would be the only time U.S. Army sponsored him.
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The sponsorship Kulwicki is most remembered for used the white and orange colors of Hooters. The popular restaurant chain joined the team in 1991, becoming the fourth and final sponsor Kulwicki would have.
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Not only was Kulwicki talented behind the wheel, but many who knew him often said he was one of the smartest people in the garage. Ray Evernham, who at one time worked for Kulwicki, once said this about him: 'The man was a genius -- I mean that literally, in every sense of the word. He could figure fuel mileage, tire stagger, anything, while he was driving the race car. He was a very calculating individual. He had an unbelievable mind and memory.'
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The final win of Kulwicki's career came on June 14, 1992 at Pocono Raceway. In the Champion Spark Plug 500, the No. 7 led a race-high 58 laps and beat Mark Martin to the finish line by more than two seconds.
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The 1992 season finale at Atlanta Motor Speedway is remembered for many things, including Richard Petty's final race and Jeff Gordon's first. When it came down to deciding the championship, five drivers had a mathematical chance to hoist the trophy. But by leading one more lap than Bill Elliott, who won the race, a second-place finish for Kulwicki gave the owner/driver his first and only championship.
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The defending series champion, Kulwicki competed in the first five races of the 1993 season before his life was tragically cut short. Traveling to Bristol Motor Speedway, a plane carrying Kulwicki and four others crashed on its way to Tri-Cities Regional Airport. Kulwicki was 38 years old.
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Today, Kulwicki's memory lives on through the Kulwicki Driver Development Program, which was started by members of his family. Aimed at grassroots racers, the KDDP looks to provide drivers with opportunities to fulfill his or her racing dreams.
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Kulwicki was nominated for the NASCAR Hall of Fame three times before finally becoming a member in the Class of 2019. He was inducted alongside Davey Allison, Jeff Gordon, Roger Penske and Jack Roush.