In 207 starts between 1985 and 1993, he won just five races, along with the 1992 premier series championship. The numbers aren\u2019t all that impressive when compared to names like Petty, Earnhardt, Gordon or Johnson. In fact, Alan Kulwicki remains one of just two champions to have less than ten wins in their career.<\/p>\n
But the name Kulwicki still resonates with people today, over 30 years after his passing. His achievements cannot be understood by simply looking at a record book.<\/p>\n
When Kulwicki arrived on the NASCAR scene, he wasn\u2019t taken seriously. He did things his own way and few believed his way could ever work in the modern era. Coming from up north in Wisconsin, he brought with him a briefcase and a mechanical engineering degree. That alone\u00a0got him some strange looks. He started his own Cup team with aspirations far beyond most people\u2019s initial expectations of him.<\/p>\n
But he proved the naysayers wrong in 1988. Three years after making his debut, Kulwicki captured his first checkered flag at Phoenix. As if his path to success wasn\u2019t unique enough, he introduced his own post-race celebration that is still in use today. The Polish Victory Lap they called it. He turned his car around and instead of burning it down, he drove the wrong way down the track and waved to the fans as he went by.<\/p>\n
In victory lane, Kulwicki said that he \u201cwanted to give them something to remember me by.\u201d Those words held a different and more profound meaning just a few years later.<\/p>\n
Entering the 1992 season, no one would have brought up the name Kulwicki in the championship discussion. With just six races to go, he was nearly 300 points out of the lead and not considered a threat. But he followed a DNF at Dover with finishes of fifth, 12th, 2nd, 12th and 4th. His consistency paid off in a big way. Heading into the finale, he was just 30 points back of Davey Allison. However, Bill Elliott lurked just another ten markers back of Kulwicki.<\/p>\n
Allison\u2019s title hopes came to an abrupt end when he crashed early in the race. With his exit, the battle was set: \u2018Awesome Bill From Dawsonville\u2019 versus Kulwicki and his Ford \u2018Underbird.\u2019 One was NASCAR\u2019s most popular driver, a former champion and winner of nearly 40 races at the time. He also happened to drive for one of the most successful owners in history in Junior Johnson. The other was a independent owner-driver with just five race wins under his belt and a career-high finish of eighth in the championship standings. But the battle was much closer than anyone could have predicted.<\/p>\n
In the end it came down to whoever could lead the most laps. Kulwicki was precise in everything he did and this title fight was no different. He was fully aware that even if he finished second, leading the most laps would still secure him the crown. Well, Elliott won the race by over eight seconds and led 102 laps. Kulwicki was a distant second, but he managed his race to perfection leading 103.<\/p>\n
One lap — that is was what decided the biggest upset in NASCAR history. The sport has always had its underdogs, but none quite like this. Kulwicki had done it. He beat the odds, he bested the titans of the sport and was forever immortalized as a NASCAR champion. In his speech at the post-season banquet, Kulwicki expressed his hope that by the end of the 1993 season, \u201cthe people at NASCAR and the competitors all look back and say we were proud to have him represent us as our champion.\u201d<\/p>\n
But Kulwicki\u2019s title defense came to a sudden and tragic end on April 1st, 1993. He and three others perished in a plane crash en route to Bristol for the sixth race of the season. Competitors watched in silent grief as the team transporter carrying\u00a0Kulwicki\u2019s No. 7 car left the track under overcast skies. It was surreal and somber moment that many present couldn\u2019t believe and a tragic reminder of how fickle life can be. He was at the pinnacle of his career and just like that, he was gone.<\/p>\n
Although his time on this Earth came to a premature end, Kulwicki\u2019s legacy was already assured. He combined his intelligence with his passion and accomplished what was once thought impossible. He was an oddity, the last of his kind, the ultimate underdog and will forever be remembered for doing it his own way. It makes since that one of his favorite songs was Frank Sinatra’s version of ‘My Way.’ It might as well have been written for Alan.<\/p>\n
Following his first win in 1988, he said in victory lane that he “wanted to give them something to remember me by.” You certainly did, Alan.<\/p>\n
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