(Jayski.com photo)
While April 1st is a fun day for most of us, April Fools Day, where practical jokes and wise tales get out of hand, for NASCAR fans it is a somber day for it is the anniversary as it marks the 27th anniversary of the tragic death of defending Winston Cup Champion, Alan Kulwicki. Kulwicki’s private jet was flying in bad weather to compete in the upcoming race at Bristol, Tennessee. Kulwicki had been in attendance for a sponsor obligation in Knoxville, Tennessee. The plane encountered icing conditions but the pilot failed to activate the deicing system.
The pain and shock through the NASCAR community was devastating as its champ was one of the most beloved and appreciated driver. In the era of Dale Earnhardt’s intimidating dominance, Alan Kulwicki, an owner/driver with limited funding used his engineering background with crew chief, Paul Andrews, to field one of the sports’ most competitive teams.
Few championship runs were more exciting than 1992, Richard Petty’s last season, in what was a bit of an off year for Dale Earnhardt, going into the last race at Atlanta, Bill Elliot, Alan Kulwicki, and Davey Allison were all within striking distance of securing the coveted cup. Allison was eliminated when involved in an accident with Ernie Irvan. Though Bill Elliot won the race, Kulwicki maintained a points advantage just enough to be crowned champ. The race was also Jeff Gordon’s first race.
The 1993 season began with great anticipation. Many saw it as the beginning of a new era in NASCAR since it would be the first season without King Richard on the track. With Jeff Gordon, a number of other young drivers were beginning to exert their presence with future champ, Bobby Labonte, and Kenny Wallace also part of the rookie class. Davey Allison had reached his prime and was seen as one of Dale Earnhardt’s most competitive threats. Joe Gibbs racing was riding high with Dale Jarrett edging out Dale Earnhardt on the last lap to win the Daytona 500.
How quickly such a promising season turned dark with the loss of such a genuine champ and adding further horror to the season’s grim misfortune was the loss of Davey Allison in a helicopter accident at the Talladega track between the New Hampshire July race and second Pocono race. Later in the summer, when action returned to Talladega, horrific accidents, one where Jimmy Horton flew off the track and another one involving Neil Bonnett lead to the introduction of roof flaps. Going down the stretch, the season turned into a classic clash between Earnhardt and Rusty Wallace.
The dawn of the super, high financed team was upon us. Never could an operation like Kulwicki’s exist again. Such operations today generally start and park while Robby Gordon, ironically current occupant of the #7 ride, struggles to hit the top 35 as the lone marginally competitive owner/driver single car operation.
We’ll remember Kulwicki for his Underbird, a play on underdog, a roll his team embraced, his Polish victory laps, rushing around the track backwards to celebrate a win, and his friendly “aw shucks” demeanor in interviews. There wasn’t a more squeaky clean driver despite being sponsored by the racy restaurant, Hooters.
It’s hard not to think of the many “what if’s” had Alan Kulwicki survived. One would think the money problem would resolve itself with success and he could be one of the key owners of top drivers today.
NASCAR forever changed with Kulwicki’s death in 1993. His loss is still a painful blow.
The pain and shock through the NASCAR community was devastating as its champ was one of the most beloved and appreciated driver. In the era of Dale Earnhardt’s intimidating dominance, Alan Kulwicki, an owner/driver with limited funding used his engineering background with crew chief, Paul Andrews, to field one of the sports’ most competitive teams.
Few championship runs were more exciting than 1992, Richard Petty’s last season, in what was a bit of an off year for Dale Earnhardt, going into the last race at Atlanta, Bill Elliot, Alan Kulwicki, and Davey Allison were all within striking distance of securing the coveted cup. Allison was eliminated when involved in an accident with Ernie Irvan. Though Bill Elliot won the race, Kulwicki maintained a points advantage just enough to be crowned champ. The race was also Jeff Gordon’s first race.
The 1993 season began with great anticipation. Many saw it as the beginning of a new era in NASCAR since it would be the first season without King Richard on the track. With Jeff Gordon, a number of other young drivers were beginning to exert their presence with future champ, Bobby Labonte, and Kenny Wallace also part of the rookie class. Davey Allison had reached his prime and was seen as one of Dale Earnhardt’s most competitive threats. Joe Gibbs racing was riding high with Dale Jarrett edging out Dale Earnhardt on the last lap to win the Daytona 500.
How quickly such a promising season turned dark with the loss of such a genuine champ and adding further horror to the season’s grim misfortune was the loss of Davey Allison in a helicopter accident at the Talladega track between the New Hampshire July race and second Pocono race. Later in the summer, when action returned to Talladega, horrific accidents, one where Jimmy Horton flew off the track and another one involving Neil Bonnett lead to the introduction of roof flaps. Going down the stretch, the season turned into a classic clash between Earnhardt and Rusty Wallace.
The dawn of the super, high financed team was upon us. Never could an operation like Kulwicki’s exist again. Such operations today generally start and park while Robby Gordon, ironically current occupant of the #7 ride, struggles to hit the top 35 as the lone marginally competitive owner/driver single car operation.
We’ll remember Kulwicki for his Underbird, a play on underdog, a roll his team embraced, his Polish victory laps, rushing around the track backwards to celebrate a win, and his friendly “aw shucks” demeanor in interviews. There wasn’t a more squeaky clean driver despite being sponsored by the racy restaurant, Hooters.
It’s hard not to think of the many “what if’s” had Alan Kulwicki survived. One would think the money problem would resolve itself with success and he could be one of the key owners of top drivers today.
NASCAR forever changed with Kulwicki’s death in 1993. His loss is still a painful blow.
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