Alan Kulwicki

{{short description|American racing driver (1954–1993)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2020}} {{Infobox NASCAR driver |image = AlanKulwickiSearsPoint1991.jpg |caption = Kulwicki at Sears Point in 1991 |birth_name = Alan Dennis Kulwicki |birth_date = {{birth date|1954|12|14|mf=y}} |death_date = {{death date and age|1993|4|1|1954|12|14|mf=y}} |birth_place = Greenfield, Wisconsin, U.S. |death_place = near Blountville, Tennessee, U.S. |death_cause = Airplane crash |Best_Cup_Pos = 1st (1992) |Cup_Wins = 5 |Cup_Top_Tens = 75 |Cup_Poles = 24 |First_Cup_Race = 1985 Wrangler SanforSet 400 (Richmond) |First_Cup_Win = 1988 Checker 500 (Phoenix) |Last_Cup_Win = 1992 Champion Spark Plug 500 (Pocono) |Last_Cup_Race = 1993 TranSouth 500 (Darlington) |Best_Busch_Pos = 50th (1984) |Busch_Wins = 0 |Busch_Top_Tens = 3 |Busch_Poles = 1 |First_Busch_Race = 1984 Red Carpet 200 (Milwaukee) |Last_Busch_Race = 1985 Milwaukee Sentinel 200 (Milwaukee) |awards = 1986 Winston Cup Series Rookie of the Year Named one of NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers (1998) NASCAR Hall of Fame (2019) International Motorsports Hall of Fame (2002) Inducted in the National Motorsports Press Association's Hall of Fame<ref name=MilJournal07251999>{{cite web |url=http://www2.jsonline.com/sports/race/jul99/damato25072499.asp |title=Honor stirs up fond memories of Kulwicki |author=Gary D'Amato |access-date=January 12, 2010 |work=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |date=July 25, 1999 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013092917/http://www2.jsonline.com/sports/race/jul99/damato25072499.asp |archive-date = October 13, 2007}}</ref> Bristol Motor Speedway's Heroes of Bristol Hall of Fame (1997) Lowe's Motor Speedway's Court of Legends (1993) Talladega-Texaco Hall of Fame (1996) Named one of NASCAR's 75 Greatest Drivers (2023) |achievements = 1992 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Champion 1981 Slinger Nationals Winner |Years_In_Cup = 9 |Total_Cup_Races = 207 |Years_In_Busch = 2 |Total_Busch_Races = 6 }} '''Alan Dennis Kulwicki''' (December 14, 1954 – April 1, 1993), nicknamed "'''Special K'''" and "'''the Polish Prince'''", was an American auto racing driver and team owner with Polish origin.<ref name=presskitpage2 /> He started racing at local short tracks in Wisconsin before moving up to regional stock car touring series. Kulwicki arrived at NASCAR, the highest and most expensive level of stock car racing in the United States, with no sponsor, a limited budget and only a racecar and a borrowed pickup truck.<ref name=NPASHoF>{{cite web |url=http://polishsportshof.com/inductees/auto-racing/alan-kulwicki/ |title=Alan Kulwicki |access-date=July 14, 2007 |publisher=National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110211074615/http://polishsportshof.com/inductees/auto-racing/alan-kulwicki/ |archive-date=February 11, 2011}}</ref> Despite starting with meager equipment and finances, he earned the 1986 NASCAR Rookie of the Year award over drivers racing for well-funded teams.

After Kulwicki won his first race at Phoenix International Raceway, he debuted what would become his trademark "Polish victory lap". Kulwicki won the 1992 Winston Cup Championship by what was then the closest margin in NASCAR history.<ref name=NPASHoF /> He died early in 1993 in a light aircraft accident and therefore never defended his championship. He has been inducted into numerous racing halls of fame and was named one of NASCAR's 50 greatest drivers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://premium.nascar.com/KNOW/history/greatestdrivers/ |title=NASCAR'S 50 Greatest Drivers |access-date=September 7, 2007 |publisher=NASCAR |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060203133520/http://premium.nascar.com/KNOW/history/greatestdrivers/ |archive-date=February 3, 2006}}</ref>

Kulwicki was known for being a perfectionist and doing things his own way.<ref name=PolishAmericanSportsHoF /> An engineer by trade, his scientific approach to NASCAR racing inspired the way teams are now run.<ref name=SportingNews09302002 /> Despite lucrative offers from top car owners, he insisted on driving for his own race team, AK Racing, during most of his NASCAR career.<ref name=NYTimesApril051993>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/04/05/sports/auto-racing-kulwicki-raced-reigned-as-a-driven-outsider.html |title=Kulwicki Raced, Reigned As a Driven Outsider |access-date=September 26, 2007 |newspaper=The New York Times |date=April 5, 1993 |author=Joseph Siano}}</ref> Described by his publicist as "a real hard type of person to get to know", he remained a bachelor throughout his life.<ref name=NYTimesApril051993 />

==Early life== Kulwicki grew up in Greenfield, Wisconsin, a suburb of Milwaukee known for its Polish-American neighborhoods, near the Milwaukee Mile racetrack.<ref name=OakPark06262004>{{cite web |url=http://oak-park-journal.com/NASCAR/2004-milwaukee-mile-hornaday-wins-june-26th.html |title=Veterans Reign again. Ron Hornaday Wins Alan Kulwicki 250 in Milwaukee |author=Dan Peters |access-date=July 29, 2007 |publisher=Oak Park Journal |date=June 26, 2004 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130130193709/http://oak-park-journal.com/NASCAR/2004-milwaukee-mile-hornaday-wins-june-26th.html |archive-date=January 30, 2013}}</ref> After his mother died, his family moved in with his grandmother, who died when Kulwicki was in seventh grade.<ref name=NYTimesDecember271992>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/12/27/sports/demystifying-racing-s-independent-champion.html?pagewanted=1 |title=Demystifying Racing's Independent Champion |access-date=April 7, 2008 |newspaper=The New York Times |date=December 27, 1992 |author=Joseph Siano}}</ref> A year later, his only brother died of a hemophilia-related illness.<ref name=NYTimesDecember271992 /> Kulwicki attended Pius XI High School, a Catholic high school in Milwaukee and received a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee in 1977.<ref name=MilJournal11062003>{{cite news |url=http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=182862 |title=Title tracks: Kulwicki, Kenseth: two roads to top |author=Dave Kallmann |access-date=July 25, 2007 |newspaper=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |date=November 6, 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929124023/http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=182862 |archive-date=September 29, 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

His knowledge of engineering has been cited as a contributing factor to his success as a driver,<ref name="MilJournal11062003" /> as it helped him better understand the physics of a racecar.<ref name="SportingNews09302002">{{cite magazine |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1208/is_39_226/ai_95266973 |title=Newman and Johnson teams are engineering a bright future – Insider |access-date=April 7, 2008 |magazine=The Sporting News |author=Spencer, Lee |date=September 30, 2002}}</ref> He first raced on local tracks as an amateur while in college before becoming a full-time professional racer in 1980.<ref name="NYTimesDecember271992" />

== Personal life == A devout Catholic, Kulwicki always competed with a Saint Christopher (the patron saint of travelers) devotional medal in his car.<ref name="NASCARStories">{{cite web |url=http://www.nascar.com/2003/news/headlines/wc/03/31/kulwicki_stories/index.html |title=Stories provide glimpse of Kulwicki's character |date=April 1, 2003 |access-date=September 7, 2007 |publisher=NASCAR |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030402042719/http://www.nascar.com/2003/news/headlines/wc/03/31/kulwicki_stories/index.html |archive-date=April 2, 2003 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Early racing career== Kulwicki began his racing career as a 13-year-old kart racer.<ref name=MilJournal11062003 /> His father built engines as the crew chief for Norm Nelson and Roger McCluskey's United States Automobile Club (USAC) racecars.<ref name=MilJournal07251999 /><ref name="MilwaukeeJournalNovember091988">{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19881109&id=R28aAAAAIBAJ&pg=1959,1337771 |title=A Good Sport |last=Berghaus |first=Bob |date=November 9, 1988 |newspaper=Milwaukee Journal |pages=1C, 10C |access-date=February 19, 2010}}{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> Because his work involved travel, Kulwicki's father was unable to help his son at most kart races,<ref name=NYTimesDecember271992 /> so Kulwicki's resourcefulness was often tested trying to find someone to transport his kart to the track.<ref name=NYTimesDecember271992 /> Even when Kulwicki asked his father for advice, he typically ended up doing most of the work himself.<ref name=NYTimesDecember271992 /> "I showed him how", Gerry Kulwicki said. "And he said: 'Why don't you do it? You can do it better.' And I said, 'Well, if you do it for a while, you can do it better.'"<ref name=NYTimesDecember271992 />

Many local-level American racetracks host their own season championships. In Wisconsin, numerous locations held dirt and asphalt short track racing. Kulwicki started driving stock cars at the local level at the Hales Corners Speedway and Cedarburg Speedway dirt oval tracks.<ref name=MilJournal11062003 /> In 1973 he won the rookie of the year award at Hales Corners and the next year started racing late models – the fastest and most complicated type of stock cars raced at the local level – at the same track. That season, he won his first feature race, at Leo's Speedway in Oshkosh.<ref name=TRPR />

Kulwicki moved from dirt tracks to paved tracks in 1977. He also teamed up with racecar builder Greg Krieger to research, model, engineer and construct an innovative car with far more torsional stiffness than other late models.<ref name="SCR_Jul1993_Kreiger">{{cite journal |last=Sneddon |first=Rob|issn=0734-7340 |date=July 1993 |title=Glimpses |journal=Stock Car Racing |volume=28 |issue=7 |page=31}}</ref> The increased stiffness allowed the car to handle better in the corners, which increased its speed. Racing at Slinger Super Speedway, he won the track championship in 1977.<ref name="SCR_Jul1993_Theisen">Theisen, Mark, quoted in Sneddon, Rob: "Glimpses", p. 32</ref> In 1978, Kulwicki returned to Slinger; that same year he started racing a late model at Wisconsin International Raceway (WIR), finishing third in points in his rookie season at the track.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.frrcracing.com/Pointshistory.htm#Final_1978_Point_Standings_ |title=Fox River Racing Club: Final 1978 Points Standings |access-date=July 25, 2007 |publisher=Wisconsin International Raceway |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513155813/http://www.frrcracing.com/Pointshistory.htm |archive-date=May 13, 2008}}</ref> In 1979 and 1980, he won the WIR late model track championships.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.frrcracing.com/Pointshistory.htm#Final_1979_Point_Standings_ |title=Fox River Racing Club: Final 1979 Points Standings |access-date=July 25, 2007 |publisher=Wisconsin International Raceway |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513155813/http://www.frrcracing.com/Pointshistory.htm |archive-date=May 13, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.frrcracing.com/pointshistory8089.htm#Final_1980_Point_Standings_ |title=Fox River Racing Club: Final 1980 Points Standings |access-date=July 25, 2007 |publisher=Wisconsin International Raceway |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101009085630/http://frrcracing.com/pointshistory8089.htm |archive-date=October 9, 2010}}</ref>

In 1979, Kulwicki began competing in regional to national level events sanctioned by the USAC Stock Car series and the American Speed Association (ASA),<ref name=ultimateracinghistory>{{cite web |url=http://www.ultimateracinghistory.com/racelist2.php?uniqid=60 |title=Alan Kulwicki USAC Stock Car results (unlabeled) |access-date=September 7, 2007 |publisher=Ultimate Racing History |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929012036/http://www.ultimateracinghistory.com/racelist2.php?uniqid=60 |archive-date=September 29, 2007 |url-status=live}}</ref> while remaining an amateur racer through 1980. When Kulwicki raced against future NASCAR champion Rusty Wallace in the ASA series, the two became friends.<ref name=TheLastLap /> Kulwicki's highest finish in the ASA season points championship was third place, which he accomplished in both 1982 and 1985, with five career victories and twelve pole positions.<ref name=presskitpage2>{{cite web |url=http://www.clcmiddleton.co.uk/mc.dysonm.ns/Publish/page4body.htm |page=2 |title=Kulwicki Press Kit |access-date=August 10, 2007 |author=Tom Roberts |publisher=Kulwicki's Press agent |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928121437/http://www.clcmiddleton.co.uk/mc.dysonm.ns/Publish/page4body.htm |archive-date=September 28, 2007}}</ref>

== NASCAR ==

=== Early 1980s === Kulwicki raced in four NASCAR Busch Grand National Series (now O’Reilly’s Series) races in 1984.<ref name=NASCAR1984>{{cite web |url=http://www.nascar.com/drivers/dps/akulwick00/bg/data/1984/index.html |title=Alan Kulwicki's 1984 official driving statistics |access-date=April 10, 2008 |publisher=NASCAR}}</ref> At the time, the Busch Grand National Series was considered NASCAR's feeder circuit, a proving ground for drivers who wished to step up to the organization's premiere circuit, the Winston Cup (now NASCAR Cup Series). Kulwicki qualified second fastest and finished in second place at his first career NASCAR race,<ref name=NASCAR1984 /> which took place at the Milwaukee Mile, several city blocks from where he grew up.<ref name=OakPark06262004 /> Later that year, he finished seventh at Charlotte and fifth at Bristol.<ref name=NASCAR1984 /> The following year, Kulwicki placed sixteenth in the season-opening Busch Series race at Daytona. Although he won the pole position at that year's event in Milwaukee, he finished fourteenth because of engine problems.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nascar.com/drivers/dps/akulwick00/bg/data/1985/index.html |title=Alan Kulwicki's 1985 official driving statistics |access-date=April 10, 2008 |publisher=NASCAR}}</ref> Kulwicki's Busch Series successes caught car owner Bill Terry's eye and he offered Kulwicki a chance to race for him in several Winston Cup events.<ref name=NASCARsBest>{{cite book |last=Burt |first=William |title=NASCAR's Best |publisher=Motorbooks International |year=2004 |isbn=0-7603-1797-6 |pages=242–244}}</ref>

In 1985, Kulwicki sold most of his belongings,<ref name=NASCARsBest /> including his short track racing equipment, to move approximately {{convert|860|mi|km}} to the Charlotte area in North Carolina.<ref name=NYTimesApril031993>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/04/03/obituaries/alan-kulwicki-38-racer-and-stock-car-champion.html |title=Alan Kulwicki, 38, Racer And Stock-Car Champion |access-date=September 26, 2007 |newspaper=The New York Times |date=April 3, 1993 |last=Thomas |first=Robert McG. |author-link=Robert McG. Thomas}}</ref> He kept only a few things; his pickup truck was loaded to tow a trailer full of furniture and tools. An electrical fire two days before he left destroyed his truck,<ref name=presskitpage2 /> so Kulwicki had to borrow one to pull the trailer.<ref name=NPASHoF /> After arriving in the Charlotte area, he showed up unannounced at Terry's shop ready to race. Veteran NASCAR drivers were initially amused by Kulwicki's arrival on the national tour:<ref name=presskitpage2 /> He was a driver from the northern United States when the series was primarily a southern regional series,<ref name=speed1>{{cite web |url=http://automotive.speedtv.com/article/speedtvcom_reviewed_dare_to_dream_the_alan_kulwicki_story |page=1 |title=Cup: A Tribute to Alan Kulwicki |access-date=July 9, 2007 |date=November 10, 2006 |publisher=Speed Channel |author=Tom Jensen |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081009143938/http://automotive.speedtv.com/article/speedtvcom_reviewed_dare_to_dream_the_alan_kulwicki_story |archive-date=October 9, 2008}}</ref> he had a mechanical engineering degree when few other drivers had completed college<ref name=NYTimesApril051993 /> and, with only six starts, had limited driving experience in the junior Busch Series. Kulwicki was described as very studious, hard working, no-nonsense and something of a loner.<ref name=IMHoF>{{cite web |url=http://www.motorsportshalloffame.com/halloffame/2002/Alan_Kulwicki_main.htm |title=Alan Kulwicki |access-date=July 10, 2007 |publisher=International Motorsports Hall of Fame |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070510222658/http://www.motorsportshalloffame.com/halloffame/2002/Alan_Kulwicki_main.htm |archive-date=May 10, 2007}}</ref><ref name=speed2>{{cite web |url=http://nascar.speedtv.com/article/cup_a_tribute_to_alan_kulwicki/P2 |page=2 |title=Cup: A Tribute to Alan Kulwicki |access-date=July 9, 2007 |date=November 10, 2006 |publisher=Speed Channel |author=Tom Jensen |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724055317/http://nascar.speedtv.com/article/cup_a_tribute_to_alan_kulwicki/P2 |archive-date=July 24, 2011}}</ref> He frequently walked the garage area in his racing uniform carrying a briefcase.<ref name=Hinton268 /> Kulwicki made his first career Winston Cup start at Richmond on September 8, 1985, for Bill Terry's No. 32 Hardee's Ford team. That season he competed in five races for Terry, with his highest finish being thirteenth.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nascar.com/drivers/dps/akulwick00/cup/data/1985/index.html |title=Alan Kulwicki's 1985 official driving statistics |access-date=April 10, 2008 |publisher=NASCAR}}</ref>

=== 1986–1989 === Kulwicki started his rookie season in 1986 with Terry, who switched his car number from 32 to 35 and had received sponsorship from the restaurant chain Quincy's Steak House. After Terry decided to end support for his racing team mid-season, he sold the team to his driver. Kulwicki as an owner started out as essentially a one-man team, as he had to serve as driver, team administrator, crew chief and chief mechanic.<ref name=NYTimesApril031993 /> Kulwicki had difficulty acquiring and keeping crew members because he found it difficult to trust them to do the job with the excellence that he demanded and because he was hands-on in the maintenance of racecars to the point of being a "control freak".<ref name=Hinton268 /> He sought out crew members who had owned their own racecars, believing they would understand what he was going through: working long hours and performing his own car maintenance with a very limited budget.<ref name=speed3>{{cite web |url=http://nascar.speedtv.com/article/cup_a_tribute_to_alan_kulwicki/P3 |page=3 |title=Cup: A Tribute to Alan Kulwicki |access-date=July 9, 2007 |date=November 10, 2006 |publisher=Speed Channel |author=Tom Jensen |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724055447/http://nascar.speedtv.com/article/cup_a_tribute_to_alan_kulwicki/P3 |archive-date=July 24, 2011}}</ref> Notable crew members include his crew chief, Paul Andrews and future Cup crew chiefs, Tony Gibson and Brian Whitesell.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nascar.com/2003/news/headlines/wc/03/31/kulwicki_team/index.html |title=A decade later, Kulwicki's crew races on |access-date=July 5, 2007 |publisher=NASCAR |date=April 1, 2003 |author=Ryan Smithson |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070714031526/http://www.nascar.com/2003/news/headlines/wc/03/31/kulwicki_team/index.html |archive-date=July 14, 2007 |url-status=live}}</ref> Future crew chief and owner, Ray Evernham, lasted six weeks with Kulwicki in 1992. Evernham later said, "The man was a genius. There's no question. It's not a matter of people just feeling like he was a genius. That man was a genius. But his personality paid for that. He was very impatient, very straightforward, very cut-to-the-bone."<ref name=Hinton268>{{cite book |last=Hinton |first=Ed |title=Daytona: from the Birth of Speed to the Death of the Man in Black |publisher=Warner Books |year=2001 |isbn=0-446-52677-0 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/daytona00edhi/page/268 268–271] |url=https://archive.org/details/daytona00edhi/page/268}}</ref> With one car, two engines, and two full-time crew members, Kulwicki won the 1986 Winston Cup Rookie of the Year award.<ref name=NYTimesDecember271992 /> He had competed in 23 of 29 events, with four top-ten finishes, three races not completed (Did Not Finish – DNF), an average finish of 15.4, and had only one result below thirtieth place.<ref name="1986Results">{{cite web |url=http://www.nascar.com/drivers/dps/akulwick00/cup/data/1986/index.html |title=Alan Kulwicki's 1986 official driving statistics |access-date=April 10, 2008 |publisher=NASCAR}}</ref> Kulwicki finished 21st in the Winston Cup points standings for the season.<ref name="1986Results" />

For the 1987 season, Kulwicki secured primary sponsorship from Zerex Antifreeze and changed his car number to seven.<ref name=speedtv1>{{cite web |url=http://automotive.speedtv.com/article/speedtvcom_reviewed_dare_to_dream_the_alan_kulwicki_story |page=1 |title=Reviewed: "Dare to Dream: The Alan Kulwicki Story" |access-date=September 19, 2007 |date=September 24, 2006 |publisher=Speed Channel |author=Gregg Leary |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081009143938/http://automotive.speedtv.com/article/speedtvcom_reviewed_dare_to_dream_the_alan_kulwicki_story |archive-date=October 9, 2008}}</ref> He picked up his first career pole position in the season's third race, at Richmond. Later that season, he again qualified fastest at Richmond and Dover. Kulwicki came close to winning his first Winston Cup race at Pocono, finishing second after winner Dale Earnhardt passed him on the last lap.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/07/20/sports/results-plus-853487.html?sq=pocono+nascar+1987&scp=11&st=cse |title=Results Plus |access-date=May 22, 2008 |newspaper=The New York Times |date=July 20, 1987}}</ref> With nine top-ten finishes, eleven DNFs and an average finish of 18.2 in 29 events; Kulwicki finished fifteenth in the Winston Cup points standings for the season.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nascar.com/drivers/dps/akulwick00/cup/data/1987/index.html |title=Alan Kulwicki's 1987 driving statistics |access-date=April 10, 2008 |publisher=NASCAR}}</ref>

[[Image:AlanKulwickiMemoryLaneMuseum.jpg|thumb|right|Kulwicki's 1988 car, which he used for his Polish victory lap]] In 1988, Kulwicki hired Paul Andrews as his crew chief after Andrews was recommended by Rusty Wallace at the 1987 NASCAR Awards banquet.<ref name=TheLastLap /> That year, Kulwicki won his first NASCAR Winston Cup race in the season's second-to-last race at Phoenix International Raceway after race leader Ricky Rudd's car had motor problems late in the race. Kulwicki led 41 laps and won by 18.5 seconds.<ref name=speed4>{{cite web |url=http://nascar.speedtv.com/article/cup_a_tribute_to_alan_kulwicki/P4 |page=4 |title=Cup: A Tribute to Alan Kulwicki |access-date=July 9, 2007 |date=November 10, 2006 |publisher=Speed Channel |author=Tom Jensen |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724055509/http://nascar.speedtv.com/article/cup_a_tribute_to_alan_kulwicki/P4 |archive-date=July 24, 2011}}</ref> After the race finished, he turned his car around and made, what he called, a "Polish victory lap" by driving the opposite way (clockwise) on the track, with the driver's side of the car facing the fans.<ref name=TheLastLap /> "This gave me the opportunity to wave to the crowd from the driver's side", Kulwicki explained.<ref name=NPASHoF /> Andrews recalled, "He had wanted to do something special and something different for his first win and only his first."<ref name=speed4 /> {{blockquote|It's been a long road and it's taken a lot of hard work to get here, but this has made it all worthwhile. When you work for something so hard for so long, you wonder if it's going to be worth all of the anticipation. Believe me, it certainly was. And what do you think of my Polish victory lap? There will never be another first win and you know, everybody sprays champagne or stands up on the car. I wanted to do something different for the fans.<ref name=speed4 />|Kulwicki victory lane quote in ''Grand National Scene'' magazine}} He finished the 1988 season with four pole positions in 29 events, nine top 10 finishes including two second-place finishes, twelve DNFs, and an average finish of 19.2. Kulwicki finished fourteenth in the Winston Cup points standings for the season.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nascar.com/drivers/dps/akulwick00/cup/data/1988/index.html |title=Alan Kulwicki's 1988 official driving statistics |access-date=April 10, 2008 |publisher=NASCAR}}</ref> [[Image:AlanKulwicki1989Phoenix.jpg|thumb|left|1989 car at Phoenix]] Kulwicki started his own engine-building program for the 1989 season. He had four second place finishes that season and held the points lead after the fifth race of the season.<ref name=1989DriversStatistics /> The team dropped from fourth to fifteenth in points by suffering nine engine failures during a sixteen-race stretch in the middle of the season.<ref name=1989DriversStatistics>{{cite web |url=http://www.nascar.com/drivers/dps/akulwick00/cup/data/1989/index.html |title=Alan Kulwicki's 1989 driving statistics |access-date=April 10, 2008 |publisher=NASCAR}}</ref> In 29 races, he had six pole positions, nine top-ten finishes, and finished fourteenth in season points.<ref name=1989DriversStatistics /> The team had a new workshop built during the season.<ref name=TheLastLap />

=== 1990–1991 === Junior Johnson, owner of one of the top NASCAR teams, approached Kulwicki at the beginning of the 1990 season to try to get him to replace Terry Labonte in the No. 11 Budweiser Ford. Kulwicki declined, stating that he was more interested in running his own team.<ref name="TheLastLap" /> He won his second Cup race at Rockingham on October 21, 1990, and finished eighth in points that year, his first finish in the top-ten points in a season.<ref name="1990DriversStatistics" /> In 29 races, he had thirteen top-ten finishes and one pole position.<ref name="1990DriversStatistics">{{cite web |url=http://www.nascar.com/drivers/dps/akulwick00/cup/data/1990/index.html |title=Alan Kulwicki's 1990 official driving statistics |access-date=April 10, 2008 |publisher=NASCAR}}</ref>

After the 1990 season, Kulwicki lost his primary sponsor after Ashland, Inc., the makers of Zerex, chose instead to use its Valvoline motor oil brand to replace Folgers Coffee and sponsor Mark Martin at Roush Racing. Kulwicki had begun negotiations with Kraft General Foods, who was looking for a new team to sponsor after its deal with Bahari Racing expired after the 1990 season, and was set to sign to carry Maxwell House Coffee on the No. 7. Johnson, who had signed Geoff Bodine to drive the No. 11 when Kulwicki rejected his offer in 1990, tried again and came back with a $1 million offer for Kulwicki to take the wheel of his second car, which he had not run since 1986. After Kulwicki again declined, Johnson went to Kraft himself and convinced them to sign to sponsor his car instead, which he would hire Sterling Marlin to drive.<ref name=TheLastLap>{{cite book |last=Golenbock |first=Peter |title=The Last Lap |publisher=Macmillan |year=1998 |isbn=0-02-862147-6 |pages=345–362}}</ref>

At the opening race of the season, the 1991 Daytona 500, five cars raced with paint schemes representing different branches of the United States military to show support for the American forces involved in the Gulf War in what was the first ever instance of special liveries being used in NASCAR;<ref name=NASCARPaintScheme>{{cite web |url=http://www.nascar.com/2007/news/headlines/cup/04/09/cup.paint.schemes/1.html |title=Special paint schemes Cup's fashionable trend |access-date=May 22, 2008 |publisher=NASCAR |author=Raygan Swan |date=April 9, 2007}}</ref> Kulwicki was one of the five drivers, striking an agreement with the Army to sponsor his car for the race. He went on to finish in eighth place, climbing from 27th.<ref name=speedtv2>{{cite web |url=http://automotive.speedtv.com/article/speedtvcom_reviewed_dare_to_dream_the_alan_kulwicki_story/P2 |page=2 |title=Reviewed: "Dare to Dream: The Alan Kulwicki Story" |access-date=September 19, 2007 |date=September 24, 2006 |publisher=Speed Channel |author=Gregg Leary |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716115233/http://automotive.speedtv.com/article/speedtvcom_reviewed_dare_to_dream_the_alan_kulwicki_story/P2 |archive-date=July 16, 2011}}</ref> The agreement with the Army was only for Daytona, leaving Kulwicki to run a plain white car for the foreseeable future; while his results in the next two races were solid, with a fifth at Richmond and a seventeenth at Rockingham, Kulwicki was now running the entire operation out of pocket. He would need to secure some sort of backing or risk running out of funds to continue. As the Winston Cup Series rolled into Atlanta for the Motorcraft Quality Parts 500, the break Kulwicki needed presented itself.

One of forty-seven drivers to attempt to qualify, Kulwicki qualified on the pole position. Among the seven cars that did not qualify for the race was the No. 82 Ford driven by Mark Stahl, another owner-driver. As it so happened, he was sponsored by the restaurant chain Hooters, which was based in Atlanta and also sponsored one of the track's Cup Series races. Since both sides had needs to be fulfilled, with Hooters wanting their brand on a car in race held at its home track and Kulwicki seeking funding to keep his operation alive, they both agreed to terms for the Hooters sponsorship to be carried on the #7. The principals agreed to at least a one-race deal, which became a much longer-term deal when Kulwicki recorded an eighth-place finish in the race.<ref name=TheLastLap />

Later in the season, Kulwicki won the Bristol night race for his third career win.<ref name=1991DriversStatistics /> In addition to the win, Kulwicki finished the season with eleven top-ten finishes, four poles, and a thirteenth-place points finish.<ref name=1991DriversStatistics>{{cite web |url=http://www.nascar.com/drivers/dps/akulwick00/cup/data/1991/index.html |title=Alan Kulwicki's 1991 official driving statistics |access-date=April 10, 2008 |publisher=NASCAR}}</ref>

=== 1992: Championship season === Kulwicki started out the year by having to take one of two provisional starting positions at the Daytona 500; he ended up finishing fourth.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Fielden |first1=Greg |title=NASCAR: The Complete History |date=2003 |publisher=Publications International, LTD |location=Lincolnwood, Illinois |isbn=978-1-4508-7144-0 |page=386}}</ref> He passed Dale Jarrett with 27 laps left at the Food City 500 race on April 5 at Bristol to take a narrow victory. It was his fourth Winston Cup victory. After that race, he never left the top five in season points.<ref name=TalladegaWoF>{{cite web |url=http://www.talladegawalk.com/previous_inductees/kulwicki_alan.htm |title=Alan Kulwicki |access-date=July 17, 2007 |publisher=Talladega Walk of Fame |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071009171927/http://www.talladegawalk.com/previous_inductees/kulwicki_alan.htm |archive-date=October 9, 2007}}</ref> Andrews attributed Kulwicki's consistently strong finishes to the steady performance of newly adopted radial tires throughout their lifespan. He said, "It was hard to control them, and the driver's ability to work with that car during practice in order to get the car set up meant so much more than it ever did."<ref name=TheLastLap /> Kulwicki's second victory in the season was at the first race at Pocono, which was the first time he had won on a superspeedway.<ref name=TheLastLap /> Discounted as a contender for the season championship during the year, Kulwicki was expected to fade from contention as Bill Elliott and Davey Allison, both of whom had won more races than Kulwicki and who had traded the points lead between them, were both having strong seasons and looked to be the favorites for the Winston Cup.<ref name=TalladegaWoF /> He did not, however, and remained in the top-five in the series standings.{{cn|date=July 2025}}

He qualified on the pole position for the Peak AntiFreeze 500 race on September 20 at Dover, but crashed early in the race and finished 34th.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nascar.com/drivers/dps/akulwick00/cup/data/1992/index.html |title=Alan Kulwicki's 1992 official driving statistics |access-date=October 27, 2010 |publisher=NASCAR}}</ref> At the conclusion of the race, Kulwicki trailed points leader Elliott by 278 points and second place Allison by 124. He seemed to resign himself to another season without a championship, saying to reporters, "This probably finishes us off in the championship deal."<ref>{{cite book |last1=Blount |first1=Terry |title=The Blount Report: NASCAR's Most Overrated & Underrated Drivers, Cars, Teams, and Tracks |date=2009 |publisher=Triumph Books |isbn=978-1-61749-117-7 |page=130 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=F1iXAwAAQBAJ&q=%22This+probably+finishes+us+off+in+the+championship+deal%22&pg=PA130 |language=en}}</ref>

However, Kulwicki was able to benefit from bad fortune that would befall Elliott in the weeks ahead. The next week at Martinsville, Elliott fell out of the race with a blown engine while Kulwicki finished fifth. Kulwicki followed that up with a twelfth-place run at North Wilkesboro, a second place at Charlotte, and another twelfth-place finish at Rockingham. While Elliott managed a fourth place finish at Rockingham, he ran twenty-sixth at North Wilkesboro with handling problems and thirtieth at Charlotte after his car's sway bar broke. Allison too had not run well over the same four races; brake failure late in the race at Martinsville left him sixteenth, ill-handling cars relegated him to eleventh and nineteenth at North Wilkesboro and Charlotte, and he could only manage tenth place at Rockingham. This left Kulwicki just seventy points behind Elliott and a mere 15 points behind Allison with two races left.{{cn|date=July 2025}}

Then, at Phoenix, Kulwicki ran fourth while Elliott suffered overheating problems and a cracked cylinder head. He once again finished outside of the top-thirty. Allison won the race, retaking the points lead, but Kulwicki's performance left him within striking distance of the points lead. When the points standings were tabulated after the race, Kulwicki had surpassed Elliott in the standings and stood thirty points behind Allison.<ref name=NASCAR02122002>{{cite web |url=http://www.nascar.com/2002/kyn/history/dbd/02/06/1992/index.html |title=1992 season recap |access-date=February 10, 2008 |publisher=NASCAR |date=February 12, 2002 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013083706/http://www.nascar.com/2002/kyn/history/dbd/02/06/1992/index.html |archive-date=October 13, 2007}}</ref>

thumb|right|"Underbird" lettering on the car's front bumper [[File:Milwaukee Mile August 2023 4 (Alan Kulwicki's No. 7 Hooters Ford Thunderbird).jpg|thumb|The "Underbird" at the Milwaukee Mile in 2023]]

Thus, the stage was set for the final race of the season, the Hooters 500 at Atlanta.<ref name=NASCAR03042008>{{cite web |url=http://www.nascar.com/2008/news/headlines/cup/03/03/nascar.60.atlanta/index.html |title=Atlanta's NASCAR history dotted by champs, speed |access-date=May 11, 2008 |date=March 4, 2008 |publisher=NASCAR}}</ref><ref name=SportingNews11112002>{{cite magazine |title=10 years after: the points race isn't as tight as it was in 1992, but—like in '92—a new generation of drivers is taking over at the top|url=http://business.highbeam.com/62653/article-1G1-94334787/10-years-after-points-race-isnt-tight-1992-butlike |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020202144/http://business.highbeam.com/62653/article-1G1-94334787/10-years-after-points-race-isnt-tight-1992-butlike |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 20, 2012 |access-date=September 19, 2007 |magazine=The Sporting News |author=McCarter, Mark |date=November 11, 2002}}</ref> Before the race, 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 in the contention for the championship.<ref name=WisconsinSportsHeroes>{{cite book |last=Hintz |first=Martin |title=Wisconsin Sports Heroes |publisher=Big Earth Publishing |year=2002 |isbn=1-931599-07-6 |page=[https://archive.org/details/wisconsinsportsh0000hint/page/55 55] |url=https://archive.org/details/wisconsinsportsh0000hint/page/55}}</ref>

Kulwicki qualified for the race in fourteenth position, three spots behind Elliott and three spots ahead of Allison. Allison simply needed to finish fifth or better to clinch the Cup, regardless of what his cohorts did. Atlanta, however, was not one of his better tracks, as he had a string of inconsistent finishes there. He had, however, finished fourth in the spring race won by Elliott. Kulwicki needed to outpace both Elliott and Allison and put as much distance as he could between the two drivers because he not only had to make up the thirty points on points leader Allison, but also needed to put distance between himself and Elliott, who trailed him by only ten points.{{cn|date=July 2025}}

Kulwicki narrowly avoided an incident on the second lap of the race as front row starters Rick Mast and Brett Bodine spun out. However, trouble would eventually find him on the first round of pit stops. As Kulwicki was getting ready to leave his pit box after service, he shifted into first gear and his car stalled. He got a push start from his crew and upshifted into fourth gear, which enabled him to refire the car and head back out.<ref name=TheLastLap /> Andrews later said, "We had to leave pit road in fourth gear, because we had broken metal parts in there, and only by leaving it in fourth are you not going to move metal around as much. We could only hope that the loose piece of metal didn't get in there and break the gears in half. We had three or four pit stops after it broke. I held my breath all day long." While Kulwicki had no choice but to keep his car in top gear, which caused his pit stop times to be much slower than usual, he was one of the faster drivers on track that day and he quickly gained positions once back up to speed.<ref name=TheLastLap /> He eventually caught up to Elliott, who was also running well, and the two began jockeying back and forth for positions; eventually, Kulwicki found his way to the front of the field and held onto the lead despite the best efforts of the #11 team. Then, on lap 255, Kulwicki got a break he desperately needed. Allison was running in sixth place at the time, and since he had led a lap during the course of the event was still leading the championship. As he was coming off of turn four, Ernie Irvan spun out in front of the field on the frontstretch.<ref name=SportingNews11112002 /> Irvan, who had been running three laps down at the time, came down in front of Allison, who was unable to avoid him and the two made contact and crashed into the inside wall near the start/finish line. Allison's car was badly damaged in the incident, and although the damage would be able to be repaired in the garage his chances of winning the Winston Cup were over.<ref name=SportingNews11112002 />

Under the ensuing caution, Kulwicki and Andrews went to work on discussing strategy for the remainder of the race.<ref name=CMT>{{cite web |url=http://www.cmt.com/shows/dyn/greatest_nascar/series_featured_copy.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927184428/http://www.cmt.com/shows/dyn/greatest_nascar/series_featured_copy.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 27, 2007 |title=Greatest NASCAR rivalries |publisher=Country Music Television |access-date=August 9, 2007}}</ref> With Allison now out of the championship picture, maximizing track position and points became Kulwicki's focus. He and Elliott had each gained five bonus points for leading a lap, and five additional bonus points were available for the driver who led the most laps during the race. However, despite the possibility for more caution periods, Kulwicki would have to pit at some point to get enough fuel in the car to make it to the advertised distance. Therefore, Kulwicki and Andrews decided to stay out as long as they could and lead as many laps as possible. Once the race resumed, Kulwicki was able to maintain his lead on Elliott despite the best efforts of the latter.<ref name=NASCAR02122002 />

On lap 310, after leading 101 consecutive laps and 103 overall, Kulwicki came down pit road for a fuel-only stop. Since the team did not need a full twenty-two gallon load of fuel to make it to the end and they needed to save as much time as they could, Andrews made the determination to put approximately half a can of gasoline into Kulwicki's tank; this could be done in a little over three seconds and with only two crew members.<ref name=TheLastLap /> Fuel man Tony Gibson and catch can man Peter Jellen waited as Kulwicki pulled in. There was a problem with the fuel relay, however, and Gibson was not certain of the amount of gasoline that made it into the tank.<ref name=TheLastLap /> Kulwicki came back onto the track in third place, behind front runner Elliott and second place Terry Labonte. He had not fully secured the five bonus points for leading the most laps, since Elliott had an opportunity to tie Kulwicki's total. In that case, both drivers would receive the points. Elliott also had to come down to top off his fuel tank.{{cn|date=July 2025}}

But as he had done with the adjustment following the broken gearbox and the accident that took Allison out of the race, Kulwicki once again caught a break that affected his chances in a significant way. Tim Brewer, Elliott's crew chief, had lost track of Labonte, as had the ESPN television broadcast. Brewer called Elliott in on lap 314, unaware that Labonte was still on the race track. Labonte was able to pass Elliott while he pitted, then pitted himself one lap later. Elliott reassumed the point with twelve laps remaining, which when added to the ninety he had already led would only add up to 102; this resulted in Kulwicki clinching the additional bonus, which he was notified about several laps later.

However, Andrews also made Kulwicki aware of the fuel relay issue on the pit stop earlier and that he still needed to save fuel. Although he was far enough ahead of third place Geoff Bodine and fourth place Jimmy Spencer that neither could catch him as the race was running, running out of fuel here presented the possibility that Kulwicki could be passed by both drivers before the race finished; if this happened, he and Elliott would tie in the standings and the championship would go to the #11 based on Elliott having more wins.<ref name=TheLastLap /> Elliott did manage to take the checkered flag,<ref name=CMT /> but Kulwicki held onto second place and was the series champion.<ref name=NPASHoF /> He celebrated the championship with his second Polish victory lap.<ref name="SCR_Jul1993_Sneddon">Sneddon, Rob: "Glimpses", p. 29.</ref> Always conscious of his appearance for potential sponsors, Kulwicki combed his hair, making a national television audience wait for him to emerge from his car.<ref name=ESPNHooters500>{{cite episode |title=Hooters 500 |series=ESPN NASCAR race coverage |airdate=November 15, 1992 |season=1992}}</ref>

Kulwicki had overcome the 278-point deficit in the final six races of the season by ending with a fifth, a fourth, and two second-place finishes.<ref name=NASCARsBest /> Kulwicki won the championship because of his consistent high finishes.<ref name=TalladegaWoF /> It was the closest title win in NASCAR Cup Series history until the implementation of the Chase for the Cup format in 2004.<ref name=NASCAR03042008 /> Kulwicki was the last owner-driver to win the title for nearly two decades,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.homesteadmiamispeedway.com/Articles/2009/07/JulyNewsletterhalfwaytofinish.aspx |title=NASCAR's stars align at season's halfway mark to Homestead-Miami Speedway for Ford Championship Weekend |date=July 3, 2009 |publisher=Homestead-Miami Speedway |access-date=December 17, 2009}}</ref> the first Cup champion with a college degree,<ref name=NYTimesApril031993 /> and the first Cup champion born in a northern state.<ref name=NYTimesApril031993 /> He started from the pole position six times during the season, which was the most for any driver.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Sowers |first1=Richard |title=The complete statistical history of stock car racing : records, streaks, oddities, and trivia |date=2000 |publisher=David Bull Publishing |location=Phoenix, Arizona |isbn=1-893618-06-4 |page=256}}</ref> The song that played during a short salute to Kulwicki at the year-end awards banquet was Frank Sinatra's "My Way".<ref name=MilJournal07251999 />

==== Championship honors ==== Kulwicki returned to his hometown, Greenfield, for Alan Kulwicki Day in January 1993. The gymnasium at Greenfield High School was filled and surrounded by four to five thousand people. Local television crews filmed the event. Kulwicki signed autographs for six hours.<ref name="SCR_Jul1993_Jeffords">Jeffords, Terry, quoted in Sneddon, Rob: "Glimpses", p. 47.</ref>

In celebration of his championship, sponsor Hooters made a special "Alan Tribute Card" that was used at all of the autograph sessions during the 1993 season.<ref name=TRPR>{{cite web |url=http://www.trpr.com/Kulwicki.html |title=Alan Kulwicki story |access-date=July 4, 2007 |publisher=Tom Roberts Public Relations |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080314182159/http://www.trpr.com/Kulwicki.html |archive-date=March 14, 2008}}</ref>

=== 1993 === Kulwicki did not significantly change his spending habits after winning the 1992 championship. "The only thing I really wanted to buy was a plane", he said, "but it turns out Hooters has a couple I can use."<ref>{{cite news |title=Alan Kulwicki |work=50 Years of Speed – The Thunder Under Your Feet |publisher=American Media Operations |year=1997 |page=109}}</ref> Kulwicki negotiated a lease agreement with Hooters Chairman Robert Brooks for the use of one of his aircraft.<ref name="Roberts–1993">{{Cite web |url=https://www.trpr.com/Alan/One%20last%20call/One_Last_Call.pdf |title=One Last Call |last=Roberts |first=Tom |date=July 1, 1993 |website=Stock Car Racing}}</ref> The Swearingen Merlin III twin turboprop Kulwicki leased was painted with Hooters livery, and its FAA registry changed from N300EF (for Eastern Foods, another of Brooks's companies) to N300AK.<ref name="Roberts–1993" />

After the first five races of the 1993 NASCAR Winston Cup Series had been completed, Kulwicki was ninth in overall points.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/23760729/the_vincennes_suncommercial |title=Winston Cup Results |date=March 29, 1993 |work=The Vincennes Sun-Commercial |access-date=September 15, 2018 |language=en |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Kulwicki had concerns about how often he was being allowed to use the airplane he had leased, and other financial concerns he wanted to bring up with his sponsor, Hooters. The PR representative for both Hooters and Kulwicki, Tom Roberts, suggested that Kulwicki bring up his concerns to Hooters leadership while in flight from Knoxville to Bristol on the evening of April 1, 1993, en route to the 1993 Food City 500.<ref name="Roberts–1993" /> Roberts himself, in an attempt to avoid a conflict of interest between the two sides, did not board the chartered flight, and took a commercial flight to Bristol instead.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.heraldcourier.com/news/plane-crash-killed-former-nascar-champ-kulwicki-three-others/article_9d254e3f-b584-55ea-bd8b-64fcbf47efc1.html |title=1993 plane crash killed former NASCAR champ Kulwicki, three others |last=COURIER |first=DAVID MCGEE {{!}} BRISTOL HERALD |work=HeraldCourier.com |access-date=September 15, 2018 |language=en}}</ref>

==Death== {{Main|Alan Kulwicki plane crash}} thumb|left|Grave marker at St. Adalbert cemetery thumb|right|Funeral service Kulwicki died in an airplane crash on Thursday April 1, 1993.<ref name="Fleischman">{{cite book |last=Fleischman |first=Bill |author2=Pearce, Al |title=The Unauthorized NASCAR Fan Guide 1998–99 |publisher=Visible Ink Press |year=1999 |isbn=1-57859-111-2 |page=[https://archive.org/details/unauthorizednasc00flei/page/508 508] |url=https://archive.org/details/unauthorizednasc00flei/page/508}}</ref> He was returning from an appearance at the Knoxville Hooters on the Kingston Pike, in a Hooters corporate plane on a short flight across Tennessee before the Sunday spring race at Bristol.<ref name=NYTimesApril051993 /> The plane slowed and crashed just before final approach at Tri-Cities Regional Airport in a field off of Interstate 81 near Blountville.<ref name=Hinton285>{{cite book |last=Hinton |first=Ed |title=Daytona: from the Birth of Speed to the Death of the Man in Black |publisher=Warner Books |year=2001 |isbn=0-446-52677-0 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/daytona00edhi/page/285 285–286] |url=https://archive.org/details/daytona00edhi/page/285}}</ref> The National Transportation Safety Board attributed the crash to the pilot's failure to use the airplane's anti-ice system to clear ice from the engine inlet system.<ref name=NTSB>{{cite web |url=https://www.ntsb.gov/aviationquery/brief.aspx?ev_id=20001211X12077&key=1 |title=NTSB Identification: ATL93MA068 |access-date=July 30, 2012 |date=March 16, 2004 |publisher=National Transportation Safety Board}}</ref>

Kulwicki was buried at St. Adalbert's Cemetery in Milwaukee; the funeral was attended by NASCAR President Bill France Jr. and numerous drivers.<ref name="MilwaukeeSentinel19930408">{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1368&dat=19930408&id=ZOEVAAAAIBAJ&pg=3808,2208042 |title=Friends, fans pay tribute to Kulwicki |last=Kallman |first=Dave |date=April 8, 1993 |newspaper=Milwaukee Sentinel |access-date=January 13, 2010}}{{Dead link|date=March 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> Kulwicki's racecar transporter was driven from the rainy track later that Friday morning while other teams and the media watched it travel slowly around the track with a black wreath on its grille.<ref name="ESPNOutsideTheLines">{{cite episode |url=http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=3323955&categoryid=2492290 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105152543/http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=3323955&categoryid=2492290 |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 5, 2012 |series=ESPN |airdate=April 1, 2008 |title=Outside the Lines : Alan Kulwicki}}</ref> As the transporter passed the start / finish line, the flagman waved a checkered flag.<ref>{{cite news |title=When NASCAR stood still to remember Alan Kulwicki after his tragic death (VIDEO) |url=https://www.foxsports.com/nascar/video/1211406403625 |access-date=March 15, 2020 |work=FOX Sports}}</ref> In 2008, Kyle Petty described the slow laps as "the saddest thing I've ever seen at a racetrack... We just sat and cried."<ref name="ESPNOutsideTheLines" /> Kulwicki had competed in five NASCAR races that season with two Top 5 finishes, and was ranked ninth in points at his death.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nascar.com/drivers/dps/akulwick00/cup/data/1993/index.html |title=Alan Kulwicki's 1993 official driving statistics |access-date=April 10, 2008 |publisher=NASCAR}}</ref> In his career, he had won five NASCAR Winston Cup races, 24 pole positions, 75 Top 10 finishes, and one championship in 207 races.<ref name=NASCARCareerStatistics>{{cite web |url=http://www.nascar.com/drivers/dps/akulwick00/cup/index.html |title=Alan Kulwicki's official driving statistics |access-date=April 10, 2008 |publisher=NASCAR}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nascar.com/2001/NEWS/08/17/dalesr_duskey/ |title=Danger is always present for drivers |access-date=May 22, 2008 |publisher=NASCAR |author=Gaylen Duskey |date=August 20, 2001 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517160400/http://www.nascar.com/2001/NEWS/08/17/dalesr_duskey/ |archive-date=May 17, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

His car was driven by road course specialist Tommy Kendall on road courses and by Jimmy Hensley at the other tracks.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2004/10/13/nas_431181.shtml |title=Corporate America snubs 'rough' drivers |access-date=May 19, 2008 |newspaper=Augusta Chronicle |date=October 13, 2004 |author=Don Coble}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nascar.com/kyn/nbtn/cup/data/car/car_number_7.html |title=#7 History |access-date=May 19, 2008 |publisher=NASCAR |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080708222644/http://www.nascar.com/kyn/nbtn/cup/data/car/car_number_7.html |archive-date=July 8, 2008}}</ref> It was raced for most of the 1993 season until the team was sold to Geoff Bodine, who operated it as Geoff Bodine Racing.<ref>{{cite book |last=Burt |first=William |title=NASCAR's Best |publisher=Motorbooks International |year=2004 |isbn=0-7603-1797-6 |page=221}}</ref>

Kulwicki had been selected to compete in the 1993 International Race of Champions (IROC) series as the reigning Winston Cup champion. He competed in two IROC races before his death, finishing ninth at Daytona and eleventh at Darlington. Dale Earnhardt raced for Kulwicki in the final two IROC races, and the prize money for those races and their fifth place combined points finish was given to the Winston Cup Racing Wives Auxiliary, Brenner Children's Hospital and St. Thomas Aquinas Church charities.<ref name=IROC>{{cite web |url=http://irocracing.com/History/1993/1993-history.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040409163506/http://www.irocracing.com/History/1993/1993-history.htm |title=Alan Kulwicki's 1993 IROC official driving statistics |archive-date=April 9, 2004 |access-date=April 10, 2008 |publisher=IROC}}</ref>

==Legacy== Three days after Kulwicki's death, Bristol race winner Rusty Wallace honored his former short track rival by performing Kulwicki's trademark Polish victory lap.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/04/05/sports/results-plus-754093.html |title=Auto Racing |access-date=September 26, 2007 |newspaper=The New York Times |date=April 5, 1993}}</ref> Davey Allison died on July 13, 1993; competitors who had been carrying a No. 7 sticker in memory of Kulwicki added a No. 28 sticker for Allison.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/07/19/sports/auto-racing-a-flag-taps-a-race-with-no-allison.html |title=Auto Racing; A Flag. Taps. A Race With No Allison. |access-date=September 26, 2007 |newspaper=The New York Times| date=July 19, 1993 |author=Joe Siano}}</ref> 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 Kulwicki and Allison.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.jsonline.com/sports/race/nov02/95912.asp |title=Wheels of fortune: Kulwicki reigned supreme on a day when NASCAR's history took a right turn |author=Dave Kallmann |access-date=October 2, 2007 |newspaper=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |date=November 15, 2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021124164359/http://www.jsonline.com/sports/race/nov02/95912.asp |archive-date=November 24, 2002}}</ref> Kulwicki finished 41st in the final points standings despite competing in only five races.<ref name=NASCARCareerStatistics /> Racing Champions issued a die-cast version of Alan Kulwicki's No. 7 car that was a tribute to Kulwicki's 1992 title.<ref>Racing Champions of die-cast Alan Kulwicki 1993 Edition</ref>

The USAR Hooters Pro Cup championship (now CARS Tour) held the "Four Champions Challenge" in memory of the four victims of the plane crash.<ref name=FourChampionsChallenge>{{cite web |url=http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=42190&FS=USAR |title=Hittin' Myrtle Beach |access-date=September 26, 2007 |publisher=Motorsport.com |date=May 2, 2000 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080506135946/http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=42190&FS=USAR |archive-date=May 6, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Established in 1997, the challenge was a four-race series, with each race named after one of the four who died in the crash: Kulwicki, Mark Brooks (son of Hooters owner Bob Brooks), Dan Duncan, and pilot Charles Campbell.<ref name=FourChampionsChallenge /><ref name=HootersPage6>{{cite web |url=http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/hooters/31482/docs/31482-Hooters_History.pdf |title=Hooters History |access-date=May 19, 2008 |publisher=Hooters |date=October 13, 2004 |page=6}}</ref><ref name=hooters >"HOOTERS Celebrating 25 Years." ''HOOTERS Magazine''. February/ March 2008. p. 69.</ref> [[File:UNDERBIRDatKulwickiPark.jpg|thumb|left|Kulwicki's "underbird" car on display at Alan Kulwicki Memorial Park]] Milwaukee County honored Kulwicki in 1996 by creating Alan Kulwicki Memorial Park,<ref name=hooters /> located near the corner of Highway 100 and Cold Spring Road in Greenfield ([https://maps.google.com/maps?um=1&tab=wl&client=firefox-a&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&q=Alan+Kulwicki+Park+Greenfield%2C+WI Area Map]). Hooters chairman Robert Brooks donated $250,000 to build the {{convert|28|acre|km2|abbr=on|adj=on}} park, which features a Kulwicki museum inside the Brooks Pavilion.<ref name=HootersPage6 />

Since 1994, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte has awarded the Alan Kulwicki Memorial Scholarship to one incoming student each year. Scholarship winners are outstanding high school seniors who plan to major in mechanical engineering. By 1998, UNC Charlotte created an automotive and motorsports engineering program.<ref name="UNC">{{Cite web |url=https://engr.uncc.edu/about-us/college/history/research-centers/ncmarc |title=North Carolina Motorsports and Automotive Research Center {{!}} The William States Lee College of Engineering {{!}} UNC Charlotte |website=engr.uncc.edu |date=October 12, 2015 |language=en |access-date=July 16, 2018}}</ref>

In October 2009, the Kulwicki family donated nearly $1.9 million to benefit motorsports engineering education at UNC Charlotte. In honor of the gift, the university's board of trustees renamed the existing motorsports research facility the Alan D. Kulwicki Motorsports Laboratory.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://news.uncc.edu/news-events/news-releases/kulwicki-family-gifts-fund-scholarships-motorsports-facilities |title=Kulwicki Family Gifts to Fund Scholarships, Motorsports Facilities {{!}} Office of News and Information {{!}} UNC Charlotte |website=news.uncc.edu |language=en |access-date=July 16, 2018}}</ref> The donation funded the construction of a second motorsports engineering building, which opened in January 2012.<ref name="UNC" />

[[Image:USA-Kulwicki Grandstand.jpg|thumb|right|Kulwicki Grandstand at Bristol Motor Speedway in 2006]] Bristol Motor Speedway named its grandstand in turns one and two in honor of Kulwicki, as well as a terrace above the grandstand.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bristolmotorspeedway.com/tickets/seating_chart/ |title=Seating Chart |access-date=October 3, 2007 |publisher=Bristol Motor Speedway |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070813162612/http://www.bristolmotorspeedway.com/tickets/seating_chart/ |archive-date=August 13, 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The 2004 Busch Series race at the Milwaukee Mile was named the "Alan Kulwicki 250" in honor of Kulwicki.<ref name=OakPark06262004 /> Wisconsinite Paul Menard turned his car around after winning the 2006 Busch Series event and performed a Polish victory lap to honor Kulwicki.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.milwaukeemile.com/admin/imageGallery/gallery.asp?action=viewimage&categoryid=9&text=&imageid=160&box=&shownew= |archive-url=https://archive.today/20110519064744/http://www.milwaukeemile.com/admin/imageGallery/gallery.asp?action=viewimage&categoryid=9&text=&imageid=160&box=&shownew= |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 19, 2011 |title=Gallerying_23_340.jpg |access-date=May 19, 2008 |publisher=Milwaukee Mile |date=February 4, 2008}}</ref> Slinger Super Speedway has held an annual Alan Kulwicki Memorial race since 1994.<ref name=WisconsinSportsHeroes />

Kulwicki was posthumously inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2002.<ref name=IMHoF /> He was inducted in the Lowe's Motor Speedway Court of Legends in 1993,<ref name=NASCARkyn>{{cite web |url=http://www.nascar.com/2002/kyn/history/drivers/02/02/akulwicki/index.html |title=Alan Kulwicki |access-date=September 7, 2007 |date=April 4, 2003 |publisher=NASCAR |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070806092950/http://www.nascar.com/2002/kyn/history/drivers/02/02/akulwicki/index.html |archive-date=August 6, 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame in 1993,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wihalloffame.com/alan-kulwicki |title=Alan Kulwicki |access-date=December 20, 2017 |publisher=Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame}}</ref> Talladega-Texaco Hall of Fame in 1996,<ref name=TalladegaWoF /> Bristol Motor Speedway Heroes of Bristol Hall of Fame in 1997,<ref name=NASCARkyn /> the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame in 2001,<ref name=PolishAmericanSportsHoF>{{cite web |url=http://www.polishsportshof.com/bios/Kulwicki_a.html |title=Alan Kulwicki |access-date=July 14, 2007 |publisher=National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070604073011/http://www.polishsportshof.com/bios/Kulwicki_a.html |archive-date=June 4, 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2010.<ref name=MSHoF>[http://www.mshf.com/hall-of-fame/inductees/alan-kulwicki.html Alan Kulwicki] at the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America</ref> Kulwicki was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2019.<ref name="NBCNASCARHoF">{{cite news |title=Alan Kulwicki rounds out 2019 NASCAR Hall of Fame Class |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/video/alan-kulwicki-rounds-out-2019-nascar-hall-fame-class |publisher=NBC Sports |date=May 23, 2018 |access-date=August 2, 2020 |archive-date=June 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230620115935/https://www.nbcsports.com/video/alan-kulwicki-rounds-out-2019-nascar-hall-fame-class |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Kulwicki's success as an owner-driver sparked a small trend among NASCAR veterans.<ref name=AutoRacingDigest>{{cite web |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCH/is_6_30/ai_90217145 |title=Be your own boss: the last of NASCAR's driver-owners talks about the difficult yet rewarding skill of multitasking – Interview: Brett Bodine |author=Ken Willis |access-date=October 3, 2007 |publisher=Auto Racing Digest |date=October–November 2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070904170545/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCH/is_6_30/ai_90217145 |archive-date=September 4, 2007 |url-status=live}}</ref> Geoff Bodine, his younger brother Brett, Ricky Rudd, Bill Elliott, and Joe Nemechek all began racing teams shortly after Kulwicki's death.<ref name=AutoRacingDigest /> However, none were as successful as Kulwicki's.<ref name=AutoRacingDigest /> Robby Gordon frequently mentions Alan as an inspiration for him as an owner-driver,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.katu.com/sports/motorsports/4412871.html |title=Grown-up Robby Gordon reunites with Ford |access-date=July 4, 2007 |publisher=KATU |archive-date=October 8, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071008003059/http://www.katu.com/sports/motorsports/4412871.html |url-status=dead}}</ref> and selected car No. 7 as a tribute to Kulwicki.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.robbygordon.com/RGM.htm |title=Robby Gordon Motorsports |access-date=July 4, 2007 |publisher=Robby Gordon Motorsports |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927015050/http://www.robbygordon.com/RGM.htm |archive-date=September 27, 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Slinger Super Speedway began an Alan Kulwicki Memorial night in 1993; it has continued the annual memorial as of 2016.<ref>{{cite web |title=Alex Prunty Eager to Prove he Belongs in Kulwicki Memorial at Slinger Sunday |url=http://www.slingersuperspeedway.com/articles/051316/alex-prunty-eager-prove-he-belongs-kulwicki-memorial-slinger-sunday |publisher=Slinger Speedway |access-date=May 14, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160604184045/http://www.slingersuperspeedway.com/articles/051316/alex-prunty-eager-prove-he-belongs-kulwicki-memorial-slinger-sunday |archive-date=June 4, 2016}}</ref> In 2010, the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee created the Alan Kulwicki Memorial Student Center in their Engineering and Mathematical Sciences Building. The center, along with a scholarship for engineering students, was made possible in part by a donation from Thelma H. Kulwicki, the late racer's stepmother, who also donated numerous items of memorabilia located in the center.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www4.uwm.edu/news/stories/details.cfm?customel_datapageid_11602=3294643 |title=Alan Kulwicki Memorial Student Center dedicated and scholarship awarded |publisher=University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee |access-date=July 19, 2010 |archive-date=March 24, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324222112/http://www4.uwm.edu/news/stories/details.cfm?customel_datapageid_11602=3294643 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

In May 2012, the Milwaukee County Historical Society announced plans for a special exhibit celebrating the life and career of Kulwicki to open in early 2013. The exhibit is called "Alan Kulwicki: A Champion's Story".

===Kulwicki Driver Development Program=== thumb|Official logo of the Kulwicki Driver Development Program In 2015, Kulwicki's friends began the Kulwicki Driver Development program to "help worthy drivers along the way in reaching their dream...while at the same time keep Alan Kulwicki's memory and legacy alive."<ref name="FullThrottle">{{cite news |last1=Lehman |first1=Bert |title=Looking Ahead: May Selected for Kulwicki Driver Development Program |issue=May 2015 |publisher=Full Throttle}}</ref> The field is narrowed to 15 applicants and the program gives $7777 to support seven drivers' career advancement.<ref name="FullThrottle" /> Drivers are judged based on their on-track performance as well as off-track activities, social media presence, and community involvement.<ref name="NBC2016">{{cite web |last1=Bonkowski |first1=Jerry |title=Wisconsin native Alex Prunty wins Kulwicki Cup Championship |date=November 25, 2016 |url=https://nascar.nbcsports.com/2016/11/25/wisconsin-native-alex-prunty-wins-kulwicki-cup-championship/ |access-date=November 26, 2016 |publisher=NBC Sports}}</ref> The winner receives seven times $7777 ($54,439) and a trophy.<ref name="NBC2016" /> It was cancelled for the 2020 season because of COVID-19 concerns, and resumed in 2021.<ref>{{cite web |title=2020 KDDP Season Cancelled Due to COVID-19 Pandemic |url=http://www.kulwickiddp.com/ |website=Kulwicki Driver Development Program |access-date=August 1, 2020}}</ref> The program winners as of 2025 are:

{| class="wikitable" !Year !Winner !Other participants |- |2015 |Ty Majeski<ref name="KDDPWinner">{{cite web |title=Ty Majeski Claims 2015 Inaugural Kulwicki Cup Championship |url=http://www.kulwickiddp.com/Ty%20Majeski%20Wins%20Cup.html |access-date=November 21, 2015 |publisher=Alan Kulwicki Driver Development Program |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304130357/http://www.kulwickiddp.com/Ty%20Majeski%20Wins%20Cup.html |url-status=dead}}</ref> |Steve Apel, Justin Crider, Dave Farrington Jr., Reagan May, Bryce Napier, Cole Williams |- |2016 |Alex Prunty<ref name="NBC2016" /> |Jeremy Doss, Dave Farrington Jr., Cody Haskins, Quin Houff, Michael Ostdiek, Brandon Setzer |- |2017 |Cody Haskins<ref name="Speed512017">{{cite web |title=Cody Haskins is Kulwicki Driver Development 2017 Champion |url=https://speed51.com/cody-haskins-is-kulwicki-driver-development-2017-champion/ |access-date=December 20, 2017 |publisher=Speed 51}}</ref> |Braison Bennett, Cole Butcher, Justin Mondeik, Michael Ostdiek, John Peters, Brett Yackey |- |2018 |Brett Yackey<ref>{{cite news |title=2018 Kulwicki DDP Champion & Final Standings Revealed |work=Speed51 |url=https://speed51.com/2018-kulwicki-driver-development-program-champion-announced/ |access-date=March 14, 2020}}</ref> |Cole Butcher, Justin Carroll, Derek Griffith, Molly Helmuth, Justin Mondeik, Brittney Zamora<ref>{{cite web |title=Kulwicki Driver Development Program announces 2018 drivers |url=https://www.espn.com/jayski/cup/2018/story/_/id/22804503/kulwicki-driver-development-program-announces-2018-drivers |access-date=March 18, 2018 |website=ESPN.com|date=March 17, 2018}}</ref> |- |2019 |Jeremy Doss<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lambert |first1=Paul |date=November 14, 2019 |title=Jeremy Doss becomes fifth KDDP Kulwicki Cup champion {{!}} Short Track Scene |url=https://www.shorttrackscene.com/press-releases/jeremy-doss-becomes-fifth-kddp-kulwicki-cup-champion/ |access-date=March 14, 2020}}</ref> |Danny Benedict, Justin Carroll, Luke Fenhaus, Derek Griffith, Carson Kvapil, Paul Shafer Jr.<ref>{{cite news |title=2019 Kulwicki Driver Development Program Finalists Revealed |work=Speed51 |url=https://speed51.com/2019-kulwicki-driver-development-program-finalists-revealed/ |access-date=March 14, 2020}}</ref> |- |2020 | colspan="2" |Canceled due to COVID-19 |- |2021 |Luke Fenhaus |Wyatt Alexander, Luke Fenhaus, Max Kahler, Ryan Kuhn, Kole Raz, Brooke Storer, Dylan Zampa<ref>{{cite web |date=March 22, 2021 |title=Kulwicki Driver Development Program 2021 Finalists Revealed |url=https://speed51.com/kulwicki-driver-development-program-2021-finalists-revealed/ |access-date=July 13, 2021 |website=Speed51.com}}</ref> |- |2022 |Dylan Zampa<ref>{{cite web |last1=Reichert |first1=Paul |date=November 18, 2022 |title=2022 Kulwicki Driver Development Program Champion Crowned {{!}} Racing America |url=https://www.racingamerica.com/news/late-models/2022-kulwicki-driver-development-program-champion-crowned |access-date=December 31, 2022}}</ref> |Dylan Zampa, Jackson Boone, Evan Shotko, Jacob Nottestad, Haeden Plybon, Riley Stenjem, Kate Re |- |2023 |Max Cookson<ref>{{cite web |access-date=November 16, 2025 |title=MAX COOKSON WINS 2023 KULWICKI CUP CHAMPIONSHIP |url=https://www.kulwickiddp.com/news-23}}</ref> |Haedon Plybon, Jackson Boone, Riley Stenjem, Evan Shotko, Jacob Borst, Levon Van Der Geest |- |2024 |Ty Fredrickson<ref>{{cite web |access-date=November 16, 2025 |title=Ty Fredrickson Claims 2024 Kulwicki Cup Championship |url=https://www.racingamerica.com/news/late-models/ty-fredrickson-claims-2024-kulwicki-cup-championship}}</ref> |Derek Gluchacki, Levon Van Der Geest, Evan Goetz, Max Kahler, Chase Burda, Brandon Varney |- |2025 |Derek Gluchacki<ref>{{cite web |access-date=December 12, 2025 |title=Derek Gluchacki Named Winner of 2025 Kulwicki Driver Development Program |url=https://www.racingamerica.com/news/late-models/derek-gluchacki-named-winner-of-2025-kulwicki-driver-development-program}}</ref> |Bryce Miller, Seth Christensen, Noah Eisenhower, Taylor Hoar |- |2026 |—* |—* |}

==Media== Father Dale Grubba, the priest who had presided over Kulwicki's funeral,<ref name="MilwaukeeSentinel19930408" /> released a biography of his friend entitled ''Alan Kulwicki: NASCAR champion Against All Odds'' in 2009.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://dwgracepix.com/books.htm |title=Books by Fr. Dale Grubba |author=Fr. Dale Grubba |access-date=May 20, 2008 |publisher=Fr. Dale Grubba}}</ref> The book was the basis for a low-budget feature film, ''Dare to Dream: The Alan Kulwicki Story'', released on April 1, 2005. The film chronicles Kulwicki's life from racing late models at Slinger Super Speedway, through his rise to NASCAR champion, and ends with his death. The movie was created by Kulwicki's Wisconsin fans for less than $100,000. The star of the film, Brad Weber, was a Kulwicki fan and credits the late driver with being his inspiration to become an actor.<ref name=MilJournal04172005>{{cite news |url=http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=223038 |title=Kulwicki's dream drives filmmakers |author=Dave Kallmann |access-date=July 25, 2007 |newspaper=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |date=April 17, 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929124123/http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=223038 |archive-date=September 29, 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Motorsports career results==

===NASCAR=== (key) ('''Bold''' – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. ''Italics'' – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

====Winston Cup Series==== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:75%" |- ! colspan="37" | NASCAR Winston Cup Series results |- ! Year ! Team ! No. ! Make ! 1 ! 2 ! 3 ! 4 ! 5 ! 6 ! 7 ! 8 ! 9 ! 10 ! 11 ! 12 ! 13 ! 14 ! 15 ! 16 ! 17 ! 18 ! 19 ! 20 ! 21 ! 22 ! 23 ! 24 ! 25 ! 26 ! 27 ! 28 ! 29 ! 30 ! {{Tooltip|NWCC|NASCAR Winston Cup classification}} ! Pts ! Ref |- ! rowspan=2| 1985 ! rowspan=4 nowrap| Terry Motorsports ! 32 ! rowspan=12| Ford | DAY | RCH | CAR | ATL | BRI | DAR | NWS | MAR | TAL | DOV | CLT | RSD | POC | MCH | DAY | POC | TAL | MCH | BRI | DAR | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| RCH 19 | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DOV 21 | MAR | NWS | colspan=6| ! rowspan=2| 40th ! rowspan=2| 509 ! rowspan=2| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/kulwial01/1985/W |title=Alan Kulwicki – 1985 NASCAR Winston Cup Results|work=Racing-Reference |publisher=NASCAR Digital Media |access-date=July 31, 2020}}</ref> |- ! 38 | colspan=24| | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| CLT 13 | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CAR 27 | style="background:#CFCFFF;"| ATL 22 | RSD | colspan=2| |- ! rowspan=3| 1986 ! 32 | style="background:#FFCFCF;"| DAY DNQ | style="background:#FFCFCF;"| RCH DNQ | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| CAR 15 | colspan=27| ! rowspan=3| 21st ! rowspan=3| 2705 ! rowspan=3| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/kulwial01/1986/W |title=Alan Kulwicki – 1986 NASCAR Winston Cup Results |work=Racing-Reference |publisher=NASCAR Digital Media |access-date=July 31, 2020}}</ref> |- ! rowspan=2| 35 | colspan=3| | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| ATL 14 | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| BRI 15 | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| DAR 11 | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| NWS 18 | style="background:#DFDFDF;"| MAR 4 | style="background:#FFCFCF;"| TAL DNQ | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DOV 23 | style="background:#CFCFFF;"| CLT 27 | RSD | POC | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| MCH 16 | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| DAY 10 | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| POC 22 | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| TAL 32 | GLN | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| MCH 14 | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| BRI 10 | colspan=10| |- ! rowspan=8| AK Racing | colspan=20| | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| DAR 12 | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| RCH 15 | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| DOV 7 | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| MAR 13 | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| NWS 17 | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| CLT 14 | bgcolor="DFFFDF"| CAR 12 | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| ATL 18 | style="background:#CFCFFF;"| RSD 24 | |- ! 1987 ! rowspan=7| 7 | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| DAY 15 | style="background:#CFCFFF;"| CAR 25 | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| '''RCH''' 6 | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| ATL 33 | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| DAR 14 | style="background:#DFDFDF;"| NWS 4 | style="background:#DFDFDF;"| BRI 5 | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| MAR 28 | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| TAL 34 | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CLT 27 | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DOV 15 | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| POC 30 | style="background:#CFCFFF;"| RSD 28 | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| MCH 31 | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DAY 32 | style="background:#DFDFDF;"| POC 2 | style="background:#CFCFFF;"| TAL 23 | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| GLN 6 | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| MCH 6 | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| BRI 11 | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DAR 40 | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| '''RCH''' 23 | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| '''DOV''' 14 | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| MAR 6 | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| NWS 7 | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CLT 29 | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| CAR 18 | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| RSD 11 | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| ATL 6 | ! 15th ! 3238 ! <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/kulwial01/1987/W |title=Alan Kulwicki – 1987 NASCAR Winston Cup Results|work=Racing-Reference |publisher=NASCAR Digital Media |access-date=July 31, 2020}}</ref> |- ! 1988 | style="background:#CFCFFF;"| DAY 32 | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| RCH 21 | style="background:#DFDFDF;"| CAR 4 | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| ATL 39 | style="background:#DFDFDF;"| DAR 2 | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| BRI 19 | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| NWS 15 | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| MAR 20 | style="background:#CFCFFF;"| TAL 22 | style="background:#DFDFDF;"| CLT 3 | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| DOV 6 | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| RSD 38 | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| '''POC''' 27 | style="background:#CFCFFF;"| MCH 21 | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DAY 40 | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| POC 8 | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| TAL 19 | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| GLN 19 | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| MCH 36 | style="background:#DFDFDF;"| '''BRI''' 5 | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| DAR 15 | style="background:#DFDFDF;"| RCH 5 | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DOV 31 | style="background:#DFDFDF;"| MAR 2 | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| '''CLT''' 25 | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| NWS 29 | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CAR 26 | style="background:#FFFFBF;"| PHO 1 | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| ATL 25 | ! 14th ! 3176 ! <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/kulwial01/1988/W |title=Alan Kulwicki – 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Results |work=Racing-Reference |publisher=NASCAR Digital Media |access-date=July 31, 2020}}</ref> |- ! 1989 | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| DAY 7 | style="background:#DFDFDF;"| CAR 2 | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| '''ATL''' 16 | style="background:#DFDFDF;"| RCH 2 | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| DAR 7 | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| BRI 20 | style="background:#DFDFDF;"| NWS 2 | style="background:#CFCFFF;"| MAR 22 | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| TAL 13 | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| '''CLT''' 23* | style="background:#CFCFFF;"| DOV 25 | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| SON 36 | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| POC 34 | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| MCH 36 | style="background:#DFDFDF;"| DAY 5 | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| POC 39 | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| TAL 30 | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| GLN 39 | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| MCH 10 | style="background:#DFDFDF;"| '''BRI''' 2 | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| '''DAR''' 32 | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| RCH 15 | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DOV 32 | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| MAR 26 | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CLT 28 | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| NWS 11 | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| '''CAR''' 9 | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| PHO 11* | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| '''ATL''' 13 | ! 14th ! 3236 ! <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/kulwial01/1989/W |title=Alan Kulwicki – 1989 NASCAR Winston Cup Results |work=Racing-Reference |publisher=NASCAR Digital Media |access-date=July 31, 2020}}</ref> |- ! 1990 | style="background:#CFCFFF;"| DAY 35 | style="background:#CFCFFF;"| RCH 24 | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CAR 27 | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| ATL 8 | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DAR 23 | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| BRI 31 | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| NWS 11 | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| MAR 25 | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| TAL 13 | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| CLT 6 | style="background:#CFCFFF;"| DOV 24 | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SON 11 | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| POC 34 | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| MCH 6 | style="background:#DFDFDF;"| DAY 2 | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| POC 17 | style="background:#DFDFDF;"| TAL 4 | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| GLN 11 | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| '''MCH''' 11 | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| BRI 6 | style="background:#DFDFDF;"| DAR 3 | style="background:#CFCFFF;"| RCH 26 | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DOV 29 | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| MAR 6 | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| NWS 9 | style="background:#DFDFDF;"| CLT 5 | style="background:#FFFFBF;"| CAR 1 | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| PHO 6 | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| ATL 8 | ! 8th ! 3599 ! <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/kulwial01/1990/W |title=Alan Kulwicki – 1990 NASCAR Winston Cup Results |work=Racing-Reference |publisher=NASCAR Digital Media |access-date=July 31, 2020}}</ref> |- ! 1991 | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| DAY 8 | style="background:#DFDFDF;"| RCH 5 | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| CAR 17 | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| '''ATL''' 8 | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DAR 34 | style="background:#CFCFFF;"| BRI 26 | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| NWS 29 | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| MAR 9 | style="background:#CFCFFF;"| TAL 27 | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CLT 35 | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| DOV 14 | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SON 17 | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| POC 16 | style="background:#CFCFFF;"| MCH 24 | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| DAY 14 | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| '''POC''' 16 | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| TAL 16 | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| GLN 23 | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| '''MCH''' 8 | style="background:#FFFFBF;"| BRI 1 | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DAR 35 | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| RCH 6 | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| '''DOV''' 24 | style="background:#CFCFFF;"| MAR 22 | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| NWS 10 | style="background:#DFDFDF;"| CLT 3 | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CAR 33 | style="background:#DFDFDF;"| PHO 4 | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| ATL 9 | ! 13th ! 3354 ! <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/kulwial01/1991/W |title=Alan Kulwicki – 1991 NASCAR Winston Cup Results |work=Racing-Reference |publisher=NASCAR Digital Media |access-date=July 31, 2020}}</ref> |- ! 1992 | style="background:#DFDFDF;"| DAY 4 | style="background:#CFCFFF;"| CAR 31 | style="background:#DFDFDF;"| RCH 2 | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| ATL 7 | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DAR 18 | style="background:#FFFFBF;"| '''BRI''' 1* | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| '''NWS''' 7* | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| MAR 16* | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| TAL 6 | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| CLT 7 | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| DOV 12 | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SON 14 | style="background:#FFFFBF;"| POC 1* | style="background:#DFDFDF;"| MCH 3 | style="background:#CFCFFF;"| DAY 30 | style="background:#DFDFDF;"| POC 3 | style="background:#CFCFFF;"| TAL 25 | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| GLN 7 | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| '''MCH''' 14 | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| BRI 8 | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| DAR 8 | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| RCH 15 | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| '''DOV''' 34 | style="background:#DFDFDF;"| MAR 5 | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| '''NWS''' 12 | style="background:#DFDFDF;"| '''CLT''' 2 | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| CAR 12 | style="background:#DFDFDF;"| PHO 4 | style="background:#DFDFDF;"| ATL 2* | ! 1st ! 4078 ! <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/kulwial01/1992/W |title=Alan Kulwicki – 1992 NASCAR Winston Cup Results |work=Racing-Reference |publisher=NASCAR Digital Media |access-date=July 31, 2020}}</ref> |- ! 1993 | style="background:#CFCFFF;"| DAY 26 | style="background:#DFDFDF;"| CAR 4 | style="background:#DFDFDF;"| RCH 3 | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| ATL 36 | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| DAR 6 | BRI | NWS | MAR | TAL | SON | CLT | DOV | POC | MCH | DAY | NHA | POC | TAL | GLN | MCH | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | MAR | NWS | CLT | CAR | PHO | ATL ! 41st ! 625 ! <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/kulwial01/1993/W |title=Alan Kulwicki – 1993 NASCAR Winston Cup Results |work=Racing-Reference |publisher=NASCAR Digital Media |access-date=July 31, 2020}}</ref> |}

=====Daytona 500===== {| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;" |- ! Year ! Team ! Manufacturer ! Start ! Finish |- | 1986 | Terry Motorsports | rowspan=8| Ford | align=center colspan=2 style="background:#FFCFCF;"| DNQ |- | 1987 | rowspan=7| AK Racing | align=center| 37 | align=center style="background:#DFFFDF;"| 15 |- | 1988 | align=center| 16 | align=center style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 32 |- | 1989 | align=center| 9 | align=center style="background:#FFDF9F;"| 7 |- | 1990 | align=center| 25 | align=center style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 35 |- | 1991 | align=center| 27 | align=center style="background:#FFDF9F;"| 8 |- | 1992 | align=center| 41 | align=center style="background:#DFDFDF;"| 4 |- | 1993 | align=center| 10 | align=center style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 26 |}

====Busch Series==== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:75%" ! colspan="36" | NASCAR Busch Series results |- ! Year ! Team ! No. ! Make ! 1 ! 2 ! 3 ! 4 ! 5 ! 6 ! 7 ! 8 ! 9 ! 10 ! 11 ! 12 ! 13 ! 14 ! 15 ! 16 ! 17 ! 18 ! 19 ! 20 ! 21 ! 22 ! 23 ! 24 ! 25 ! 26 ! 27 ! 28 ! 29 ! {{Tooltip|NBSC|NASCAR Busch Series classification}} ! Pts ! Ref |- ! 1984 ! rowspan=3 nowrap| Whitaker Racing ! 7 ! rowspan=2| Olds | DAY | RCH | CAR | HCY | MAR | DAR | ROU | NSV | LGY | style="background:#DFDFDF;"| MLW 2 | DOV | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| CLT 7 | SBO | HCY | ROU | SBO | ROU | HCY | IRP | LGY | SBO | style="background:#DFDFDF;"| BRI 5 | DAR | RCH | NWS | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CLT 34 | HCY | CAR | MAR ! 50th ! 377 ! <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/kulwial01/1984/B |title=Alan Kulwicki – 1984 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series Results |work=Racing-Reference |publisher=NASCAR Digital Media |access-date=July 31, 2020}}</ref> |- ! rowspan=2| 1985 ! 07 | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| DAY 16 | CAR | HCY | BRI | MAR | DAR | SBO | LGY | DOV | CLT | SBO | HCY | ROU | IRP | SBO | LGY | HCY | colspan=12| ! rowspan=2| 52nd ! rowspan=2| 236 ! rowspan=2| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/kulwial01/1985/B |title=Alan Kulwicki – 1985 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series Results |work=Racing-Reference |publisher=NASCAR Digital Media |access-date=July 31, 2020}}</ref> |- ! 7 ! Pontiac | colspan=17| | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| '''MLW''' 14 | BRI | DAR | RCH | NWS | ROU | CLT | HCY | CAR | MAR | colspan=2| |}

===International Race of Champions=== (key) ('''Bold''' – Pole position. * – Most laps led.) {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:75%" !colspan=9| International Race of Champions results |- ! Year ! Make ! 1 ! 2 ! 3 ! 4 ! Pos. ! Points ! Ref |- ! 1993 ! Dodge | style="background:#CFEAFF;"| DAY 9 | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DAR 11 | TAL | MCH ! 5th ! 47 ! <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/kulwial01/1993/I |title=Alan Kulwicki – 1993 IROC Results |work=Racing-Reference |publisher=NASCAR Digital Media |access-date=July 31, 2020}}</ref> |}

==References== {{reflist|30em}}

==External links== {{Commons}} * {{Racing-Reference driver|Alan_Kulwicki}} * {{Racing-Reference owner|Alan_Kulwicki}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20081009143938/http://automotive.speedtv.com/article/speedtvcom_reviewed_dare_to_dream_the_alan_kulwicki_story Movie review of Dare to Dream: The Alan Kulwicki Story] by Speed Channel

{{s-start}} {{s-ach|ach}} {{succession box | before= Dale Earnhardt | title= NASCAR Winston Cup Champion | years= 1992| after= Dale Earnhardt }} {{succession box | before= Ken Schrader | title= NASCAR Rookie of the Year | years= 1986| after= Davey Allison }} {{s-end}}

{{Navboxes |list= {{AK Racing}} {{Whitaker Racing}} {{2019 NASCAR HOF}} {{NASCAR Cup Champions}} {{NASCARROTY}}}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kulwicki, Alan}} Category:1954 births Category:1993 deaths Category:Accidental deaths in Tennessee Category:American people of Polish descent Category:American Speed Association drivers Category:Catholics from Wisconsin Category:Hooters people Category:International Motorsports Hall of Fame inductees Category:International Race of Champions drivers Category:NASCAR Cup Series champions Category:NASCAR drivers Category:NASCAR team owners Category:People from Greenfield, Wisconsin Category:Sportspeople from Milwaukee County, Wisconsin Category:Racing drivers from Milwaukee Category:University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee alumni Category:Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in 1993 Category:Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in the United States Category:NASCAR Hall of Fame inductees Category:Daytona 500 drivers Category:Pius XI High School alumni Category:Coca-Cola 600 drivers Category:20th-century American people Category:Southern 500 drivers Category:Sportspeople killed in aviation accidents or incidents