Testing SpeedwayMedia.com

Category: Angie’s Spin Zone

Angie’s Spin on NASCAR

  • Chase Elliott follows in his father’s footsteps to win the All-Star Race at Bristol

    Chase Elliott follows in his father’s footsteps to win the All-Star Race at Bristol

    As Chase Elliott took the checkered flag to win the All-Star race at Bristol Motor Speedway, social media was instantly filled with those who were disappointed in a race that they deemed lackluster.

    Was this the most exciting All-Star race we’ve ever seen? Probably not. Elliott led 60 of the 140 laps and the track’s surface made passing difficult.

    After it was announced that the race was being moved from its traditional venue at Charlotte Motor Speedway to Bristol, most anticipated a wild event on the short track. For many viewers, the All-Star race did not live up to those expectations.

    But, let’s be honest. Nothing is perfect. We sometimes have races so tedious that we have to make ourselves watch until the predictable end. Then we have races that have us standing on our feet and holding our breath as we anticipate a crazy finish. But generally, most races are a little of both, periods of boredom interspersed with nail-biting, up on the edge of our seats, excitement.

    But NASCAR is about so much more than cars going around in circles. It’s the passion of drivers who are never satisfied with anything less than first place and the adrenalin rush of cars and competitors pushed to the limit.

    There are highs and lows and everything in between but what keeps us coming back is the emotional connection between the fans and the drivers. It’s a community of people from all walks of life who come together for the love of the sport.

    And don’t forget the long, storied history of NASCAR.

    This was only the second time that the All-Star race was not run at Charlotte Motor Speedway since its inception in 1985. It happened once before in 1986 at Atlanta Motor Speedway and Bill Elliott won that race. Like father, like son.

    “To join dad in winning this event, heck, I mean, that’s not just special, that’s a lot of years and a lot of history for everything to come full circle like that,” Elliott said. “It’s pretty dang cool.”

    Elliott and his father are only the second father-son duo to win the prestigious All-Star Race, joining Dale Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt Jr.

    Was this the most exciting All-Star race we’ve ever seen? Probably not. But who could have predicted such a historic outcome?

  • Together we stand

    Together we stand

    As a journalist, we are taught to always remain objective and to report the news without injecting our personal opinion.

    Today I am breaking that rule.

    It has taken me some time to absorb everything that has transpired in recent weeks precipitated with the killing of George Floyd. And even more time to understand that this wasn’t an isolated incident but rather an indication of a much deeper problem in our country.

    I struggled to understand how we as a society have continued to ignore the continued trend of violence and racial inequality that is still pervasive in our society. And on a more personal level, how had I become blinded to the reality of it?

    As someone who grew up in the south, I am no stranger to stereotypes. We are often perceived as ignorant rednecks and closeted racists with a naïve view of the world. But as with most stereotypes, there is only a small grain of truth in these assumptions.

    Though I am a southerner my closest ties to my heritage are with my Native American ancestors. If anyone should understand the realities of persecution and injustice, it should be me.

    I had to ask myself again, how had I become so blind?

    As many have come forward lately with their stories, particularly Bubba Wallace, the answer suddenly dawned on me. When others look at me, they don’t see a southerner or a Native American. All they see is a white person.

    From that point on, it became clear that there is no way that I could understand the reality of being Black. I can never fully grasp the complexities of their lives. All I can do now is listen and learn.

    That is my promise. I will listen to their stories and learn from their experiences. I will look at the world from their viewpoint, not my own.   

    If we stand together as one, there is nothing that we can’t accomplish.

  • Keselowski says ‘NASCAR has struck gold’ with current racing format

    Keselowski says ‘NASCAR has struck gold’ with current racing format

    Brad Keselowski won the tumultuous Supermarket Heroes 500 race at Bristol Motor Speedway in an action-packed event that included 17 cautions and 21 lead changes among seven drivers.

    The win was his second this season and his 32nd Cup Series career victory. It was also unexpected.

    With only two laps remaining, Joey Logano and Chase Elliott were racing each other for the lead and collided. Keselowski was in the perfect position to take advantage of the mishap and drove his No. 2 Team Penske Ford to the front to claim the checkered flag.  

    In an interview after the race, Keselowski discussed the current one-day format that precludes any practice or qualifying sessions and whether that has led to more mistakes during the races.

    While many may look at this situation as bad for the sport, he had a different perspective.

    “Well, mistakes make for great racing,” Keselowski said. “When you watch rookies run at some of these tracks, it’s a lot of fun. I think you look at the lower tiered series, they’re some of the most fun races to watch because the drivers make a lot of mistakes; that creates a lot of action.”

    He further explained why we don’t typically see mistakes in the Cup Series.

    “I think sometimes you get to the Cup level, whether it’s the setup, drivers’ experience, you don’t see a lot of mistakes”, he said, “People misinterpret that as the cars are really easy to drive. It’s really just the opposite of that. These guys are pros, really good.”

    And though he offered several possibilities as to why there have seemingly been more miscues on the track, he is convinced that it has made NASCAR more competitive and exciting to watch.

    “For whatever reason, whether it’s not having a chance to work on the cars, practice, the drivers not getting those experiences, we’re seeing more mistakes with this format, this style of racing, the no-practice type stuff,” Keselowski suggested. 

    “I don’t think that’s a bad thing.  I think that makes for better racing in a lot of different ways. So I hope we keep it up.

    “I said earlier this week that I feel like NASCAR struck gold with these formats. I stand by that. These are great formats. We’ve seen some of the best racing we’ve ever seen in NASCAR accordingly. I’m not just saying that because I’m in Victory Lane. I think a lot of people would say this was a tremendous race, and I hope they enjoyed it.”

    You could argue that Keselowski’s opinion is biased. But there is no question that Bristol Motor Speedway delivered short track racing at its best.

  • Tyler Reddick earns top 10 at Charlotte, moves into playoff contention

    Tyler Reddick earns top 10 at Charlotte, moves into playoff contention

    After qualifying fifth, rookie Tyler Reddick scored an eighth-place finish in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway Sunday night in his No. 8 Richard Childress Chevrolet.

    This continues a strong showing since the season resumed at Darlington Raceway where he finished seventh and 13th giving him two top-10 finishes and a top-15 in the last three races. It also moved him to 16th place in the standings, the cutoff for inclusion into the Playoffs.

    The Richard Childress Racing driver spoke about his goals last week as he looked ahead to Charlotte.  

    “We’re right on the bubble (for 16-member playoff) so I’m going to stay focused and try to stay inside the top 16 or go for a win. That’s going to be my focus,” he said. “We probably could have had a top 10 (on Wednesday) if the race would have gone back to green (after Elliott’s crash), but we fought back from being as far back as 30th and when you’re running against the best of the best you’re not going to pass them all.”

    Mission accomplished.

    At the conclusion of the Coca-Cola 600, Reddick said, “I’m proud of the effort our No. 8 Alsco Uniforms Chevrolet team gave tonight. We fought hard all night to make our car better, and we took a gamble at the end, which almost paid off for us. The track just didn’t do quite what I hoped it would do tonight, but we still found a way to get a top 10 out of the race.”

    While making the Playoffs may seem unlikely for the 24-year-old in his first season in the series, he is no stranger to winning. He has earned two Xfinity Series championships, one with JR Motorsports in 2018 and one with RCR last year.

    Reddick is also aware that he has much to learn but is determined to make the most of each opportunity.

    “I learned a lot tonight that I think we can take into account when we return to Charlotte Motor Speedway on Wednesday to help with our long run handling and speed. This is definitely a finish we can build on; 400 laps and 600 miles are done, and we’ll be ready to come back on Wednesday night.”

    The Cup Series returns to Charlotte Motor Speedway Wednesday night for the Alsco Uniforms 500 at 8 p.m. on FS1.

    Follow @angiecampbell_ for the latest NASCAR news and feature stories.

  • New car, new team, same Matt Kenseth

    New car, new team, same Matt Kenseth

    Matt Kenseth accomplished the improbable Sunday in his debut with Chip Ganassi Racing driving the No. 42 Chevrolet to a 10th place finish at Darlington Raceway in The Real Heroes 400.

    It was his first race back since he retired from the NASCAR Cup Series after the finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway in 2018, finishing off a lackluster season. But the time away was only one of the obstacles he faced. He had to acclimate to a new team with an unfamiliar crew chief and spotter. It was also his first race in a Chevrolet Camaro and his first experience with the high downforce, low horsepower package currently used in the Cup Series. And to make things more interesting, there was no practice or qualifying before the race.

    The 2003 Cup Series Champion seemed undaunted by the challenges he faced although he did admit to being somewhat apprehensive at the beginning of the race.

    “I would say to get prepared and get the mental mindset and everything ready to start the race was very difficult,” he said. “I was definitely anxious when they were getting ready to throw the green, firing off there in the first corner, and everything being new and different with having an extended period of time off. But really once we got into that second restart and ran three or four laps, I really felt pretty comfortable.”

    With 39 wins to his credit, the 2003 Cup Series champion is known for his consistency and his dogged determination. And Kenseth’s competitors realize that it is never a good idea to underestimate him.  

    Race winner, Kevin Harvick, was not surprised by Kenseth’s  top-10 result.

    “Here’s the thing about Matt Kenseth, he should have never quit,” Harvick said. “Matt Kenseth was winning races when he retired. Matt Kenseth is going to be a huge part of that race team and making Chip Ganassi Racing better. He’s going to be great for the sponsors.”

    As Kenseth looks forward his focus is on continuing to be competitive.

    “Certainly, it feels good to be back,” he said. “I’ve had a lot of fun the last two or three weeks working with Chad (Johnston, crew chief) and my new team, and getting back on the race track and being competitive. You just don’t know, I wasn’t real competitive the last season that I raced and, certainly, the year before that really didn’t go the way I thought it should go or wanted it to go necessarily. It feels good to be back, to be wanted, to be part of that team and to get a good start. It’s only one race; I have a lot of racing to do and I realize I have a lot of improving to do. But it has been fun so far, for sure.”

    In the meantime, he’s happy to be back racing and part of a team where he feels appreciated. And maybe, just maybe, he’ll get a shot at redemption.

    Follow @angiecampbell_ for the latest NASCAR news and feature stories.

  • Quarantined with Ryan Preece

    Quarantined with Ryan Preece

    By the time NASCAR returns to racing on May 17 at Darlington Raceway, it will have been two months since the drivers have seen any action on the track. During this time we’ve been catching up with some of the competitors to find out what their life has been like while quarantined at home.

    During this period NASCAR implemented the the iRacing Pro Invitational Series to fill the gap. While many of the current drivers are participating, it is, at best, a substitution for the real thing.  

    This week we spoke with JTG Daugherty Racing’s Ryan Preece to find out how he’s handling life at home, how he’s staying motivated, and what he has missed most.

    SM: Are you enjoying the time off or going stir crazy while you wait to get back to racing?

    RP: “The time off was definitely weird at first, but I’ve been able to get a lot of projects and house items done while we’ve been at home. However, I am really ready to go back to racing. I’ve been doing as much as I can on the simulator for practice and participating in the iRacing races, but I’m ready to be back in the real race car.”

    SM: Are you typically the kind of person who enjoys alone time or do you miss being around people?

    RP: “I would say a little bit of both. It’s been nice to unplug but I miss being at the track and around my team.”

    SM: What’s the one thing you miss most other than racing?

    RP: “I think just being at the shop and continuing to move forward. We have a little bit of a hole to dig out of once the race season resumes, and I miss being able to talk that through and continue building on a game plan to get better throughout the season.”

    SM: If for some reason you couldn’t race anymore, what career would you choose and why?

    RP: “I’ve been getting into a little bit of furniture building during the quarantine, so that could be something in the future. I’ve always been the person to work on my own things, whether that’s at home, at the shop, on the car, etc. It would be something I could do myself.”

    SM: What has been your favorite thing to do while you’re stuck at home?

    RP: “Racing on the simulator or the little bit of building furniture I’ve been doing.”

    SM: What is your least favorite thing to do at home?

    RP: “Housework chores my wife makes me do. Only kidding!”

    SM: Have you picked up any new hobbies or gotten back to a hobby you didn’t have time to pursue before?

    RP: “I’ve been on iRacing a lot more than I had been in the past. I’ve always enjoyed it and used to do it a lot before getting into the premier series, but obviously our schedule limits my time on it. I’ve been able to get back into it a lot more as I practice and participate in the Pro Invitational Series.”

    SM: Have you started any new projects around the house?

    RP: “We’ve had lots of projects. I built a ‘home’ for our dog, a crate, a desk, a rolling cart, and a couple of other things. We’re moving hopefully in a few weeks so we’ve been hard at work to get our current house in selling shape.”

    SM: Are you cooking for yourself at home? If so what’s the one thing you can cook well?

    RP: “My wife and I share the cooking duties but I can make a few things on our Kingsford charcoal grill.”

    SM: What’s your favorite music or band to listen to while you’re isolated at home?

    RP: “I listen to all types of music while working in my shop at home. It’s hard to pick one specific band or type.”

    SM: What are you doing to stay active and keep in shape?

    RP: “I work with a trainer during the regular season and we have a fairly strict diet plan as well. I also have a Peloton bike at my home to help keep in shape.”

    SM: Are you participating in iRacing? If so, does it help pass the time while you wait for the season to restart? Is it a good substitute for the real thing?

    RP: “It does help pass the time, but also leaves you really wanting to get back in the real thing. We’ll see in a few weeks if it’s helped when we get back to racing!”

    SM: What are you doing to keep positive and motivated?

    RP: “I have my modified car in my personal shop that I tinker around with and that helps pass the time and keep positive. Otherwise, I’ve been on the iRacing game and getting our house ready to move.”

    SM: What’s the first thing you will do when the quarantine is over?

    RP: “Once it is deemed safe for everyone, I can’t wait to get back to the shop and see the team. Returning to racing will be such a sense of normalcy and relief for us.”

    Thursday NASCAR announced a return to racing at Darlington Raceway and Charlotte Motor Speedway in May. Preece’s reaction on his Twitter page says it all.

    Follow @angiecampbell_ for the latest NASCAR news and feature stories.

  • Quarantined with Corey LaJoie

    Quarantined with Corey LaJoie

    It’s been a little over a month since NASCAR had to postpone the 2020 racing season due to the Covid-19 pandemic. NASCAR hopes to resume the season potentially in May but without fans in attendance. In the meantime, NASCAR has implemented the iRacing Pro Invitational Series to fill the gap. While many of the current drivers are participating, it is, at best, a substitution for the real thing.  

    This week I caught up with Go Fas Racing’s Corey LaJoie to find out how he’s coping during the stay-at-home order that most states have issued. On March 10, LaJoie and his wife, Kelly, welcomed their first child, Levi Ronnie, into the family.

    While he misses the racing action, he is enjoying this unique opportunity to spend more quality time with his family and embrace his new role as a dad.

    SM:  Are you enjoying the time off or going stir crazy while you wait to get back to racing?

    CL: A little bit of both. I’m enjoying spending time with Levi and my wife but I’m ready to get back to the racetrack.

    SM: Are you typically the kind of person who enjoys alone time or do you miss being around people?

    CL: I tend to go many places throughout the day whether it be the Cup shop or different businesses so I miss that part of my routine.

    SM: What’s the one thing you miss most other than racing?

    CL: I miss being able to go to the Joie of Seating and work on projects or build things.

    SM: If for some reason you couldn’t race anymore, what career would you choose and why?

    CL: I’d probably stay in racing in some sort. Maybe spotting while diving into Dad’s business a little more to help grow that.

    SM: What has been your favorite thing to do while you’re stuck at home?

    CL: Just chilling with Levi and doing projects around the house. I’ve retrofitted my garage into a gym.

    Lately sleep is a hot commodity that is hard to come by so that’s something I love but I know nighttime is tough with little man.

    SM: Have you picked up any new hobbies or gotten back to a hobby you didn’t have time to pursue before?

    CL: I’ve been mountain biking a lot more since it’s a great way to social distance while also training hand-eye coordination and stamina.

    SM: Have you started any new projects around the house?

    CL: Painting the garage, cleaning out junk drawers, organizing the man cave.

    SM: Are you cooking for yourself at home? If so what’s the one thing you can cook well?

    CL: We cook almost every meal now. I actually like cooking some things. I’m decent at steak and breakfast but Kelly can cook just about anything.

    SM: What’s your favorite music or band to listen to while you’re isolated at home?

    CL: I listen to a lot of country. I like Luke Combs, Sturgill Simpson and some good Christian music.

    SM: What are you doing to stay active and keep in shape?

    CL: Mountain biking and using some Onnit kettlebells, medicine balls and weighted vests keep the workouts intense.

    SM: Are you participating in iRacing? If so, does it help pass the time while you wait for the season to restart?

    CL: I haven’t done much on it yet. I don’t have much time to get away and fire up the simulator. It’s a great platform for the sport to stay relevant during the delay but I’ll be glad when we have real life topics to talk about every week.

    SM: What are you doing to keep positive and motivated?

    CL: The wife and I have been digging into the Word quite a bit and spending some great quality time together with Levi. We live next to a park so we get over there for a couple mile walks a day.

    SM: What’s the first thing you will do when the quarantine is over?

    CL: I’ll still be pretty cautious of where I go even when the lockdown is lifted since I don’t want to risk bringing anything home but I’m ready to go to the shop and start getting busy.

    Follow @angiecampbell_ for the latest NASCAR news and feature stories.

  • Quarantined with Jeremy Clements

    Quarantined with Jeremy Clements

    It’s been a month since NASCAR had to postpone the 2020 racing season due to the Covid-19 pandemic. While the current plan is to resume competition on May 3, it seems likely that it could be much longer before we once again see cars on the track.

    In the meantime, NASCAR has implemented the iRacing Pro Invitational Series to fill the gap. While many of the current drivers are participating, it is, at best, a substitution for the real thing.  

    This week we caught up with Xfinity Series regular Jeremy Clements to find out how he’s coping during the stay-at-home order that most states have issued.

    SM: Are you enjoying the time off or going stir crazy while you wait to get back to racing?

    JC: I’m definitely going stir crazy and can’t wait to get back to the track to race.

    SM: Are you typically the kind of person who enjoys alone time or do you miss being around people?

    JC: I miss being around people and just doing things like going to a restaurant together, a bar, movies, etc. Things that before you took for granted, I guess, now thinking about it. 

    SM: What’s the one thing you miss most other than racing?

    JC: Going out and not worrying about getting too close to people and touching things thinking it has the virus on it. 

    SM: If for some reason you couldn’t race anymore, what career would you choose and why?

    JC: I don’t know really, that’s a tough one. I would say I would be an Uber/Lyft driver or move to a Caribbean island to do excursion tours. 

    SM: What has been your favorite thing to do while you’re stuck at home?

    JC: My favorite thing to do at home is play with our dog Molly. She keeps me entertained most of the time. I’m always chasing her around messing with her and taking her for walks. 

    SM: What is your least favorite thing to do?

    JC: My least favorite thing to do at home is take my wife’s pictures and videos for her social media. Ha Ha, she’ll probably get mad I said that. 

    SM: Have you started any new projects around the house?

    JC: The projects around the house just consist of organizing, cleaning up, and some maintenance. My wife wants to repaint the bathroom since she doesn’t like the colors I’ve picked so I’m sure I’ll be doing that soon. 

    SM: Have you picked up any new hobbies or gotten back to a hobby you didn’t have time to pursue before?

    JC: I haven’t picked up on any new hobbies really. I try and stay active working out, playing basketball, and running. I’ve been catching up on some Xbox too as well as some Netflix series and movies. 

    SM: I noticed you digitally signed a lot of photos on Twitter and it seemed to be a big hit with the fans. Have you thought of any more new ways to interact with fans until you can get back to the track?

    JC: Yeah I did sign a lot of digital photographs for fans. That just kind of happened and was really cool to do. I haven’t really thought of anything else yet but I’ll get on that.

    SM: Are you cooking for yourself at home? If so, what’s the one thing you can cook well?

    JC: I do a lot of cooking. I really like these healthy homemade banana pancakes I’ve been making. I put blueberries and strawberries in them too. I always have enough for a few days as well. I also love to grill out on my charcoal grill. Anything from steak, ribs, fish, shrimp, chicken, pork. I’m always looking at something else to try. I’ve been looking at pellet grills so I’m probably going to get one of those soon since they seem so much easier to control the temperature and still get that smoky taste. 

    SM: What’s your favorite music or band to listen to while you’re isolated at home?

    JC: I generally listen to hard rock a lot. I like to listen to The Rise Guys which is a local radio show in the morning or catch their podcast if I don’t wake up in time. There’s also one channel on XM I like, which is Octane. I listen to it a lot. 

    SM: What are you doing to stay active and keep in shape?

    JC: Trying to stay in decent shape by lifting some weights, doing a few sets of this workout I found online and running, along with basketball. 

    SM: Are you participating in iRacing? If so, is it a good substitute for the real thing?

    JC: I haven’t gotten to do any iRacing, unfortunately. I have a rig but I need a new PC and going to have to spend some money to get it back going. It’s definitely a good tool to use especially going to road courses to learn the tracks. 

    SM: What are you doing to keep positive and motivated?

    JC: Trying to stay as much positive as can be and just rely on my faith in the good Lord knowing he’s got a plan. We’re in a storm now but it won’t last forever. 

    SM: What’s the first thing you will do when the quarantine is over?

    JC: The first thing I do after quarantine is hopefully get some friends and go to Topgolf to have some fun to celebrate. 

    Follow @angiecampbell_ for the latest NASCAR news and feature stories.

  • Jeffrey Earnhardt ready to put on ‘one hell of a show’ when NASCAR racing resumes

    Jeffrey Earnhardt ready to put on ‘one hell of a show’ when NASCAR racing resumes

    While everyone in the NASCAR community was disappointed to learn that the current race season has been put on hold due to the Covid-19 outbreak, it was particularly disheartening for Jeffrey Earnhardt.

    After parting ways with sponsor iK9 and Joe Gibbs Racing in Aug. 2019, Earnhardt was set to make his Xfinity Series comeback this year after reuniting with JD Motorsports with Gary Keller for at least 12 races.

    He previously drove for JDM in 2014, competing in a full Xfinity Series season, and is excited to team up with them again.

    “Well the biggest thing is what they can offer,” Earnhardt explained. “It was the chance to run the most races and be competitive. Seeing what they were able to do with Ross (Chastain) showed they can do it if the funding is there.”

    His first race was scheduled for Atlanta Motor Speedway on March 14 but it was postponed indefinitely until the current health crisis has resolved.

    “It was heartbreaking, honestly,” he admitted. “I have been itching to get back behind the wheel and we were so close to doing so and then this happened. It just really sucked for everyone honestly and now it’s became a bigger struggle for all these teams to figure things out financially but also the sponsors that were promised these races are also on our minds.

    “We have great sponsors that are very understanding. I think the effects of this mess have touched everyone and because of that I feel it’s only gonna make everyone stronger and more understanding. At the end of the day we will still try to always over deliver on any expectations and make all our partners proud.

    “I just hope a cure comes soon and people remain safe.  It’s been very sad to see what’s been happening with the virus.”  

    There is no timetable for when the drivers will be able to get back to racing but NASCAR has mentioned the possibility of racing mid-week and double-header weekends.

    Earnhardt and JDM are open to all of the options and the demands it may place on the organization.

    “I’m all about it because I want to race every day I can,” he emphasized. “The stress comes from being a smaller team and having to have cars ready to go. Its gonna be a challenge but I know the guys at JD Motorsports can handle it.”

    In the meantime, Earnhardt is focused on staying motivated and healthy.

    “I try to be around the shop as much as I can and help out. Outside of that, like everyone, recently iRacing has become a big tool and trying to stay physically fit as well. Of course, getting outdoors and hunting when I can to keep my sanity.” 

    He is also taking advantage of iRacing, but says, “I’ve got to practice up because these guys are good and some have a lot of time on there.”

    Earnhardt’s last race in the Xfinity Series was nine months ago at Chicagoland Speedway but he doesn’t think there will be much of a learning curve when racing resumes. If anything, he welcomes the challenge.

    His goal for the season is to “back up and exceed what they did with Ross (Chastain), results wise.”

    “Some of the guys at JD Motorsports I have worked with but it’s always a challenge in a new atmosphere. That being said, last year was all new to me and we came out of the gates swinging. I like that style.”

    Earnhardt also had a message for his fans.

    “We will always love their loyalty and support and when we get to go back racing there are gonna be some hungry drivers just waiting to put on one hell of a show for all the fans.”

    Follow @angiecampbell_ for the latest NASCAR news and feature stories.

  • Remembering Alan Kulwicki – Against All Odds

    Remembering Alan Kulwicki – Against All Odds

    Let’s travel back in time to NASCAR in the mid-1980s. If you take a look around on race day, you’ll see the likes of Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt and Bill Elliott. In the midst of this, a young man walks by wearing a fire suit and carrying a briefcase. One can only imagine the whispered remarks those “good old boys” made as Alan Kulwicki walked past.

    Kulwicki was originally from Wisconsin, had a mechanical engineering degree and was a college graduate. To say that he was an oddity in NASCAR is putting it mildly. But Kulwicki didn’t worry about things like fitting in; he was there to win races.

    He was often described as a perfectionist and a control freak and perhaps that’s why he chose to work for himself. After all, no one else could measure up to his high standards.

    Kulwicki started his rookie Cup season in 1986 with Bill Terry but when Terry decided to end his support for the race team mid-season, Kulwicki started his own team. It was a one-man show starring Kulwicki as driver, owner, crew chief and mechanic.

    No one thought he would succeed.

    Kulwicki’s unconventional methods began to pay off when he won the 1986 Winston Cup Rookie of the Year award. His first win came at Phoenix in 1988 where he first did his now famous, Polish Victory Lap, driving the opposite way on the track, with the driver’s side of the car facing the fans.

    Kulwicki expressed what that first win meant to him in Grand National Scene magazine.

    “It’s been a long road and it’s taken a lot of hard work to get here,” he said, “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.”

    In 1992, Kulwicki’s commitment to excellence was finally rewarded. He overcame a 278 point deficit in the final six races of the season and won the Cup Championship at the last race of the season in Atlanta.

    That day was notable for several reasons although not all were immediately apparent.

    It was the closest title win in NASCAR Cup Series history until the Chase for the Cup format was implemented in 2004. Kulwicki was the last owner/driver to win the title, the first Cup champion with a college degree and the first Cup champion born in a Northern state.

    I wonder if those fans at the Atlanta race had a sense of the history being made on that monumental day. A friend of mine was there and shared his memories of that day and the feeling he had that he was watching something special.

    “I was there at Atlanta the day Alan won his championship,” he told me. “It was one of the most incredible and historic races I’ve ever seen, in person or otherwise. “The King” ran his last race and Jeff Gordon his first, but it was Alan who won the day, if not the race.

    “It was a cold and windy day and most fans wasted little time leaving at the race’s end, but I waited down by the first turn fence for Alan to take that ride around the track in the convertible as newly crowned champion. For reasons unknown, it was something I felt compelled to do.

    “As they drove slowly by my position I gave a yell of congratulations and a wave to the champ as he waved back. Little did I know we were waving goodbye.”

    Kulwicki’s reign as Champion was short-lived.

    The 1993 season had gotten off to a strong start and he was already ninth in the point standings when everything changed in the blink of an eye. On April 1, 1993, he was flying to the next race in Bristol, Tennessee when the plane carrying him and three others went down near Bristol. There were no survivors.

    Saturday morning at Bristol, all the drivers were there as the Alan Kulwicki hauler circled Bristol and left the track for the last time.

    Kyle Petty remembers that day vividly saying, “I’ve been around racing a long time and I’ve lost a son. I think the saddest thing I’ve ever seen at a racetrack was Alan’s truck leaving Bristol, Tennessee. We just sat and cried.”

    On Sunday, Rusty Wallace won the race and honored his friend by doing the Polish Victory Lap. During the remainder of the 1993 season, every winning driver completed the Polish Victory Lap to honor Kulwicki’s memory.

    Kulwicki was a bright light whose flame was extinguished far too soon and his life was a testament of hope that anything is possible. He did things his way and succeeded against all odds, believing in himself when no one else did.

    As Alan said, “If you don’t believe, you don’t belong.”

    • Repost – Originally published April 4, 2015