A.K.Champion!!…He and Davy were the greatest!
Michael
When alan started out in wisconsin we would watch him at slinger speedway and other tracks in wis . He was a champion then to the wis folks ,then in nascar america got to see the true champion he was.
A little man with a big heart & alot of desire a man who was able to win the WINSTON CUP CHAMPIONSHIP with is OWN RACE TEAM. Alan you where a hell of a man & a class act. I still am a strong supporter of nascar racing but it is not the same with out you out there on the track .
We now have another bright wis native out there racing this year and i hope when matt kenseth wins his first winston cup race he will remember the polish victory lap & spin out.
always #7 fan formerly from wisconsin now in virginia
Dan Biertzer
I still remember the day like it was yesterday. I was only 10 but was a race fan and always wanted to see Alan win. It was so fitting in '92, the King was gone and they crowned a new champion that day, it was good ol' AK. But I also remember the day I heard Dr. Jerry Punch say " Alan Kulwicki passed away today from injuries suffered in a plane accident." I just cried my eyes off. It was like I was losing a family member. See Alan was from a town not to far away from where I live. Then it was a dark and gloomy day, it was raining and the race was called. The Hooter's car hauler was brought out and it was like saying a final good-bye to AK. And who can forget when Rusty and Dale carried the flags in a Polish lap. Dale had Alan's and Rusty had Davey's. It's hard to think that in a flash he was gone. He will always be missed and still is the champion in my heart. :'(
Akfan
Alan Kulwicki's defining characteristic was his individuality. His goals were precisely formulated, his thoughts concisely stated, and his actions meticulously performed. He steadfastly went about his work and was successful at his task. But, like such great drivers as Junior Johnson in the 1950's and 1960's, Richard Petty in the 1960's and the 1970's, and Bill Elliott in the 1980's, Alan's first and last ambition was to realize his dreams his way. Nothing more...nothing less. When Alan shocked the NASCAR world by turning down Johnson's own #22 Maxwell House Coffee Ford Thunderbird ride, which was subsequently manned by Sterling Marlin, the strength of Alan's conviction to himself was made refreshingly apparent. What sweet satisfaction for him to not only win the championship, but to best Johnson's other car, Elliott's #11 Budweiser Ford. The 1992 Hooters 500 at Atlanta was the exclamation point and end of story for Alan's devotion to his ideals, as well as his coronation as the new king of stock car racing. His performance influenced many drivers to walk their own road at a time when it was becoming increasingly difficult to do so. Little did the likes of Elliott, Ricky Rudd, Brett Bodine, and Geoff Bodine (the man who bought the #7 team from the Kulwicki estate) realize, but Alan's stunning 1992 season was as misleading as it was amazing, as deceptive as it was laudable. The sport, to trot out an overused phrase, "changed drastically" in 1993 and 1994. The shocking and untimely deaths of Alan, Davey Allison, and Neil Bonnett (along with those of lesser-known NASCAR luminaries such as Joe Bouer and Rodney Orr) were bitter seasoning sprinkled amongst other stories such as the retirement of King Richard Petty; the dawn of the Jeff Gordon era; two stellar rookie classes featuring Gordon, Kenny Wallace, Bobby Labonte, Jeff Burton and Ward Burton; the surprising Goodyear tire tests at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the subsequent running of the inaugural Brickyard 400; the Hoosier Tire Battle; the demise of North Wilkesboro Speedway; and the boom of new track construction. When, in 1994, Ernie Irvan nearly lost his life at the wheel of Robert Yate's star-crossed #28 Havoline Ford at Michigan, a domino effect of driver changes was set into motion that served as the final word on the beginning of a new era in NASCAR. Alan Kulwicki has come to symbolize the era that ended when this new one commenced. But the key to Alan's enduring popularity is that he did things his way. He was completely true to himself, because even to succeed someone else's way would have been no victory for Alan. To abdicate his values of indivuality, work, and achievement would have been to cheat himself. "Who would have known?" one might ask, if Alan had looked elsewhere for success, lobbied NASCAR for aid, asked others for help. "I would..." Alan would likely respond. In an age when the historically revolutionary concept of individual achievement has brought us by far the greatest civilization yet to grace our planet, yet the individual is despised, feared, even ostracized by those whose hatred of success and glory is betrayed by their contempt for the successful and the glorious, Alan and his legacy are a guilty pleasure enjoyed by many. His success, gained is his fashion, is symbolic of the greatness that is latent in us all, should we choose to display his courage, his vision, and his determination. Alan did not sacrifice; sacrifice is the exchange of a value for something of lesser value. Alan put into life what he thought his dreams were worth, and was rewarded appropriately. That is how life works, despite the words of cynics who bemoan man's very existence as tortured and doomed. Alan Kulwicki is proof positive of the greatest truths of life, truths that have been slandered and nearly forgotten; that work brings reward, that there is no difference between the ideal and the practical, and that one man can move the world. His legacy is the legion of fans who celebrate not merely his personality or his faith, but his achievements. His intransigent belief in himself, in a day when we are all, aged 9 to 90, implored to forget ourselves, instructed to think only of others, and informed that we are automatons animated by genes, fate, and emotion, gives the lies to those legends by being the direct cause of his professional success. That success, Alan's success at his work, is the only reason we have ever heard of him. And his work, as a symbol of his ideals, is why we loved him, and why he is our hero.
Michael Wall
Alan, you are the reason I love NASCAR. Growing up in Wisconsin, you made it easy to love the sport. Rusty Wallace has taken over as my favorite for the reason he remembers you in every race he wins. Look down on him for today's race so we can have another tribute to you.
Stuart
Alan showed all of nascar what the determination of one man could achieve. His talent in the sport will always be missed. He did not have to use the aggressive tactics to win like a lot of the other drivers. To me he will always be #1.
Gary Young
You are missed, my friend….It doesn't seem like seven years since the Passing of A.K. One of the greatest drivers that we ever saw.
We have to wonder what Racing would be like if Alan was still here? Would Single Car Teams still be competitive? Would Owner Drivers be the Norm? Would A.K. still be driving for himself?
We had the opportunity to meet Alan a couple times, and he was a perfect gentleman. It was a thrill, and I will cherish his autograghs forever.
We miss you A.K. Please tell Davey that we said hello
Robert, and Terry Rogers
I was a Davey Allison fan but i was impressed with the way Alan did things his way.My most memorable moment as a fan was the 92 hooters 500.That day was and always will be the most exiting day of racing ever.
Even though Davey lost the championship that day ,Alan won it in grand fashion. I remember the day i heard the news of his death i was floored. And then to loose Davey just a couple of months later was even worse.
But life goes on and so does racing . these guys will never be forgotten
Steve Blue
I miss guy's like Alan. I wonder some times if a guy like him would be as successful in today's Winston Cup. Part of me says yes but as the Cale Yarborough's go by the way side I think it is sad. I liked when guy's Alan and Cale could come in and run well and win championships. I don't believe that is so anymore. I am glad I got to see the last truly independent win a championship because unless NASCAR does something we won't see it again. 7 forever!!!
Steve Hansen
Alan, Watching you watch your car go through tech was one of my favorite at track activities. You would stand there, lost in thought, oblivious to everything that was going on around you except for what was happening to your car. The look in your eyes was so intense, so dedicated, so you. Everytime I go to the track I stand in the inspection area and just remembering you and that look and wonder what you're seeing that day. Forever our champion, you showed us all it could be done.
Ann Bowman
If only Alan was here today...Nascar Racing wouldn't be the same! Can you imagine the competition with Alan competing! Wow!
Rusty Fan
His #7 still sets on my living room entertainment center.
Butch
My first Winston Cup race was Atlanta of 1992 . I got to see My two favorite drivers one lose the Championship and the other win it. Alan and Davey will NEVER be forgotten, by their fans. I was up against the fence when he did his "POLISH VICTORY" Lap and that is one memory I will never forget to hear the crowd cheer for such a Great driver, who struggled for so long finally win it all. Then to have him taken from his fans. I will never forget hearing it on the news about Alan I thought it was some sick joke. Then to hear it again about Davey just months later was alot for this race fan to take. Alan and Davey you will never be forgotten. God must have needed some good racin' up there; my son till this day says when a thunderstorm comes through Oh cool Alan and Davey are racin up there wonder who is winning?
Jocelyn
As I sat here reading these posts I looked up on the wall to a picture from 1992 of Alan and Davey pitting back to back at Charlotte next to a picture of Mark Martin and I realized; When asked who in Winston Cup I cheer for, I reply: Until April 1, 1993 I cheered for Alan Kulwicki but now I cheer for Mark Martin. I've just realized how much you mean to me Alan.
Not even gone, let alone forgotten.
Doug Fusek
When my husband got me started going to the Atlanta and Michigan tracks,I picked ALAN as my driver. I remember the morning I heard about his death I set down on the stairway and cryed. I was there when he won the championship at Atlanta and I will never forget it. He was so proud. He was always a good clean driver and I loved the number 7 on his car. You see I always thought of the #7 being Gods number, and after watching ALAN race I thought to myself what better number could he have. I miss you ALAN.
Carol Bibbins, Indiana
The BEST!!!!…IF HE WAS HERE NOBODY COULD RUN WITH HIM.A TRUE CHAMPION.
A.K. AND D.A. WILL ALWAYS BE REMBERED AS GOOD CLEAN DRIVERS THAT GAVE IT THEIR ALL TO BE TRUE CHAMPIONS .THEY ARE VERY MISSED.
Doug Bible