Classic Paint Schemes: Alan Kulwicki

It was on this day in 1993 that NASCAR lost its reigning champion, Alan Kulwicki, in an airplane accident near Bristol Motor Speedway. Kulwicki won the 1992 Winston Cup Championship, driving for his own team in the #7 Hooters Thunderbird. Kulwicki was famous because he did things his way, refusing to race for other teams who had more funding, instead insisting on owning his own team and doing things his way. Kulwicki's championship was impressive because it was the last earned by an owner driver and because Kulwicki was from Wisconsin and not the South which most of the drivers of the time called home.

Kulwicki is probably most recognized for his famous Hooters paint schemes. Alan secured sponsorship from Hooters for the fourth race of the 1991 season in a one-race deal. Due to his success in that race, he secured a full-time sponsorship deal with the restaurant chain. In 1992, Kulwicki drove the #7 Hooters sponsored Thunderbird to the Winston Cup Championship. Fittingly, he won the championship by finishing second in the Hooters 500 season finale, winning the championship by a mere 10 points over Bill Elliot. Kulwicki got special permission from NASCAR to change the name on the front of his car from THUNDERBIRD, to UNDERBIRD in honor of his underdog status. That car is one of the more legendary cars in NASCAR history.

Kulwicki also drove a few more paint schemes most fans recognize. In 1987, Alan took to the track with sponsorship from Zerex Antifreeze. Alan picked up his first Winston Cup Series victory piloting the Zerex car in the Checker 500 at Phoenix on November 6, 1988. After the race, Alan made his famous Polish Victory Lap, circling the track in the wrong direction so he could wave directly to the fans from his car. Kulwicki also did this when he won the Winston Cup Championship in 1992.

The paint scheme of the Zerex car got a little more colorful in its second generation. This Zerex car is another classic Kulwicki design. Kulwicki drove the Zerex cars until 1991.

Kulwicki found himself without sponsorship to start the 1991 season. To start the season, five teams painted their cars in honor of each branch of the US military. This was to honor the armed forces who were participating in the Gulf War at the time. Alan's car featured the US Army. The car was khaki and black and was a great visual tribute to the armed forces.

Alan Kulwicki's story is one of courage, hard work and independence. Kulwicki did things his way and achieved championship success doing so. On this April 1st, it is good to look back at this great champion and remember his accomplishments, contributions to the sport and some of the classic cars he drove.

Comments

[Darren]

Nice article...

[Paul Cheney]

My first cup race, Dover September 1992. Alan won the pole. My wife and I went out to eat Saturday night before the race at the Blue something or other restaurant in Dover, I can't remember the name. Alan and friends were sitting at the table next to us. He was very friendly, we had a nice conversation through dinner.
How things have changed. Bush cars at that time still came to the races on open trailers.

[Matt]

AK was an amazing driver. He was the reason I was a fan of NASCAR and my love for the sport has never fully returned after his passing. There was something wonderful about a college educated Wisconsin boy showing up the south every once in a while. The Polish Victory Lap was something wonderful to see.

I miss AK in the sport and wish he had a little more recognition from the masses as to his amazing accomplishment in 1992.