UNDERDOG KULWICKI WINS THE 1992 CHAMPIONSHIP IN A NAILBITER
When Alan Kulwicki and Bill Elliott met at the Atlanta Motor Speedway for the Hooters 500 in 1992, more was at stake than one race. Both drivers were in contention for the NASCAR Winston Cup Series $1 million championship, but were substantially behind points leader Davey Allison, who needed only a fifth place finish to secure the title. The NASCAR Winston Cup Series championship, based on points accrued throughout the season, was considered an amazing feat for anyone but an impossible dream for a team owner-driver like Kulwicki.
The season finale was noteworthy for two other reasons as well - one whose historical importance was immediately evident, the other only in retrospect. It was the last race for Richard Petty, then 55 years old and the sport's "King" with 200 wins and seven championships. It was also the debut race for a young driver named Jeff Gordon, who would go on to garner multiple championships as well.
The race was not terribly successful for either Gordon or Petty. Petty was swept into a wreck on the 59th of 328 laps. He took his car to the garage for a long period of repairs, then returned so he could be running at the conclusion of his career. He finished 35th. Gordon finished 31st after being sidelined in an accident.
As the race developed, it was looking like Allison and his team would be a million dollars richer and have a new title of "champions." However, a brush with Ernie Irvan on the 254th lap destroyed Allison's bid for the title.
"We were just trying to run a smart race," said Allison, who was in sixth place when the accident happened. "It looked like Ernie might have had a flat tire and the car got away from him. It's a crusher, but that's the way it goes sometimes. Our team had a great year; we just didn't win the championship."
At the point of Allison's bad luck, it appeared that Kulwicki, who had led most of the race, would roll to the title by winning the race. But on the 310th lap, Kulwicki pitted for fuel and fell behind Elliott. Now the leader, Elliott came in on 314 and emerged from the pits still ahead.
But Kulwicki has his eye on the big prize. He knew about the five bonus points given to the driver leading the most laps in a race. He also knew that by taking those five points away from Elliott he could avoid the point standings tie that would award the championship to Elliott because he had more wins on the season. Elliott won five times in 1992; Kulwicki had won only twice.
Kulwicki calculated just right. He stayed out long enough to assure that he'd lead 103 laps to Elliott's 102. Hampered by a faulty radio, Elliott's crew was not able to make the laps-led statistic add up in their favor.
"I won, but I lost," said a gracious Elliott. "I'd like to have taken the title for a second time, but to win the last race Richard Petty ever ran is special, so I'll take that. I want to congratulate both Alan and Richard. The effort Alan has put into building his own team is inspiring and terrific."
"It's like I'm living a dream," said Wisconsin native Kulwicki, who appeared stunned by his unexpected success. "This is the answer to a long quest."
Kulwicki was a "privateer" who overcame many problems, most often under-funding, to build his own racing operation. As both team owner and driver, Kulwicki found himself in the pleasant position of not having to split the $1 million bonus going to the 1992 NASCAR Winston Cup Series champion. ...more
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