Full Throttle

The events of April 1st 1993 had all the trappings of an April Fools Joke. It’s was unbelievable, incomprehensible and like many pranks pulled on that date absurd, but with a hint of truth to be just possible.

As NASCAR Nation awoke on the morning of April 2nd 1993 what should’ve been a joke wasn’t and reality splashed across the nations sports pages,the sport lost its reigning Winston Cup Champion Alan Kulwicki.

Less than five months after winning the Winston Cup championship, Kulwicki died in a plane crash shortly before he was to arrive at Tri-Cities Regional Airport. It was April 1, 1993.

Kulwicki, the last owner-driver to capture the title, was looking forward to big things. But something went wrong on the plane heading to the Tri-Cities from Knoxville, Tenn., where he had attended an autograph session at Hooters, sponsor of his No. 7 Ford team. Kulwicki, Hooters executive Mark Brooks, sports marketing director Dan Duncan and pilot Charlie Campbell never made it. There were no survivors.

On the morning after the fatal plane crash, Kulwicki’s transporter made one final clockwise lap of Bristol Motor Speedway - emulating his patented “Polish Victory Lap” - in one of the most emotional moments in the track’s history.

“I hope that when 1993 is over, the people at Winston, the people at NASCAR, and the competitors will all look back and say, ‘We were proud to have him represent us as our champion.’” - From Alan’s 1992 Championship Awards speech.

“It just whets your appetite to come back and do it again. I have a motto: Work to become, not to acquire. I didn’t work to win a million dollars, I worked to become Winston Cup champion.” - Alan Kulwicki at the Winston Cup Banquet.

“First you learn to drive fast. Next, you learn to drive fast in traffic. Then, you learn to do it for 500 miles” - Alan Kulwicki.

“In every aspect of life, have a game plan, and then do your best to achieve it” - Alan Kulwicki.

“If you don’t believe you don’t belong” - Alan Kulwicki.

In memorial, Alan Kulwicki a forever champion and the #7 Hooters Ford called the “Underbird”.