“Lots of Disbelief” – NASCAR Community Recalls the Tragic & Shocking Death of Hall of Famer

Having entered the Winston Cup world as an anomaly, a ‘Northerner’ taught the NASCAR verse that good race car drivers are not necessarily bred in the Southern parts of the United States of America. With a determination as solid as a rock, the ‘Polish Prince’ left his home in Milwaukee in 1984 with just a pickup truck carrying his self-built car.

However, even after achieving all that he set out to do, NASCAR’s 1992 Winston Cup Series champion could not win his battle with fate and life.

April 1, 2023, marks the 30th death anniversary of NASCAR champion Alan Kulwicki, who lost his life in 1993 in a plane crash near Bristol Motor Speedway. With a little more than just four months to his win, Kulwicki onboarded a short 30-minute flight with his PR representative Mark Brooks and Dan Duncan that crashed because of the presence of icing on the wings.

The news of Kulwicki’s passing away sent a wave of shock and sadness across the nation and to date, many, including his PR Director Tom Roberts and Crew Chief Paul Andrews, find it difficult to talk about his death.

In a recent interaction with TMJ4, Kulwicki’s Crew Chief Paul Andrews said, “Lots of disbelief. You know, of course, technology was nothing like it is now. Like you said a while ago, the AP wire service comes across the typewriter you might say, and it (the news of his death) was just, it was unbelievable.”

Paul Andrews and Tom Roberts reveal they were supposed to be on that plane

While talking about their relationship with Alan Kulwicki, Andrews shared, “He gave me a small amount of money for my kids. Just things like that, just a really good guy.” However, it seemed that reminiscing about Kulwicki’s death is always difficult for him. He said, “We were definitely supposed to be on the plane.” Moreover, he revealed that he had to stay back at Knoxville to practice pit stops and hence could not accompany Kulwicki.

And just like Andrews, Tom Roberts also has the details of that particular day etched in his mind. Sharing how a change of decision affected his life, he said, “I was gonna fly on up to Tri-Cities with them. But something in the back of my mind said quality time. Dan Duncan was the guy that Bob Brooks (President of Hooters) had hired. This was the guy that Alan really needed to have quality time with.”

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NASCAR fans remember Alan Kulwicki – an inspiration for generations

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Alan Kulwicki entered the world of NASCAR at the age of 30 – something that many might consider as late. However, his sheer determination and exceptional talent established him as one of the most skilled drivers in the sport. Having sold all his possessions to make his own way in NASCAR, Kulwicki was known for his clean racing and impeccable car knowledge.

“Being a Hall of Famer, but the guy that did it his way, is such an inspiration to all short track drivers that are out there.” 

Remembering him on his 30th death anniversary, NASCAR fans wrote on Twitter,

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A Winston Cup champion and a Hall of Fame, Kulwicki carved his own unique path in the world of NASCAR. From being one of the first full-time drivers to have a university degree (Mechanical Engineering), to selling all his possessions to dedicate his life to racing, Kulwicki has left a legacy that has inspired many including Milwaukee-based Cup drivers like Ty Majeski, Alex Prunty, and Luke Fenhaus.