Eyes on the Prize

Kulwicki and his 1992 Hooters Ford

The 1992 Winston Cup season started off well for AK Racing.  Kulwicki earned a top five in the Daytona 500 and finished first at Bristol once again, capturing the fourth victory of his career.  When he won again at Pocono International Raceway, he climbed to third in the season-long points standings.  Although he was only 13 races into the 29 races season, Kulwicki looked like one of the championship favorites. 

Among his primary competitors was Bill Elliott, who had joined Junior Johnson’s team in the offseason.  Kulwicki would also have to defeat two sons of NASCAR legends.  Davey Allison, the elder son of Bobby Allison, was having an outstanding year with the powerful Robert Yates Racing team.  Kyle Petty, son of NASCAR’s “King” Richard Petty, had gotten off to a slow start but rapidly began to catch the points leaders as the season wore on.  Other championship threats in 1992 were former ASA champion Mark Martin and veteran racer Harry Gant.

Years earlier, Kulwicki attributed the growing success of his team to being focused on the end goal.  “I’ve always been a goal-oriented person.  If you don’t set goals and then give a total effort toward reaching them, you’ll never really have a sense of direction.  This applies personally as well as professionally.  The dictionary is the only place where you’ll find success appearing before work.  In every aspect of life, you have to have a strategy or game plan to go by and then strive your best to achieve it.”

Kulwicki celebrates in victory lane after earning his fifth career win at Pocono International Raceway.

Kulwicki gives out a few pre-race high fives.

Kulwicki's fourth career victory came in this event, the 1992 Food City 500, at Bristol International Raceway.

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