1984 - Ard Outlasts Kulwicki in Milwaukee Red Carpet 200

Sam Ard waves to the crowd after his win Sunday afternoon in the Red Carpet 200 NASCAR sportsman late model race at the Milwaukee Mile. Dick Richards of Red Carpet Industries makes the presentation. – Weber Brothers Photo

West Allis, Wis. (May 13, 1984) – It didn’t take Sam Ard long to adapt to the Wisconsin State Fair Park Speedway’s mile, paved oval.

Appearing at the track for the first time in his career, Ard breezed to victory in Sunday afternoon’s Red Carpet 200-mile NASCAR late model sportsman event, outrunning home state pilot Alan Kulwicki to pick up the triumph.

Ard, who had not driven on the track prior to practicing for the event on Saturday, crossed the finish line about two seconds ahead of Kulwicki to nail down his fourth victory on the circuit this season and his second in a row.

Dick Trickle led a contingent of four drivers who finished one lap down, by placing third; Bobby Allison outdueled his son, Davey, to claim fourth place money, and Dale Jarrett came in sixth.

Trickle dominated Saturday’s time trials, turning a lap at 112.984 miles per hour to earn the pole position for Sunday’s 200-miler.

Trickle then put that advantage to good use at the outset of the contest, grabbing the lead at the green, while Kulwicki, who had started second in the 26-car field, fell to sixth after being bumped from behind.

Ard, who started third, annexed the lead for the first time by passing Trickle on the fourth mile. The circuit’s defending champion retained the top spot until lap 67, when he pitted for the first time, giving the frontrunning position to Kulwicki, who had recovered nicely from his earlier problems.

When Ard returned to action he found himself in sixth place, but the 45-year-old Asheboro, N.C., pilot fought his way back into contention and regained the lead on the 104th circuit.

Ard pitted for the second time on lap 111, again relinquishing the lead to Kulwicki in the process. However, when Kulwicki brought his car in for servicing on the 117th mile, Ard moved back on top for good.

Ard averaged 97.026 miles per hour in winning the event, which was slowed by caution flags six times for 26 laps.


Results –


1. Sam Ard
2. Alan Kulwicki
3. Dick Trickle
4. Bobby Allison
5. Davey Allison
6. Dale Jarrett
7. Tommy Houston
8. Jack Ingram
9. Joe Thurman
10.Ed Berrier
11.Bill Venturini
12.Jeff Hensley
13.Bob Brevak
14.Dickie Boswell
15.Bob Schacht
16.Charlie Luck
17.Glenn Jarrett
18.Ronnie Silver
19.L.D. Ottinger
20.Fred Zack