Most people are aware of Greenfield, Wisconsin?s Alan Kulwicki, and his winning the 1992 NASCAR Winston Cup Championship. However, some may forget that Alan spent parts of three seasons cutting his racing teeth in the old USAC Stock Car series.
Beginning on Milwaukee-area short tracks in 1973, Alan won his first race on a Tuesday night at Leo?s Speedway in Oshkosh, WI in August of that year in his ?69 Camaro. Gradually, he moved up the racing ladder, though, at a bit slower rate due to his commitments in earning an engineering degree. After earning track championships at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna (WI) and the Slinger Super Speedway, Alan moved to the tough American Speed Association and their light-weight late model cars in 1979. However, stints in the venerable United States Auto Club stock car division came calling.
The USAC stock car division had a mixture of full-sized cars along with the compact cars which began taking over the division in the late-1970?s. The main difference between an ASA car and their USAC counterpart was weight. The USAC came in at about 400 plus pounds heavier and had a more stock appearance. Alan made had a successful USAC debut at Illiana Motor Speedway in Schererville, IN in Sept. of 1979 where he finished fifth (twin 75-lap heats) overall in Billy Schwister?s memorable Ford Granada.
In 1980, he teamed up with Dousman, Wisconsin?s Tom Hanley. With sponsorship from local radio station WLPX and Team Electronics Kulwicki qualified sixth for the Miller 200 at the Milwaukee Mile. However transmission problems dropped the speedy Camaro from the running order as Rusty Wallace sped to victory. In August during the Fair Stock 200 Kulwicki qualified third, pressuring leaders Wallace and Joe Ruttman early in the event, Kulwicki once again was eliminated by mechanical woes. Wallace once again drove to victory lane.
Steve Zautke, a Milwaukee, WI native, was raised in the sport of auto racing. His father, Bill, was a movie photographer that shot racing footage at tracks such as the Milwaukee Mile and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the 1960’s and 1970’s Steve’s first professional job in racing was as an Emergency Medical Technician at tracks such as Angell Park and Hales Corners Speedway (1988-1991). Steve has also worked for the Milwaukee Mile as videographer, in media relations and historian (1993-2011). Steve also has worked as a reporter for Racing Information Systems (RIS) and has written features for ‘Vintage Oval Racing’ and ‘Victory Lane’ magazines. Most recently, Steve has written a book on Road America for Arcadia Publishing. ( http://www.amazon.com/Road-America-Nascar-Library-Collection/dp/1467111457 ) Steve co-hosts “Sparky’s Final Inspection” a motorsports-based radio show with hosts, Steve “Sparky” Fifer and “NASCAR Girl” Summer Santana on Sports Radio 1250AM in Milwaukee and is also available on the internet at www.Sportradio1250.com. A member of the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame Induction Committee, Steve follows all types of racing from the dirt tracks to Formula One.
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