Alan Kulwicki
West Allis,
Wis. (July 10, 1983) – In a spectacular race that often resembled a war, Alan
Kulwicki marked the zenith of his career by winning the American Speed
Association-sanctioned Miller 200 by a scant tenth of a second over Bob
Senneker at the Milwaukee Mile.
Contending
for the top spot the entire 200-mile race distance, Kulwicki took the lead for
good with 21 laps remaining but had to resist all challenges by Senneker and
six other drivers compressed into the lead towards the end of the race.
Three brief cautions for minor incidents during the final 20 miles provided no chance for Kulwicki to work on building a lead and Senneker had his Camaro dead even with Kulwicki's Firebird in the final turn only to be out-accelerated to the final flag that the pair flashed under in overlap fashion.
Immediately
behind the dueling leaders at the finish were Joe Ruttman, charging hard, after
a late race caution pit stop for fresh tires; ever spectacular Gary Balough in
fourth; smooth Mike Miller in fifth; then Butch Miller, Mark Martin, and Bobby
Dotter rounding out the top eight, all on the lead lap.
Kulwicki’s
nerves were no doubt frayed by late cautions at lap 100 – 103 when Terry
Senneker got a foul of the charging Joe Ruttman and spun in turn one, and again
when David Green spun on lap 104, though he recovered to finish 20th.
A final caution appeared between 189 and 193 to police oil from the main
straightaway.
“It’s the
biggest win, the biggest day of my career,” Kulwicki said after the race. “And
I’m really happy it happened in front of my hometown fans and the people who’ve
helped me so much since I began racing.”
Results –
1. Alan Kulwicki
2. Bob Senneker
3. Joe Ruttman
4. Gary Balough
5. Mike Miller
6. Butch Miller
7. Mark Martin
8. Bobby Dotter
9. Jody Ridley
10. Terry
Senneker
11. Bob
Strait
12. Arnie
Christen
13. Tom
Jones
14. Dennis
Vogel
15. Willie
Goeden
16. Steve
Seligman
17. Buddy
Schrock
18. Rusty
Wallace
19. Don
Gregory
20. David
Green
21. Tom
Harrington
22. Kent
Stauffer
23. Davey
Allison
24. Dick
Trickle
25. Dennis
Lampman
26. Curt
Cheshire
27. Darrell
Waltrip
28. Mike
Patrick
29. Dave
Tomczak
30. Rick
Carelli
31. Ed
Evans
32. Harold
Fair
33. Dennis
Martin
34. Al Schill
35. Mutley
Kurkowski
36.
Jim
Sauter
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