Gerald Kulwicki, father of late NASCAR champion, dies at 78 | Modesto Bee

Gerald Kulwicki, the father of 1992 NASCAR Cup champion Alan Kuwlicki, passed away Saturday night in Charlotte. He was 78.

Mr. Kulwicki lived part of the year in Charlotte in a home originally owned by his late son, while also residing in his native Wisconsin.

Alan Kulwicki moved to North Carolina and started his own race team to compete at NASCAR's highest level. He won rookie of the year honors in 1986 despite basically owning one car and two motors.

Alan later turned down a chance to drive for car owner Junior Johnson to keep running his own team, and in 1992 he wound up edging Johnson's team, with Bill Elliott driving, by 10 points to win the championship.

Alan, who had five career Cup victories, was killed in 1993 when an airplane he was aboard crashed while trying to land at Tri-Cities Airport in Tennessee as Kulwicki was traveling to a race in Bristol.

Funeral arrangements for Gerald Kulwicki were still pending as of late Saturday.