Michael McDowell's Darlington throwback honors Alan Kulwicki

McDowell’s No. 95 Chevrolet for the Sept. 3 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Darlington will be adorned with a paint scheme commemorating Kulwicki’s 1986 rookie season

In 1986, Kulwicki created his own team after his previous team ceased operation. That year, Kulwicki served as the team owner, driver, crew chief, and chief mechanic during his rookie season. He would go on to win rookie of the year honors later that year.

Kulwicki, who died in a plane crash in 1993, worked out of LFR’s current race shop building his championship winning cars.

“The history that our shop contains is indescribable,” said McDowell. “I am really looking forward to honoring Alan, and I hope I can do my own “Polish” victory lap at Darlington in his memory!”

McDowell and LFR consider themselves a similar team to Kulwicki’s, as they too strive for greatness with limited resources.

The team’s vice president of operations, Jeremy Lange, said he aims to have the same work ethic and atmosphere Kulwicki once had in his race shop.

“Here at LFR we take pride in what we are doing week in and week out, and we are excited to pay tribute to Alan Kulwicki and what he built in the same race shop we work in every day,” said Lange. “His success as a single-car team is incredible, and we strive for the same success.”