Sam Ard

Sam Ard
Born (1939-02-14) February 14, 1939
Pamplico, South Carolina
Achievements 1983, 1984 Busch Series champion
Awards 1983, 1984 Busch Series Most Popular Driver
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career
1 race run over 1 year
First race 1984 Goody's 500 (Martinsville)
Last race 1984 Goody's 500 (Martinsville)
NASCAR Xfinity Series career
Best finish 1st - 1983, 1984
First race 1982 Goody's 300 (Daytona)
Last race 1984 Komfort Koach 200 (Rockingham)
First win 1982 Dogwood 500 (Martinsville)
Last win 1984 Coca-Cola 300 (North Wilkesboro)
Wins Top tens Poles
22 79 24
Statistics current as of March 4, 2012.

Sam Ard (born February 14, 1939 in Pamplico, South Carolina) is a former NASCAR driver.

Ard was the runner-up in 1982 of NASCAR's Late Model Sportsman Series (which eventually became the NASCAR Xfinity Series), and followed up his run with back-to-back championships in 1983 and 1984. He won a total of 22 races and 24 pole positions in the series during his career in this division, and set a record for the most wins in a single season in Late Model Sportsman Series competition with 10 race victories. Ard retired after being seriously injured in a crash at the North Carolina Speedway on October 20, 1984.

He made his first and only Winston Cup Series start on September 23, 1984 at Martinsville. He started 27th in the 31 car field, but lasted just one lap before a steering failure ended his day.

After retiring as a driver, Ard became an owner, fielding cars for Jimmy Hensley, Ed Berrier, and Jay Fogelman, among others.

Ard is currently battling Alzheimer's Disease and Parkinson's Disease. His family often receives donations and aid from the racing community to help him. In 2006, drivers Kevin Harvick and Dale Earnhardt Jr. led a charge to donate a substantial amount of funds for the care of Ard and his family. After tying Ard's Nationwide Series single-season victory record in 2008, Kyle Busch announced that he would give $100,000 to aid Ard's family with his care and mounting medical expenses in his honor.[1]

Motorsports career results

NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Winston Cup Series

1 Ard's team was a post-entry for the race and thus did not receive points.[3]

Busch Series

References

Source: Sam Ard Family, SamArd.com

External links

Preceded by
Jack Ingram
NASCAR Budweiser Late Model Sportsman Champion
1983–1984
Succeeded by
Jack Ingram
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