Sam Ard

Sam Ard ( born February 14, 1939 in Asheboro, North Carolina ) is a former American NASCAR driver. In the years 1983 and 1984 he won the title in today's Nationwide Series.

Career

Sam Ard was one of the drivers who were in the former Budweiser Late Model Sportsman Series, today's NASCAR Nationwide Series, the first race there. This first race, which took place on February 13, 1982 at Daytona International Speedway, Ard finished in third place. During the season, Ard won four races, 20 times, he managed to finish a race in the top - five, 23 times he came in the top -10 finish. At the end of the season this range spanned almost to win the title. Ard was beaten with only 47 points behind Jack Ingram.

In the 1983 season it was much better for Ard. He won ten races and with a big points lead and the championship. In 30 of the 35 races he entered the top-10 finish. As in 1982, the season was marked by battles for positions between Ingram and Ard.

In the season 1984 Ingram could not build on the successes of previous years. However, Ard drove continues to be a good results and had quite early in the season a big lead in the championship. On September 23, 1984 Ard denied at the Martinsville Speedway in his first race in the NASCAR Winston Cup, now Sprint Cup. He retired after a round with steering problems and thus ended the race in last place. Hardly anyone would have thought at the time, but this race in Winston Cup was his last, for only about a month later on October 20, 1984, he was in a bush - Series races a serious accident, which meant the end of career for him. Since it was the penultimate race of the season, Ard still won the title because he already had more than 500 points ahead of second overall before the race.

After the End of career as a driver Ard was active as a team owner in NASCAR for several years. Meanwhile, Ard has withdrawn from public life. He has Alzheimer's.