A TUMS “Fights back fast”MOMENT
(For each of the 36 races during the 2011 Sprint Cup season, TUMS will provide a brief historical recap of a moment when a team fought back to overcome an obstacle, one that can easily be described as a TUMS “Fights Back Fast” Moment. This week, the focus is on Bristol Motor Speedway).
Alan Kulwicki overcame two-lap deficit, claims Bristol win
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NOTE: TUMS is the sponsor of the TUMS Fast Relief 500, the seventh race in the Chase for the Sprint Cup, at Martinsville Speedway on October 30.
The track surface was a real headache for drivers and teams. The worn, rough surface sanded away at the tires, resulting in several failures. Concerned about the excessive tire wear, Kulwicki elected to pit early on lap 53 for four new tires. That left him two laps behind the leader.
Kulwicki patiently fought back and returned to the lead lap just past the halfway mark of the 500-lap event. He took the lead for the first time on lap 364 and was in control the final 36 laps for the win, holding off Sterling Marlin at the checkered flag.
“We’ve been down and out,” Kulwicki said of his season in the post-race interviews. “We know we can win. We run well week after week. I hope winning like this gets us over the hump.”
Kulwicki won the 1992 season championship, the last by a driver-owner.
