Sam Ard
Even as he competed in the inaugural years of the Xfinity Series during the 1980s, Sam Ard was considered a throwback to the sport’s earliest days, proudly proclaiming of his time in the sport: “I used to build my cars, haul ’em to the race track, race ’em, then haul ’em back home.”
- Position:Driver
A Fighter On and Off the Track
Although Sam Ard competed in only three seasons, he proved to be a master of his time under NASCAR's bright lights.
Sam Ard helped to usher in one of the most respected and competitive racing series in the world. Ard finished championship runner-up in the inaugural 1982 season (winning four races) then convincingly answered with back-to-back season championships. Ard’s 10 wins in 1983 distinguishes him as one of only two drivers in the series history (also Kyle Busch) to win 10 or more in a single season. The following year, Ard won eight more times before suffering a serious injury in the next to last race of the 1984 season and opted to retire from driving and focus instead on team ownership.