Every so often Sam Ard’s story pops back up. The two time Nationwide Series champion and 22 time series winner is fighting an expensive battle with Alzheimer’s. He has become the face of the often forgotten, and less than financially secure stars of NASCAR’s past.
For three seasons in the early 1980s Ard was the guy to beat. In his first Nationwide (Busch, whatever you want to call it) series season Ard won four races and nearly won the championship. He went on the next two seasons to win another 18 races and two championships. Ard also scored 10 wins in the 1983 season, a feat only matched by Kyle Busch’s stellar performance this season.
Ard’s career was ended in 1984 when he sustained serious injuries following an accident at the North Carolina Motor Speedway. This head injury, his doctor believes, sped up the onset of Alzheimer’s.
This case demonstrates the unfaltering generosity of the NASCAR community. Where NASCAR was either unwilling or unable to provide support, it was fellow drivers, and team members that have come to Sam and his wife Jo’s aid. Kevin Harvick this past week donated a van to the couple and Kyle Busch promised $100,000 following his win at Texas. Likewise, the NASCAR Foundation is holding an online auction to benefit the Sam Ard Fund. The community is ensuring that Sam Ard and his family will not have to worry about the medical expenses of his devastating disease.
While Ard’s case is certainly an extreme, it demonstrates the need for some kind of support for the stars of NASCAR’s past. For years NASCAR bucked the idea of a union, which is commonplace in just about every other professional sport today. Curtis Turner was even banned from the sport for sometime as a result of his efforts to form a union. A union would of course provide some sort of financial support for retired members. This though also created the dilemma for NASCAR of having a far too organized group of drivers (that’s another topic for another day).
NASCAR makes the case that since they do not directly employ any of these drivers they have no fiscal responsibility to them. It then falls back on the team. Unfortunately, then, as is the case today, drivers work as independent contractors. They do not receive the same benefits that the employees of an organization do. Any health care costs fall on the them. Now obviously today where even mediocre drivers can make a good living this is not much of a problem. But for those that came in generations past, financial security is not always a reality.
NASCAR has a responsibility to the men who built the sport we all enjoy today. They have a responsibility to help with health care, and to ensure that none are denied a proper life after racing. As generous as it is, it should not be the job of the community to help these men; instead that obligation should fall on the organization that Sam Ard and countless others worked tirelessly to support.
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on Nov 10th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
I’ve been a fan of a number of different sports. Most of them pay only passing lipservice to the past and the athletes who made it possible for the contemporary participants to become millionaires.
Even Baseball, which of all the sports, most treasures its legacy, doesn’t do a good enough job of educating its contemporary fans and players about the pioneers who built the foundation they stand on. I remember talking to Sharon Robinson about Frank Thomas’s sheepish remark regarding her father “I know his name [Jackie Robinson], but don’t know that much about him.”
NASCAR has a golden opportunity here. They can create a special line of collectibles with throw-back die-casts To make this meaningful to the younger fans, today’s drivers could adopt a driver’s die-cast and appear in print ads and on the packaging.
Today’s drivers could do something which would cost them almost nothing, but help establish the health and pension fund. Each driver could appear for two or three extra autographing sessions during the season at the tracks. In order to get the qualifying bracelet, a fan would make a two-dollar donation. The driver’s sponsor could create a special 5×7 glossy for the driver to sign. All participants would also get a chance to win a 15 minute visit with their driver after the autographing session. The idea of making the donation amount low is so that everyone would get a chance to participate, not just those who can afford to spend a bundle.
To increase visibility, during the season, NASCAR could create a “Legends” series. Retired drivers could compete against each other in throw-back cars (modernized with state-of-the-art safety gear) during the weekends. Current drivers could sponsor a legend.
Finally, I’d like to see Sam Ard be invited to a race and give the call. From the accounts, he would still be able to say the words and appreciate the huge cheer he’d get.
Pacific Time Zone Kenny
Alameda, California
on Nov 19th, 2008 at 12:14 am
Kenn’s suggestion should get some serious consideration from those in the business. His idea is well thought out and presented.
Unfortunately, as long as people with attitudes like Jack Roush, who equates pensions with welfare, run this business, you’ll see nothing of the sort.