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Sam Ard

{{Short description|American racing driver (1939–2017)}}

{{Infobox NASCAR driver

| name = Sam Ard

| birth_date = {{birth date|1939|2|14}}

| birth_place = Pamplico, South Carolina

| death_date = {{death date and age|2017|4|2|1939|2|14}}

|death_place = Florence, South Carolina

| achievements = 1983, 1984 Busch Series champion

| awards = 1983, 1984 Busch Series Most Popular Driver
Named one of NASCAR's 75 Greatest Drivers (2023)

| Total_Cup_Races = 1

| Years_In_Cup = 1

| Best_Cup_Pos = 104th (1984)

| First_Cup_Race = 1984 Goody's 500 (Martinsville)

| Last_Cup_Race =

| Cup_Wins = 0

| Cup_Top_Tens = 0

| Cup_Poles = 0

| Total_Busch_Races = 92

| Years_In_Busch = 3

| Best_Busch_Pos = 1st (1983, 1984)

| First_Busch_Race = 1982 Goody's 300 (Daytona)

| Last_Busch_Race = 1984 Komfort Koach 200 (Rockingham)

| First_Busch_Win = 1982 Dogwood 500 (Martinsville)

| Last_Busch_Win = 1984 Coca-Cola 300 (North Wilkesboro)

| Busch_Wins = 22

| Busch_Top_Tens = 79

| Busch_Poles = 24

}}

Samuel Julian Ard (February 14, 1939{{spaced ndash}}April 2, 2017) was an American professional stock car racing driver. He won two NASCAR Budweiser Late Model Sportsman Series championships, in 1983 and 1984. Ard also made one NASCAR Winston Cup start. He retired from driving after being injured in late 1984 and became a car owner. He had Parkinson's disease later in life and died in April 2017 at age 78.{{Cite web |date=2017-04-02 |title=Jayski: Sad News - Sam Ard; obituary |url=https://www.espn.com/jayski/cup/2017/story/_/id/19058368/sad-news-sam-ard-obituary |access-date=2024-05-22 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}

Racing career

=Late Model Sportsman Division 1975-1981=

Ard was a regular competitor, earning at least nine wins and scoring multiple top-five finishes.{{cite web |title=Sam Ard |url=https://www.thethirdturn.com/wiki/Sam_Ard |website=The Third Turn |accessdate=15 March 2019}}

In 1981, Ard finished fifth in the season-long NASCAR National Championship point standings.1982 Nascar Yearbook & Press Guide

=Late Model Sportsman / Busch Grand National Series=

Ard was the runner-up in 1982 of NASCAR's Late Model Sportsman Series, winning four races and finishing out of the top ten only six times.

On the heels of that season, Ard won ten races and had twenty-three top-five finishes, and won the 1983 Busch Grand National (now Nascar Xfinity Series) points championship.

He continued his dominant streak in 1984, with eight wins and twenty-four top-fives in 28 starts. Ard was seriously injured in a crash at the Rockingham Speedway on October 20, 1984. Despite missing the season's final race at Martinsville, Ard captured the Busch Grand National championship for the second year in a row, but was never able to race again.{{Cite news|url=http://www.espn.com/jayski/cup/2017/story/_/id/19058368/sad-news-sam-ard-obituary|title=Jayski: Sad News - Sam Ard; obituary|work=ESPN.com|access-date=2017-04-03}}

= Winston Cup Series =

Ard 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.

Post-racing career

After retiring as a driver, Ard became an owner, fielding cars for several drivers, most notably Jimmy Hensley and Jeff Burton, who claimed his first Grand National win driving Ard's car.

= Later life and death =

Ard battled Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.{{Cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/auto/nascar-short-track-star-sam-ard-dies-at-78|title=NASCAR short-track star Sam Ard dies at 78|date=2017-04-03|work=Fox News|access-date=2017-04-03|language=en-US}} His family often received 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.nascar.com/2008/news/headlines/bg/11/03/kybusch.sard.donation/index.html|title=Ards can't put price on Busch $100,000 donation|agency=Associated Press|work=NASCAR|publisher=NASCAR Media Group|date=November 3, 2008|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211201305/http://www.nascar.com/2008/news/headlines/bg/11/03/kybusch.sard.donation/index.html|archivedate=December 11, 2008}}

Ard died on April 2, 2017, at the age of 78.{{cite web|url=http://www.nascar.com/en_us/news-media/articles/2017/4/2/sam-ard-dies-78-xfinity-series-champion.html|title=SAM ARD, TWO-TIME XFINITY SERIES CHAMPION, DIES AT 78|work=NASCAR|date=April 2, 2017|accessdate=April 2, 2017}}

Personal life

Ard served in the Vietnam War as a member of the U. S. Air Force. He married his wife Jo in 1961, and they had four children.{{Cite news|url=http://www.scnow.com/obituaries/article_878dfd0a-b32a-5e71-b190-3ce5591554d3.html|title=Samuel Julian "Sam" Ard|work=SCNow|access-date=2017-04-03|language=en}}

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==

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:75%"
colspan=45| NASCAR Winston Cup Series results
Year

! Team

! No.

! Make

! 1

! 2

! 3

! 4

! 5

! 6

! 7

! 8

! 9

! 10

! 11

! 12

! 13

! 14

! 15

! 16

! 17

! 18

! 19

! 20

! 21

! 22

! 23

! 24

! 25

! 26

! 27

! 28

! 29

! 30

! {{Tooltip|NWCC|NASCAR Winston Cup classification}}

! Pts

! Ref

1984

! Zervakis Enterprises

! 02

! Chevy

| DAY

| RCH

| CAR

| ATL

| BRI

| NWS

| DAR

| MAR

| TAL

| NSV

| DOV

| CLT

| RSD

| POC

| MCH

| DAY

| NSV

| POC

| TAL

| MCH

| BRI

| DAR

| RCH

| DOV

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| MAR
31

| CLT

| NWS

| CAR

| ATL

| RSD

! 104th

! 01

! {{cite web|url=http://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/ardsa01/1984/W|title=Sam Ard – 1984 NASCAR Winston Cup Results|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=USA Today Sports Media Group|accessdate=December 6, 2014}}

{{sup|1}} Ard's team was a post-entry for the race and thus did not receive points.{{cite web|url=http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/1984/25/data/results_official.html|title=1984 Official Race Results: Goody's 500|work=NASCAR|publisher=NASCAR Media Group|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100821094116/http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/1984/25/data/results_official.html|archivedate=August 21, 2010}}

==Busch Series==

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:75%"

!colspan=42| NASCAR Busch Series results

Year

! Team

! No.

! Make

! 1

! 2

! 3

! 4

! 5

! 6

! 7

! 8

! 9

! 10

! 11

! 12

! 13

! 14

! 15

! 16

! 17

! 18

! 19

! 20

! 21

! 22

! 23

! 24

! 25

! 26

! 27

! 28

! 29

! 30

! 31

! 32

! 33

! 34

! 35

! {{Tooltip|NBSC|NASCAR Busch Series classification}}

! Pts

! Ref

rowspan=2| 1982

!rowspan=4| Thomas Brothers Racing

!rowspan=4| 00

! Olds

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| DAY
3

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| RCH
21

|

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| MAR
1

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| DAR
6

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| HCY
2

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| SBO
1

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| CRW
3

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| RCH
2

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| LGY
2

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DOV
17

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| HCY
2

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| CLT
12

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| ASH
3

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| HCY
3

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| SBO
2

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| CAR
5

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| CRW
2

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| SBO
1

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| HCY
5

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| LGY
3

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| IRP
28

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| BRI
9

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| HCY
2

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| RCH
3

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| MAR
1

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| CLT
2

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| HCY
18

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| MAR
6

| colspan=6|

!rowspan=2| 2nd

!rowspan=2| 4448

!rowspan=2| {{cite web|url=http://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/ardsa01/1982/B|title=Sam Ard – 1982 NASCAR Budweiser Late Model Sportsman Series Results|work=Racing-Reference|accessdate=January 12, 2017}}

Chevy

| colspan=2|

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| BRI
20

| colspan=32|

1983

!rowspan=2| Olds

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| DAY
6

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| RCH
1

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| CAR
12

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| HCY
3

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| MAR
1*

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| NWS
1*

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| SBO
25

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| GPS
9

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| LGY
7

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| DOV
3

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| BRI
9

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CLT
32

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SBO
11

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| HCY
3

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| ROU
4

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| SBO
15

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| ROU
4

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| CRW
7*

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| ROU
3

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| SBO
4

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| HCY
1*

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| LGY
7

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| IRP
3

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| GPS
6

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| BRI
1*

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| HCY
5

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| DAR
2

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| RCH
5

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| NWS
5

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| SBO
1*

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| MAR
1*

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| ROU
1

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| CLT
1

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| HCY
2

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| MAR
1*

! 1st

! 5454

! {{cite web|url=http://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/ardsa01/1983/B|title=Sam Ard – 1983 NASCAR Budweiser Late Model Sportsman Series Results|work=Racing-Reference|accessdate=January 12, 2017}}

1984

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| DAY
4*

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| RCH
1*

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| CAR
1*

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| HCY
3

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| MAR
9

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| DAR
4*

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| ROU
3

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| NSV
2*

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| LGY
1*

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| MLW
1*

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| DOV
1*

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| CLT
6

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| SBO
1*

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| HCY
4

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| ROU
3

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| SBO
1*

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| ROU
3

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| HCY
3

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| IRP
2

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| LGY
2

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| SBO
5

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| BRI
2

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| DAR
2

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| RCH
11

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| NWS
1*

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| CLT
3*

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| HCY
5

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CAR
33

| MAR

| colspan=6|

! 1st

! 4552

! {{cite web|url=http://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/ardsa01/1984/B|title=Sam Ard – 1984 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series Results|work=Racing-Reference|accessdate=January 12, 2017}}

=ARCA Permatex SuperCar Series=

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

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:75%"
colspan=45| ARCA Permatex SuperCar Series results
Year

! Team

! No.

! Make

! 1

! 2

! 3

! 4

! 5

! 6

! 7

! 8

! 9

! 10

! 11

! 12

! 13

! 14

! 15

! 16

! 17

! 18

! 19

! 20

! {{Tooltip|APSC|ARCA Permatex SuperCar Series classification}}

! Pts

! Ref

1983

! Thomas Brothers Racing

! 10

! Olds

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DAY
36

| NSV

| TAL

| LPR

| LPR

| ISF

| IRP

| SSP

| FRS

| BFS

| WIN

| LPR

| POC

| TAL

| MCS

| FRS

| MIL

| DSF

| ZAN

| SND

! NA

! -

! {{cite web|url=http://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/ardsa01/1983/A|title=Sam Ard – 1983 ARCA Permatex SuperCar Series Results|work=Racing-Reference|accessdate=June 28, 2020}}

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • {{Racing-Reference driver|Sam_Ard}}
  • {{Racing-Reference owner|Sam_Ard}}
  • [http://www.carsandracingstuff.com/library/a/ardsam.php NASCAR Budweiser/Busch Late Model Sportsman Series Win List] at The Crittenden Automotive Library

{{s-start}}

{{succession box |

before= Jack Ingram |

title= NASCAR Budweiser Late Model Sportsman Champion |

years= 1983–1984|

after= Jack Ingram |

}}

{{s-end}}

{{NASCAR Xfinity Series Champions}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ard, Sam}}

Category:1939 births

Category:2017 deaths

Category:American Speed Association drivers

Category:NASCAR drivers

Category:NASCAR Xfinity Series champions

Category:People from Florence County, South Carolina

Category:Racing drivers from South Carolina

Category:ARCA Menards Series drivers