Busch, Ard visit at Darlington
DARLINGTON, S.C. — Kyle Busch got to visit with a fellow Nationwide Series record holder Saturday at Darlington Raceway.
And Jo Ard finally got to tell the NASCAR star how much he’s meant to her husband of 48 years, former Natiowide driver Sam Ard.
“Thank you so much,” Jo said, hugging Busch when the Ards met him by his motorhome before the Southern 500.
After Busch tied Ard’s 1983 series mark with 10 victories in a season last November, the 24-year-old Sprint Cup driver donated $100,000 to help the struggling Ard and his family.
The 69-year-old Ard has Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. He sat quietly in his wheelchair for most of the 15-minute visit.
“Hospital bills were eating us up. You can’t believe how much he’s helped us,” said Jo, standing alongside her husbands’ wheelchair.
She said the family was able to make their bathroom handicap accessible for Sam.
Busch, who had only met Ard briefly, was pleased to share some a few more moments with a pioneer of NASCAR’s second-tier series.
“He’s been great for the sport, done a lot for the sport winning races and championships and stuff,” Busch said. “It was nice to meet him and talk him a little bit. Of course, he’s not so talkative, but that’s to be understood.”
Other racers have stepped forward to help Ard, who did not race after suffering severe head trauma in a 1984 accident at North Carolina Speedway.
Kevin Harvick donated a 2007 Chevrolet van to Ard’s family last fall after Jo’s car died earlier in 2008. Then the NASCAR Foundation and Motor Racing Outreach teamed for an online auction to benefit the Sam Ard Fund.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Harvick circulated a letter to the NASCAR community in 2006 that detailed Ard’s plight.
“If it wasn’t for men like Sam, none of us would be able to enjoy the lifestyle we live today. We all do charity work and give back to the community, this time it’s one of our own,” the letter said.
Ard’s grandson, Nicholas, said Sam has his good and bad days. “Lately, though, he’s been doing so well,” Nicholas said.
Busch invited the Ards to the Southern 500 drivers’ meeting where he received applause from the NASCAR racers.
“This has really been special for us,” Jo said.
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