Busch steps up to help ailing Ard

Two-time NASCAR Late Model Sportsman Series winner Sam Ard.

By: Matt Lincoln | SCNOW
Published: November 04, 2008

When the going gets tough, a family sticks together. In this tough time for Pamplico native Sam Ard, the NASCAR family is coming to his aid.

"NASCAR is a family oriented deal," says Ard. "You do for one and one does for the other, but when you get in the race car it's all for one."

Ard is battling both Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, and the small purses he won in the early 1980's have long been spent. Times have been so hard on the Ard family, that Sam had to loan some of his memorabilia to friends for money.

" To me it's just junk laying around anyhow, it didn't bother me too much, there was some stuff I didn't want to, but i needed the money."

NASCAR does not offer its drivers a pension plan but the sports has found different ways to help Ard. Last month when the family's car broke down, the Harvick family along with Shell, purchased them a new van. Last week, the NASCAR foundation started a online auction to raise money for Ard. (You can access the auction at www.nascar.com/foundation).

But the shocker came on Saturday. Kyle Busch won the Nationwide race in Texas, tying Ard's record of 10 wins in a season. After the victory, Busch said he is donating $100,000 to Ard to help him fight his disease.

"I've always been a fan," Ard says, "but now he's a special friend." Ard and Busch have never met, but Ard says the next time he drives in South Carolina, he will go out to watch him.

It has been a long and arduous journey for one of the most successful drivers on NASCAR's second circuit. Prior to a few months ago, it seemed that NASCAR had forgotten Sam Ard. But Kyle Busch and others have proven that a family never forgets.