Polish Victory Lap

A Polish Victory Lap is a celebratory drive performed by race winners in the opposite direction of normal track traffic, allowing drivers to wave to fans from their driver's side window.

This unique celebration was created by Polish-American NASCAR driver Alan Kulwicki after winning his first Winston Cup race at Phoenix International Raceway in November 1988. Instead of driving the traditional victory lap in the same direction as the race, Kulwicki turned his car around and drove clockwise on the oval track.

Kulwicki explained that he wanted to do something different to celebrate his victory while also being able to wave to fans from the driver's side of his car. Since most NASCAR tracks have grandstands on one side, driving in reverse meant the driver's window faced the crowd instead of being turned away from them.

The term "Polish Victory Lap" comes from Kulwicki's proud Polish heritage. He coined the phrase himself and made it his signature celebration, most memorably performing it again after winning the 1992 Winston Cup Championship.

After Kulwicki tragically died in a plane crash in 1993, the Polish Victory Lap became a way for other drivers to honor his memory. Michael Waltrip, Rusty Wallace, and Dale Earnhardt were among the drivers who performed tribute Polish Victory Laps that season.

The celebration continues today as both a tribute to Kulwicki and a way for drivers to better connect with fans during their victory celebrations. Some drivers at short tracks and dirt tracks regularly use this technique during victory laps to face the grandstands.

While most commonly seen in NASCAR oval racing, the concept can apply to any motorsport where drivers perform victory laps and want to acknowledge fans on a specific side of the track.