Sam Ard is 69 years old and suffering from both Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. He’s not permitted to drive anywhere anymore, and no one is exactly sure how much Ard understands about the latest push to help his crumbling finances and mounting medical bills.
Kevin Harvick, a champion of Ard’s plight, donated a 2007 Chevrolet van last month to Ard’s family that solved the transportation woes that plagued the couple since Jo’s car died five months ago. Then the NASCAR Foundation and Motor Racing Outreach teamed for an online auction to benefit the Sam Ard Fund.
The largest gesture, though, came Saturday afternoon when Kyle Busch committed $100,000 to Ard moments after winning the Nationwide Series race. The win at Texas Motor Speedway tied Ard’s mark of 10 series victories in a season.
“Sam Ard is one of the pioneers of this (series), and to be tied with him at 10 wins is something that’s pretty spectacular and really, really special to me,” Busch said. “I’m going to try to help him out and see what I can do. It’s not much, but it’s something that can try to help.”
Unlike every other major professional league, NASCAR does not provide a pension to its participants and has not been on the hook for Ard or any other former driver facing financial difficulties.
When the balance in the fund dipped below $200 earlier this year, Jo Ard had to close the account before Wachovia’s $35 monthly maintenance fee gobbled what remained. Social Security, Ard’s veterans benefits and the little bit Jo brings home from cleaning houses and taking care of some hunting dogs is the only money currently coming in.
The Ards have gone through stages where they’ve been angry at NASCAR and its antiquated policies. But Jo Ard isn’t bitter right now, instead so grateful to the community help they’ve received. Although the sanctioning body does not specifically contribute anything, individual high-ranking officials have made personal financial donations for his care.
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