Stash Kullman

By Stan Kalwasinski

            Stanley “Stash” Kullman and his “Polish Pink” numbered  “4U” stock cars were familiar sights at the old Raceway Park near Blue Island, for more than 20 years.  In addition to being a regular in the stock car action at the Illinois speed plant, Kullman was on-again, off-again competitor at Illiana Motor Speedway in Schererville, Ind.

            After being a casual grandstand observer, Kullman began his own racing career in 1952 at the Blue Island oval.  Wheeling a rather tired and rusty old Ford, Kullman was among a hundred or so drivers that showed up each season at Raceway, looking for a little racing glory and attempting to make a few bucks in the process.

            Giving up his own driving career for a time, Kullman turned to being a car owner in the mid to late 1950’s before going back to driving full time around 1960.  Kullman scored his first feature win at Raceway on June 3, 1960, wheeling a 1956 Oldsmobile to victory.  Kullman, who resided in the Roseland neighborhood of Chicago for most of his racing career, would go on to score a total of 30 feature victories at the tight quarter mile paved oval before bowing out of competition after the 1981 season was complete. 

            Kullman’s unique trademark number “4U” was the result of Kullman winning a stock car during a dice game in the 50’s.  His favorite “Polock Pink” color on his race cars was actually Ford Motor Company’s Burgundy Mist.

            Two of Kullman’s best years were 1970 and 1979.  The 1970 campaign saw Kullman wheel a 1969 Chevelle to 10 feature wins, including a Fourth of July 50 lapper, finishing third in the final points tally at Raceway.  Kullman in a rapid-running Camaro finished in the runner up spot in the final standings at Raceway in 1979, capturing four main event tallies along the way.  Two memorable victories during his career were victories in Raceway Park’s annual 300 Lap Classic with Kullman winning in 1965 and again in 1967.

            Kullman had the distinction of being the only driver to ever crash “out of the park” at Raceway.  It happened during the running of the 300-lap race in 1962 after Kullman lost a rear wheel and axle, which “launched” Kullman’s ’57 Chevy, sending the errant mount over the retaining wall, flying over the high wheel fence and cables and over a 30 foot or so walkway. The car finally ended up among some parked cars in the speedway’s parking lot outside of turns one and two.  Kullman escaped injury in the wild-looking accident.

            Kullman’s success at Illiana was limited, basically because of his infrequent appearances at the half-mile paved speed plant.  Kullman did win two features races there in 1966 and was a front runner during the track’s early “open competition” Tony Bettenhausen Memorial 100 lappers in the mid 60’s.

            After his driving career was over, Kullman founded SRC Enterprises in Burnham, Ill., selling oval track racing equipment to area racers.  Kullman, along with his sons, Wayne and Stash Jr. or “Stashie”, became experts in race car chassis and body fabrication.  Throughout the years, Kullman’s parts trailer was a regular site at Illiana and at the Grundy County Speedway in Morris, Ill. during the summer months.

            “When I first got into late model racing, I’d go over to Stash’s shop and pick up different parts and Stash would carry me for a week or two,” said three-time Illiana championship car owner, Tom Rose.  “Thanks to Stash, I was able to go racing for a number of years without a lot of sponsorship help.  I was racing on his money and I wasn’t the only one.”

 Kullman was also heavily involved in local go-kart racing with his grandsons, Michael and Kevin, racing their SRC-sponsored karts, primarily at the Lake Village Motor Speedway.

At the age of 73, Kullman passed away on March 25, 2003.  In addition to his sons and grandsons, Kullman was survived by a granddaughter, Carly.

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