A member of the “Alabama Gang”, member of the Motorsports and NASCAR Halls of Fame, and one of the sports top five drivers in wins; Bobby Allison died November 9 in his Mooresville, North Carolina home at the age of 86. While no official cause of death was given, Allison has been in declining health for a number of years.
Last month NASCAR recognized Allison by awarding him race win number 85 for finally being recognized as the winner of a mixed series race at Bowman Gray Stadium in 1971. Those wins include three Daytona 500’s, three Coca-Cola 600’s, and four Southern 500’s.
After nearly 30 years of racing and 718 race starts, Allison’s career ended with a near fatal crash at Pocono Raceway in 1988 when he blew a tire and slammed into the wall before being hit by another driver. He finished in the top five in nearly half of his race starts and won the Most Popular Driver Award six times.
In 1988, a 50 year old Allison held off a field that included son Davey to win the Daytona 500. After the race he said, “I was having a ball out there. Coming down to the finish, it was really good to be in first and to look in my rearview mirror and see someone I really feel is the best driver coming up — and knowing he’s mine. It really is a special feeling.”
But perhaps Allison made the headlines in 1979 when CBS aired the Daytona 500 from green flag to checkered flag for the first time. Allison, brother Danny, and Cale Yarborough got into a fight on the back stretch after the race. Yarborough and Donnie were fighting when Bobby stopped the car to get out and help.
Best known as a NASCAR driver, Bobby Allison also dabbled in IndyCar racing; driving for team owner Roger Penske.
Robert Arthur Allison was born on December 12, 1937 in Miami, Florida. It was when he, brother Donnie, and Red Farmer moved to Hueytown, Alabama that they got the name The Alabama Gang.
Reminiscing after his Hall of Fame induction Allison said, “we go to Alabama and find this little track, cute little quarter‑mile track. (I finished) fifth, fifth, fifth. I go to the pay window (and) they gave me $135. I said, ‘Donnie, look at all that money. We have died and gone to heaven.’ … The people were good and friendly to us. The country was very beautiful in my eyes, lakes and rivers, mountains, lower into the Appalachian Mountains there. Really nice race tracks. I wanted to run pavement because I thought pavement was going to lead to NASCAR. The big tracks were going to have to be paved. Dirt style was different. … I felt like I had a really good touch for pavement. I could go to a place I’d never seen before, maybe win the race. You know, I felt good about that, so … that’s kind of how my attitude was.”
Predeceased by sons Davey and Clifford and wife Judy; Allison is survived by brother Donnie
Feature photo credit: Bobby Allison at Bristol Motor Speedway.