| Bobby Allison | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
.jpg) Allison at Martinsville Speedway in 2022 | |||||||
| Born | Robert Arthur Allison December 3, 1937 Miami, Florida, U.S.[1] | ||||||
| Died | November 9, 2024 (aged 86) Mooresville, North Carolina, U.S. | ||||||
| Achievements | 1983 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Champion 1964, 1965 NASCAR Modified National Championship Champion 1980 IROC Champion 1978, 1982, 1988 Daytona 500 Winner 1971, 1972, 1975, 1983 Southern 500 Winner 1971, 1981 1984 World 600 Winner 1979, 1981, 1986 Winston 500 Winner 1982 Busch Clash winner | ||||||
| Awards | 1971–1973, 1980–1983 Winston Cup Series Most Popular Driver (7 times) 1960 NASCAR Modified National Championship Rookie of the Year Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (1992) International Motorsports Hall of Fame (1993) Named one of NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers (1998) NASCAR Hall of Fame (2011) Named one of NASCAR's 75 Greatest Drivers (2023) | ||||||
| NASCAR Cup Series career | |||||||
| 718 races run over 25 years | |||||||
| Best finish | 1st (1983) | ||||||
| First race | 1961 Daytona Twin 100 Qualifier #2 (Daytona) | ||||||
| Last race | 1988 Miller High Life 500 (Pocono) | ||||||
| First win | 1966 Maine 100 (Oxford) | ||||||
| Last win | 1988 Daytona 500 (Daytona) | ||||||
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| NASCAR Xfinity Series career | |||||||
| 43 races run over 7 years | |||||||
| Best finish | 27th (1984) | ||||||
| First race | 1982 Sportsman 200 (Dover) | ||||||
| Last race | 1988 Winn-Dixie 300 (Charlotte) | ||||||
| First win | 1984 Mello Yello 300 (Charlotte) | ||||||
| Last win | 1988 Goody's 300 (Daytona) | ||||||
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| NASCAR Grand National East Series career | |||||||
| 17 races run over 2 years | |||||||
| Best finish | 7th (1973) | ||||||
| First race | 1972 Hickory 276 (Hickory) | ||||||
| Last race | 1973 Buddy Shuman 100 (Hickory) | ||||||
| First win | 1972 Hickory 276 (Hickory) | ||||||
| Last win | 1973 Cumberland 200 (Fayetteville) | ||||||
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| Statistics current as of December 22, 2012. | |||||||
Robert Arthur Allison (December 3, 1937 – November 9, 2024) was an American professional stock car racing driver and owner. Allison was the founder of the Alabama Gang, a group of drivers based in Hueytown, Alabama, where there were abundant short tracks with high purses. Allison raced competitively in the NASCAR Cup Series from 1961 to 1988, while regularly competing in short track events throughout his career. He also raced in IndyCar, Trans-Am, and Can-Am. Named one of NASCAR's 50 greatest drivers and a member of the NASCAR Hall of Fame,[1] he was the 1983 Winston Cup champion and won the Daytona 500 in 1978, 1982, and 1988.
His brother Donnie Allison was also a prominent driver, as were his two sons, Clifford and Davey Allison. Bobby and Donnie's televised fistfight with Cale Yarborough at the 1979 Daytona 500 has been credited with exposing NASCAR to a nationwide audience.[2] Allison was unusual for competing successfully with his own, low-budget team for much of his career.
- ^ a b Poole, Francis (2002) [1992]. Dawson, Dawn P. (ed.). Great Athletes. Vol. 1 (Revised ed.). Salem Press. pp. 46–48. ISBN 1-58765-008-8.
- ^ "Cale Yarborough-Bobby Allison fight at 1979 Daytona 500 put NASCAR in national spotlight". Los Angeles Times. 2019-02-15. Retrieved 2020-11-01.