By: Spencer Neff
November 9, 2024

Motorsports legend Bobby Allison passed away on Saturday at age 86. Born in Miami, Florida, Allison began his career racing stock cars at age 17.

After moving to Hueytown, Alabama and forming the legendary “Alabama Gang” with brother Donnie as well as Red Farmer, Allison would accumulate 85 career victories in NASCAR’s top series, including three Daytona 500s (1978, 1982, 1988). He also won the 1982 NASCAR Cup Series Championship.

Aside from his NASCAR success, Allison would join many of his contemporaries in competing across various motorsports disciplines. He would make six career starts in USAC Championship Car Racing across the 1973 and 1975 seasons. In 1973, the Team Penske driver started 12th but completed just a single lap before engine issues curtailed his race.

Two years later, he started 13th and would lead Lap 24 before gearbox issues forced him out of the race after 112 laps. Allison, who skipped NASCAR’s World (now Coca-Cola) 600 would be the last in an era of “crossover” stars joining the Indianapolis 500.

Earlier that season, Allison started eighth and finished sixth in the second Heat Race at Ontario Motor Speedway, his best effort in the series. Allison would also earn four victories and the 1979-80 Championship in IROC (International Race of Champions), where he was joined by many contemporaries from around the world of motorsports.

Following a 1988 career-ending crash at Pocono Raceway, Allison remained in NASCAR as a car owner until the conclusion of the 1996 season. He is a member of the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (1992) and the International Motorsports Hall of Fame (1993) in addition to his 2011 induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

Allison was named to both NASCAR’s 50 greatest drivers list (1998) and its 75 greatest drivers list (2023).

IndyCar1909 thanks Bobby Allison for his contributions to auto racing and offers condolences to the Allison Family on his passing.

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