View Bobby Allison
Bobby Allison
By Gregg Leary
Category:NASCAR -> Sprint Cup
DOB: 12-3-37 (70)
Raced NASCAR 1961-88
Entered his first race while in high school…finished 7th… won the third race he entered
Career ending injuries at Pocono in 1988
Bobby had to pay for most of his medical bills from the crash
Son Davey died in helicopter crash at Talladega 1993
Son Clifford died at Michigan in Busch Series practice crash in 1992
84 NASCAR Cup Wins…tied with Darrell Waltrip for 3rd all time…according to the NASCAR Media Guide…However, Peter Golenbock’s “Stock Car Racing Encyclopedia” has Allison at 85 Wins…an 8-6-71 race at Winston-Salem was won by Allison in a Mustang…it had both Winston Cup and Grand American cars competing…therefore Allison should be 3rd by himself behind Petty and Pearson
58 Poles…5th all time
1983 Cup Champion
2nd in Points 5 Times (1970, 72,78,81,82)
Involved in infamous 1979 Daytona 500 fight with Cale Yarborough…”Cale went to beating on my fist with his nose.” NASCAR fined Bobby $6000 which was more than his share of the winnings for finishing 11th…and NASCAR’s ratings skyrocketed because of the fight…the first flag to flag broadcast.
Three-time Daytona 500 winner (78,82,88)…in 1988 son, Davey finished 2nd
(Bobby cannot remember this race due to his Pocono crash)
Member of “Alabama Gang” with brother Donnie, Red Farmer, Neil Bonnet and Davey Allison…Alabama Gang named by Jack Ingram
6 Time Most Popular Driver
In 1971 he won 8 races of 500 miles or more for Holman-Moody…still a record
Won IROC title 1980
Won his first Cup race 7-12-66 at Oxford Plains Speedway
Inducted into International Motorsports Hall of Fame 1993
1994 inducted into North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame
Named one of NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers
Ran in 2 Indy 500s (1973 S12 F32, 1975 S13 F25)…led the 500 for one lap
“Bobby Allison: A Racer’s Racer” with Tim Packman…published in 2003
Bobby’s grandpa took him to his first race in Florida when Bobby was 10
At 14 Bobby got his first Mustang motorcycle
After graduating from high school in Florida, Bobby became a mechanic for Karl Kiekhaefer’s Grand National team…worked on cars for Buck Baker, Speedy Thompson, Herb Thomas…
Bobby raced as “Bob Sunderman” so he could still live at home…
His dad found out and told him if he was going to race to use his own name…”If you’re going to do it, do it with honor.”