Bobby Allison

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Bobby Allison
Allison at Martinsville Speedway in 2022
BornRobert Arthur Allison
(1937-12-03) December 3, 1937 (age 86)
Miami, Florida, U.S.[1]
Achievements1983 Winston Cup Series 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
Awards19711973, 19801983 Winston Cup Series Most Popular Driver (7 times)
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 finish1st (1983)
First race1961 Daytona Twin 100 Qualifier #2 (Daytona)
Last race1988 Miller High Life 500 (Pocono)
First win1966 Maine 100 (Oxford)
Last win1988 Daytona 500 (Daytona)
Wins Top tens Poles
84 446 59
NASCAR Xfinity Series career
43 races run over 7 years
Best finish27th (1984)
First race1982 Sportsman 200 (Dover)
Last race1988 Winn-Dixie 300 (Charlotte)
First win1984 Mello Yello 300 (Charlotte)
Last win1988 Goody's 300 (Daytona)
Wins Top tens Poles
2 22 0
NASCAR Grand National East Series career
17 races run over 2 years
Best finish7th (1973)
First race1972 Hickory 276 (Hickory)
Last race1973 Buddy Shuman 100 (Hickory)
First win1972 Hickory 276 (Hickory)
Last win1973 Cumberland 200 (Fayetteville)
Wins Top tens Poles
6 11 7
Statistics current as of December 22, 2012.

Robert Arthur Allison (born December 3, 1937) is a former 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.

Early life[edit]

Allison was born December 3, 1937, in Miami, Florida.[3] He entered his first race as a senior at Archbishop Curley-Notre Dame High School in Miami. Since he was only 17, he had to have his parents' permission to compete. When his mother approved, Allison assumed it was permanent, but his mother believed it was for only one race.[citation needed] After he graduated from high school in 1955, Allison's mother thought she would derail his racing interest by sending him to Wisconsin to work for Mercury Outboard Motors, where her brother-in-law, Jimmy Hallett, was the national sales manager. Unbeknownst to her, the owner of Mercury was Carl Kiekhaefer, who also owned race cars. Allison began working as a mechanic and an engine tester. While employed at Mercury, Allison worked in the boat division for 10 months, then was transferred to the racing division. During the two months he worked in the racing division for Kiekhaefer, he went to 19 races, mostly Grand National (Known as the NASCAR Cup Series as of 2020), and a few Convertible races. Every one of those races was won by a Carl Kiekhaefer car from the shop in which he worked. Kiekhaefer was a hard person to work for and several people got fired, so Allison decided to go back to Miami only after a little over two months.

In 1956, having returned to Miami, Allison started racing again. His parents had told Allison that he could not race and live at home, so Allison came up with a fictitious name (Bob Sunderman) which was used only once as he finished well enough to make the Sunday paper. Allison's father saw the paper and told him that if he was going to race to do it with honor and use his own name.[4] In 1959, Allison took his brother, Donnie, Kenny Andrews, who owned a car (whose father owned Andy Racing Wheels), and Gil Hearne, who went along as Kenny's driver, to find more lucrative racing than was available in South Florida. Their searching led them to Montgomery Motor Speedway in Montgomery, Alabama, where he was informed of a race that would take place that night in Midfield, Alabama, near Birmingham. Allison entered and finished 5th in that race, which paid more than finishing second in any race of a higher level in South Florida. He went to Montgomery the next night, winning the preliminary races, and finished 2nd in the feature, winning $400, having found his lucrative racing. The brothers returned home and Bobby convinced Red Farmer into coming back to Alabama with him. They had immediate success and began answering to the name The Alabama Gang. Allison became a well-known driver and a top star in short-track racing, earning back-to-back Modified Special titles in 1962–63, then two consecutive NASCAR National Modified championships in 1964–65.[5]

NASCAR career[edit]

1968 racecar

Allison moved full-time to the Grand National circuit in 1965[1] and got his first victory at Oxford Plains Speedway on July 12, 1966.

During the course of his career, Bobby Allison accumulated 84 credited victories and 2 uncredited victories making him fourth all-time, tied with Darrell Waltrip.[6] He also won the Daytona 500 in 1978, 1982 and 1988,[7] finishing one-two with his son, Davey Allison. In 1972 he was voted national Driver of the Year after winning ten races and taking 11 poles, including a record five straight. He was NASCAR Winston Cup Champion in 1983,[1] winning the Driver of the Year award again while driving for DiGard Racing. The 1982 Daytona 500 was fraught with controversy that became known as "Bumpergate".[8] He also won the Firecracker 400 in 1982, making Allison the fourth driver to sweep both Sprint Cup point races at Daytona in the same year. After Allison accomplished this, no driver repeated such a feat until Jimmie Johnson did it in 2013.[9]

Allison ran in the Indianapolis 500 twice, with a best finish of 25th in 1975.[10] His NASCAR team owners included DiGard, Junior Johnson & Associates, and Roger Penske, for whom Allison scored four of the five NASCAR wins for American Motors' Matador. The other AMC victory was accomplished by Mark Donohue also racing for Penske in 1973 at Riverside. He raced in NASCAR as a driver/owner of an AMC Matador.[1]

1983 championship car

Bobby Allison was elected to the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1993. Allison was involved in an accident at Talladega in May 1987, that saw his car cut down a tire, turn sideways and go airborne into the protective catch fence that separates the speedway from the grandstands. The impact, at over 200 miles per hour (320 km/h), tore out over 100 yards of fencing. Parts and pieces of the car went flying into the grandstand injuring several spectators. This was the same race where Bill Elliott had set the all-time qualifying record at 212 mph (341 km/h). NASCAR then mandated smaller carburetors for the remaining 1987 events at Talladega and Daytona. The following year, NASCAR mandated restrictor plates at Daytona and Talladega to keep speeds under 200 miles per hour (320 km/h).

Allison won the first Daytona 500 run with restrictor plates in February 1988 by a car length over his son Davey Allison, rendering him the first driver to have won the Daytona 500 both with and without restrictor plates. He is the oldest driver (50 years) ever to win the Daytona 500.[11] Bobby and Davey Allison are the first one-two father/son finish in the Daytona 500. As a result of permanent injuries in a crash at Pocono (see below), Bobby now has no memory of the final win of his career or of celebrating together with his son in victory lane.[12] He was elected to the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2011.[6]

Cale Yarborough fight[edit]

Early in the 1979 Daytona 500, Bobby, his brother Donnie and rival Cale Yarborough tangled early in the race. Donnie led the second half of the race while Yarborough made up his lost laps through caution periods. By the time there were eight laps to go, Yarborough reached second place and set his eyes on passing Donnie. Bobby was two laps down and was 1/4 mile ahead of the two rivals as Yarborough and Donnie crashed on the final lap. Richard Petty went by and won the race. Bobby passed the wreckage, finished the race, and on his way back around Bobby stopped to check on his brother and make sure he wasn't hurt. He pulled over to the wreck site to offer Donnie a ride to the garage area. Yarborough ran up to Bobby and, according to Bobby, Yarborough was yelling that Bobby was at fault and hit him in the face with his helmet—cutting his nose and his lip. Bobby climbed out and a fist-fight broke out.

This fight led to a $6,000 fine each for Yarborough and the Allison brothers. In 2000 when asked about the fist-fight Bobby said "I stopped to offer Donnie a ride to the garages and Cale comes running up saying I caused the wreck. I tried to tell him he had the wrong person. And I've said before, I think I questioned his ancestry. He hit me in the face with his helmet and I saw blood dripping onto my shirt. I thought 'If I don't stop this I'll be running from Cale for the rest of my life.' I climbed out and throttled him. He ran his nose into my fist several times. My story and I'm sticking to it forever. He never challenged me again. The fine surprised me, but the fact that it brought NASCAR onto the map makes it all worth every penny." To this day, Allison maintains that Yarborough was "beating his face on my fist".[13]

Donnie had a similar story to Bobby: "Cale said I forced him in the mud. I did not. He wrecked himself and I was the unfortunate bystander to be in it. He and I have talked. We're fine. We both view it as lost opportunities. After he and I talked it out and agreed to disagree Bobby came to the crash site asking me if I wanted a ride. Somehow I don't remember...but seconds later fists were thrown between Cale and Bobby. I tried to get into the fight and got scratched in the cheek by Cale. I later kicked him when Bobby mopped him into the mud. All of us were fined $6,000 but between Daytona 500 and this fight, today it's worth every penny to be involved in a fight that got NASCAR on the map."[14]

Cale Yarborough unsurprisingly has a different account of the story: "If they look at the video they'll realize I was forced in the mud by Donnie. I was going to pass Donnie and win the race but he forced me in the mud and I had no control. So hell I hit him back. If I wouldn't finish the race neither would he. He and I had a civil talk after the wreck and we were fine until Bobby Allison climbed out of the car and began shouting at me. It went chaotic from there."

According to the three during an interview in 2012 at the NASCAR Hall of Fame, NASCAR later refunded the fines as a reward to them for bringing NASCAR into national spotlights. Allison however complains to this day that because he only made $4,000 in the race, he had his wife Judy help pay the fine (by contributing $2,000) & he was only refunded with $4,000 by officials.[15]

Pocono and tragedies[edit]

1988 racecar

On June 19, 1988, at the midpoint of the 1988 season, Allison crashed on lap 1 of the Miller High Life 500. Initially he survived a head-on hit into the outside barrier but then suddenly Jocko Maggiacomo t-boned Allison in the driver's side of the car, nearly killing Allison. When he reached a local hospital he was initially declared dead, but subsequent medical assistance saved his life. Beginning from a vegetative state, Allison entered a rehab program. After regaining most of his memory and re-learning every day activities, Allison prepared to attempt a comeback in the early 1990s. However, a series of tragedies led Allison to abort his comeback attempt, thus retiring from driving in NASCAR.[1]

In 1992 his younger son, Clifford Allison, was fatally injured in a practice crash for the NASCAR Busch Series race (now Xfinity Series) at Michigan International Speedway.[16]

Later in 1993, his son Davey was killed in a helicopter accident at Talladega Superspeedway.[17] Three years after these major tragedies, he and his wife Judy divorced. Four years after their divorce, while attending their daughter-in-law's wedding, they reconnected. They were remarried in July 2000 and remained together until her death in 2015.[18] He was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America[19] in 1992, and inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in May 2011, along with Lee Petty, Bud Moore, David Pearson, and Ned Jarrett.[20]

Allison is one of ten drivers to have won what was then considered a career Grand Slam (an unofficial term) by winning the sport's four majors: the Daytona 500, the Winston 500, the Coca-Cola 600, and the Southern 500.[21] Only nine other drivers have accomplished this feat: Richard Petty, David Pearson, Darrell Waltrip, Dale Earnhardt, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Buddy Baker, Kevin Harvick & Denny Hamlin

Career wins controversy[edit]

Officially,[22] Allison has won 84 Cup Series races, placing him in fourth place on the all-time wins list, tied with Darrell Waltrip. Unofficially, Allison has won 85 races, and may be credited with 86 wins. The controversy lies in two races: the 1971 Myers Brothers 250 held at Bowman Gray Stadium (Winston-Salem, North Carolina), and the 1973 National 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. (Charlotte, North Carolina.)

1971 Myers Brothers 250[edit]

Due to reduced sponsorship money being given out by the "Big Three" automobile companies in Detroit, some Winston Cup teams chose not to enter some of the smaller prize-money races of the large 48-event season (only 14 cars entered the 1971 Space City 300), leading NASCAR to allow its "minor league" Grand American Series drivers (itself suffering from a massive decrease in events versus its 1970 season) to enter six of the Winston Cup races.[23] For these races, Grand American Series "pony cars", such as the Chevrolet Camaro, Ford Mustang, and AMC Javelin, were competing against the larger Grand National Series cars, featuring the Chevrolet Chevelle, Ford Torino Talladega, Dodge Charger Daytona, and Plymouth Roadrunner Superbird.

The 1971 Myers Brothers 250 was held August 6, 1971, at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The first car to cross the finish line after 250 laps was driven by Allison. Knowing that the pony car would handle better on the flat track of that race, and the race following at West Virginia International Speedway, Allison had chosen to race his Grand American 1970 Ford Mustang, No. 49, sponsored by Rollins Leasing, and owned by Melvin Joseph.[23] (Joseph was the head of Dover International Speedway until his death in 2005.) As he was not racing in a Grand National car, he never received credit in that series, but was credited with a Grand American Series win.

NASCAR has had co-sanctioned races with various series in the past; in such cases, the win counts only in the series which that driver's car was sanctioned. The driver tied with Allison in all-time Cup wins because of the dispute is involved in this incident. An Automobile Racing Club of America/Winston West combination race in College Station, Texas on March 21, 1993, was won by Darrell Waltrip, driving an ARCA entry. That win was credited as an ARCA win only, and not counted in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West (as it is currently known) win list. Likewise, when a Winston Cup driver won a Winston Cup/Winston West combination race, the win counts in Cup, not West. The Busch Series and Busch North Series also raced combination races in the past. Currently, Bristol Motor Speedway has such a race, with the Whelen Modified Tour and Whelen Southern Modified Tour.[citation needed]

1973 National 500[edit]

The 1973 National 500 was held October 7, 1973 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina. The first three cars to cross the finish line after the scheduled 334 laps (501 miles) were driven by Cale Yarborough, Richard Petty, and Bobby Allison, in that order. Again, these facts are not disputed. What is disputed, is the legality of the first two cars' engines, recounted in Jim McLaurin's book ”NASCAR'S Most Wanted", in the chapter “Fudgin’ With the Rules”:

In the 1973 National 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Allison protested that the engines in winner Cale Yarborough's and second-place Richard Petty's cars were over-sized. NASCAR inspected all three of the top finishers, and Allison's engine fit the cubic-displacement specs. Six hours after the inspections began, NASCAR technical director Bill Gazaway told the press that the results were being sent to headquarters in Daytona for a final decision.
Monday afternoon NASCAR released a statement saying that, because the inspection facilities at Charlotte were inadequate, the pre-race inspection numbers would be used-when all three cars were legal and that the results would stand.
Allison threatened both to quit and to sue. It was not until after a private meeting with NASCAR President Bill France Jr., a week later that Allison was assuaged. Speculation was that Allison had been bought off. Allison wouldn't confirm or deny it, saying only that he had “received satisfactory restitution”. The results were never changed. 1973 was a transition year in NASCAR. Teams could run a restrictor plate-equipped 7-liter engine or a 5.9 liter engine without restrictor plates. A decade later, Petty's over sized engine at the same race resulted in new NASCAR rules being implemented against oversized engines, including the possibility of twelve-week suspensions for the offending engine builder, driver, and car owner.[citation needed]

1982 Daytona 500[edit]

Following his victory at Daytona, Allison's car was inspected and was found to have lost its rear bumper, which appeared to have fallen off in a slight bump between two cars at the beginning of the race, causing a multi-car accident. Tests were performed on the car without its rear bumper and it was discovered that the car was faster and handled better without the bumper (better underside aerodynamics and over 70lbs. lighter). It has been claimed that Allison and his crew modified the bumper so that it would fall off easily at the beginning of the race. NASCAR never fined him and the victory stands. Allison and his crew denied the allegations. In the Allison biography Miracle, Allison explained that NASCAR inspectors told the DiGard crew to move the bumper on its mounting points. The team simply tack-welded the bumper back on at an acceptable position, but "forgot" to properly secure it.[24]

Car owner[edit]

Allison drove his own cars for portions of the early 1970s, including the full 1973 season. Allison won six races as an owner-driver from 1970 to 1974.[25] Allison also ran for his own team in 1977 after splitting with Roger Penske, with a best finish of second at Nashville.[26]

In 1985 Allison returned to being an owner-driver after leaving DiGard Motorsports, taking his number (22) and sponsor (Miller American) with him to his new team. His best finish as an owner-driver in 1985 was a fourth-place finish at Dover.[27] Following the 1985 season he brought his number and sponsor with him to the Stavola Brothers Racing team.

In 1990 Allison revived his team and was a car owner for numerous drivers, most notably Mike Alexander, Hut Stricklin, Jimmy Spencer, and Derrike Cope. Stricklin was Donnie Allison's son-in-law.[28]

The car number raced was No. 12 and sponsors included Raybestos Brakes from 1990 to 1992 and, in 1993, Meineke. Stricklin moved to the Junior Johnson & Associates team halfway through 1992 and Raybestos left at the end of the year to the Stavola Brothers No. 8 team.[28][29] For 1994 season, the team partnered with Ron Zook, for Cup and Busch Series.[30][31] For 1995 and 1996, the team was sponsored by Mane 'n Tail with Derrike Cope at the wheel. Allison was forced to close down the team due to financial problems after the 1996 season.[28]

Recent years[edit]

Allison has actively promoted rail safety for the CSX "Keep on Living" campaign with appearances at Talladega and Daytona. On March 6, 2008, his mother, Kittie Allison, died at age 101 in Charlotte, North Carolina. On May 23, 2011, Bobby Allison was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame.[32]

Judy Allison, Bobby's wife of 55 years, died December 18, 2015, following complications from surgery.[33]

Motorsports career results[edit]

NASCAR[edit]

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Grand National Series[edit]

NASCAR Grand National Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 NGNC Pts Ref
1961 Ralph Stark 40 Chevy CLT JSP DAY DAY
20
DAY
31
PIF AWS HMS ATL
37
GPS HBO BGS MAR NWS CLB HCY RCH MAR DAR CLT CLT RSD ASP CLT
51
PIF BIR GPS BGS NOR HAS STR DAY ATL CLB MBS BRI NSV BGS AWS RCH SBO DAR HCY RCH CSF ATL MAR NWS CLT BRI GPS HBO 106th - [34]
1965 Bobby Allison Motorsports 2 Ford RSD
29
34th 6152 [35]
12 DAY
7
DAY DAY
11
PIF ASW RCH HBO ATL
7
GPS NWS MAR CLB BRI DAR LGY BGS HCY CLT CCF ASH HAR NSV
Ed Grady 09 Ford BIR
7
ATL
38
GPS MBS VAL DAY
25
ODS OBS ISP GLN BRI
32
NSV CCF AWS SMR PIF AUG CLB DTS BLV BGS DAR HCY LIN ODS RCH MAR NWS CLT HBO CAR DTS
1966 Betty Lilly 24 Ford AUG RSD
12
DAY DAY
31
DAY
20
CAR
3
BRI
28
ATL
10
HCY CLB GPS BGS
4
NWS
26
MAR
7
DAR
16
LGY MGR
3
MON RCH 10th 19910 [36]
Smokey Yunick Racing 22 Chevy CLT
43
DTS ASH PIF SMR AWS
J.D. Bracken 2 Chevy BLV
15
GPS DAY
14
ODS
15
BRR
23
OXF
1*
FON
27
ISP
1
BRI
5
SMR
5
NSV
3
ATL
10
CLB
11
AWS
8
BLV
1*
BGS
18
DAR
36
HCY
7
RCH
20
HBO MAR
3*
NWS
30
CLT CAR
41
1967 AUG
14
RSD
24
AWS
3
BRI
19
GPS
21
BGS
1
CLB
19
HCY
5*
NWS
6
SVH
1*
TRN
9
OXF
1
FDA
2
ISP
6*
BRI
30
SMR
5
NSV
14
BGS
3
CLB
4*
SVH
14
DAR
32
HCY
18
RCH
19
BLV
2
HBO
7
MAR
22
NWS
4
4th 30812 [37]
Bud Moore Engineering 16 Mercury DAY
15
DAY DAY
40
ATL
9
MAR
20
Owens Racing 6 Dodge RCH
2
DAR
4
BLV
3
LGY
2
CLT
3
ASH BIR
1
CAR
36
GPS MGY
3
DAY
7
George Davis 07 Chevy MGR
4
SMR
K&K Insurance Racing 37 Dodge ATL
11
CLT
13
Holman Moody 11 Ford CAR
1*
AWS
1*
1968 MGR
1*
MGY
2
11th 2454 [38]
Bondy Long 29 Ford RSD
4
DAY
3
BRI
36
RCH ATL
19
HCY GPS CLB NWS
29
MAR
26
AUG AWS DAR
23
BLV LGY CLT
28
ASH MGR SMR
J.D. Bracken 2 Chevy BIR
5
CAR
2
GPS DAY
31
ISP
1
OXF
4
FDA
3
TRN
3
BRI
25
SMR
17
NSV
3
ATL
24
CLB
17
BGS
14
AWS
12
SBO
16
LGY
4
DAR
7
HCY
17
RCH
4
BLV
2
HBO
6
MAR
14
Friedkin Enterprises 14 Plymouth NWS
4
AUG
2*
CLT
4
CAR
5
JFC
27
1969 MGR
19
MGY
1
20th 2055 [39]
Mario Rossi 22 Plymouth RSD
15
DAY
Dodge DAY
22
DAY
43
CAR
2
AUG BRI
1
ATL
4
CLB HCY GPS RCH NWS
1*
MAR
3*
AWS DAR
4*
BLV LGY CLT
41
MCH
30
KPT GPS NCF DAY
22
DOV TPN TRN
2
BLV BRI
26
NSV SMR ATL
6
MCH
5
SBO BGS AWS DAR
5
HCY RCH
1*
TAL
Wth
CLB MAR
25
NWS CLT
2
SVH AUG CAR
39
JFC MGR
1
TWS
23
Bobby Allison Motorsports 2 Chevy MGR
6
SMR
16
1970 Mario Rossi 22 Dodge RSD
13
DAY DAY
3
DAY
3
RCH CAR
4
ATL
1
TAL
29
DAR
20
CLT
39
MCH
17
RSD
2
DAY
3
TRN
2
ATL
7
MCH
2
TAL
13
DAR
10
DOV
2
NWS
4
CLT
2
MAR
2
CAR
3
2nd 3860 [40]
Robertson Racing Plymouth SVH
19
BRI
2
NWS
6
Bobby Allison Motorsports Dodge CLB
2
BLV
3
LGY
2
SMR
12
MAR
2
KPT
4
GPS
2
AST
2
TPN
7
BRI
1*
SMR
17
NSV
2
CLB
3
ONA
11
BGS
2
SBO
3
HCY
3
RCH
2
NCF
6
MGR
4
LGY
1*
Neil Castles 88 Dodge HCY
15
1971 Bobby Allison Motorsports 12 Dodge RSD
2
DAY DAY
24
DAY
18
ONT
39
RCH
4
CAR
30
HCY
20
BRI
4
ATL
10
CLB
7
GPS
20
SMR NWS
5
MAR
6
DAR
21
SBO HOU
1*
NSV
27
HCY
4
4th 3636 [41]
Holman Moody Mercury TAL
2*
ASH KPT CLT
1*
DOV
1*
MCH
1
DAY
6
AST
20
ISP
4
ATL
2
MCH
1*
TAL
1*
CLB DAR
1*
CLT
1
DOV
4*
CAR
3
TWS
3
Dodge RSD
1*
Ford GPS
20*
BRI
2
TRN
3
MAR
2
MGR
1*
RCH
2
NWS
21
Melvin Joseph 49 Ford BGS
1*
ONA
2

Winston Cup Series[edit]

NASCAR Winston Cup Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 NWCC Pts Ref
1972 Junior Johnson & Associates 12 Chevy RSD
2*
DAY
16
RCH
2*
ONT
2
CAR
27*
ATL
1*
BRI
1*
DAR
7
NWS
2
MAR
2
TAL
45
CLT
2*
DOV
1*
MCH
2
RSD
6
TWS
2
DAY
3
BRI
1*
TRN
1
ATL
1
TAL
3
MCH
2
NSV
1*
DAR
1*
RCH
2
DOV
20
MAR
2*
NWS
2*
CLT
1*
CAR
1*
TWS
4
2nd 8573.5 [42]
1973 Bobby Allison Motorsports RSD
2
DAY
25
RCH
15
CAR
4
BRI
3
ATL
35
NWS
4
DAR
3
MAR
32
TAL
42
NSV
5
CLT DOV
3
TWS
26
RSD
1*
MCH
4
DAY
30
BRI
20
ATL
27
TAL
29
NSV
22
DAR
6
RCH
3
DOV
2
NWS
1
MAR
3
CLT
3
CAR
4
7th 6272.3 [43]
1974 RSD
5
DAY
30
RCH
1*
CAR
3
BRI
4
ATL
26
DAR
2
NWS
3
MAR
3
TAL
31
NSV
20
DOV
28
CLT
3
RSD
2
MCH
23
BRI
5
NSV
2
4th 2019.19 [44]
Penske Racing 16 AMC DAY
5*
Bobby Allison Motorsports 12 AMC ATL
28
POC
21
TAL
3
Penske Racing MCH
5
DAR
30
RCH DOV
13
NWS MAR CLT
5
CAR
4
ONT
1
1975 16 RSD
1*
DAY
2
RCH CAR BRI ATL
30
NWS DAR
1
MAR
4
TAL
35
NSV DOV CLT RSD
2*
MCH
22
DAY
35
NSV POC
31
TAL
29
MCH
4
DAR
1
DOV
28
NWS MAR
3
CLT
31
RCH CAR
2
BRI ATL
26
ONT
5
24th 2181 [45]
1976 2 RSD
15
4th 4097 [46]
Mercury DAY
25
CAR
21
RCH
3
BRI
5
ATL
29
NWS
3
DAR
18
MAR
6
TAL
3
NSV
5
DOV
4
CLT
4
RSD
2
MCH
3
DAY
3
NSV
7
POC
24
TAL
23
MCH
4
BRI
6
DAR
9
RCH
2
DOV
4
MAR
27
NWS
29
CLT
3
CAR
4
ATL
26
ONT
33
1977 Bobby Allison Motorsports 12 AMC RSD
35
DAY
15
RCH
5
CAR
27
ATL
41
NWS
5
DAR
29
BRI
6
MAR
19
TAL
40
NSV
7
DOV
8
CLT
39
RSD
17
MCH
10
DAY
17
NSV
2
POC
4
TAL
7
MCH
26
BRI
28
DAR
39
RCH
6
DOV
9
MAR
23
NWS
4
CLT
26
CAR
6
ATL
9
ONT
7
8th 3467 [47]
1978 Bud Moore Engineering 15 Ford RSD
30
DAY
1
RCH
6
CAR
2
ATL
1*
BRI
21
DAR
14
NWS
6
MAR
6
TAL
38
DOV
8
CLT
3
NSV
21
RSD
3
MCH
24
DAY
27
NSV
7
POC
3
TAL
6
MCH
5
BRI
22
DAR
5
RCH
2
DOV
1*
MAR
7
NWS
3
CLT
1*
CAR
2
ATL
6
ONT
1*
2nd 4367 [48]
1979 RSD
19
DAY
11
CAR
1*
RCH
2*
ATL
2*
NWS
1
BRI
2
DAR
26
MAR
4
TAL
1
NSV
3
DOV
4
CLT
22
TWS
2
RSD
1
MCH
7
DAY
30
NSV
16
POC
9
TAL
28
MCH
23
BRI
3
DAR
10
RCH
1*
DOV
6
MAR
4
CLT
2
NWS
2*
CAR
19
ATL
4
ONT
2
3rd 4633 [49]
1980 RSD
18
RCH
2
CAR
7
ATL
3
BRI
3
DAR
30
NWS
3
MAR
25
NSV
5
DOV
1
TWS
3
RSD
15*
MCH
8
NSV
6
POC
34
BRI
6
DAR
6
RCH
1*
DOV
30
NWS
1*
MAR
22
CAR
26
ONT
4
6th 4019 [50]
Mercury DAY
2
TAL
40
CLT
26
DAY
1*
TAL
35
MCH
7
CLT
29
ATL
38
1981 Ranier-Lundy Racing 28 Chevy RSD
1*
RCH
23
DAR
9
CLT
2
2nd 4827 [51]
Pontiac DAY
2*
CAR
6
ATL
4
BRI
3
NWS
2*
MAR
13
NSV
3
Buick DAR
9
TAL
1
DOV
2
CLT
1*
TWS
3
RSD
29
MCH
1
DAY
28
NSV
2
POC
25
TAL
5*
MCH
7
BRI
4
RCH
5
DOV
3
MAR
10
NWS
2
CAR
2
ATL
4
RSD
1*
1982 DiGard Motorsports 88 Buick DAY
1*
ATL
22
TAL
13
CLT
3
POC
1*
MCH
4
DAY
1*
POC
1
MCH
1*
DAR
20
DOV
10
CLT
9*
ATL
1*
2nd 4417 [52]
Chevy RCH
8
BRI
5
CAR
4
DAR
25
NWS
8
MAR
17
NSV
6
DOV
1*
RSD
27
NSV
19
BRI
2*
RCH
1*
NWS
23
MAR
19
CAR
2*
Pontiac TAL
10
RSD
16
1983 22 Chevy DAY
9
RCH
1
CAR
10
1st 4667 [53]
Buick ATL
25
DAR
8
NWS
2
MAR
3
TAL
10
NSV
2
DOV
1*
BRI
2
CLT
3*
RSD
22
POC
1*
MCH
2
DAY
14
NSV
4
POC
3*
TAL
9*
MCH
34
BRI
3
DAR
1*
RCH
1*
DOV
1*
MAR
2
NWS
3
CLT
7
CAR
16
ATL
3*
RSD
9
1984 DAY
34
RCH
30
CAR
1
ATL
5
BRI
19
NWS
22
DAR
20
MAR
4*
TAL
4
NSV
12
DOV
12
CLT
1*
RSD
3
POC
7
MCH
6
DAY
4
NSV
5
POC
28
TAL
4
MCH
11
BRI
2
DAR
10
RCH
25
DOV
36
MAR
23
CLT
10
NWS
3
CAR
5
ATL
5
RSD
7*
6th 4094 [54]
1985 DAY
33
RCH
16
CAR
31
ATL
5
BRI
13
DAR
10
NWS
3
MAR
4
TAL
4
DOV
13
CLT
3
RSD
3
POC
9
MCH
6
DAY
18
12th 3312 [55]
Bobby Allison Motorsports POC
12
BRI
22
RCH
28
MAR
10
NWS
31
CAR
38
ATL
26
RSD
17
Chevy TAL
27
Ford MCH
36
DAR
30
DOV
4
CLT
14
1986 Stavola Brothers Racing Buick DAY
42
RCH
4
CAR
34
ATL
9
BRI
6
DAR
3
NWS
6
MAR
8
TAL
1
DOV
2
CLT
12
RSD
7
POC
13
MCH
11
DAY
15
POC
5
TAL
10
GLN
12
MCH
24
BRI
8
DAR
2
RCH
8
DOV
20
MAR
21
NWS
22
CLT
41
CAR
25
ATL
16
RSD
7
7th 3698 [56]
1987 DAY
6
CAR
13
RCH
9
ATL
19
DAR
28
NWS
14
BRI
23
MAR
8
TAL
39
CLT
22
DOV
25
POC
6
RSD
8
MCH
27
DAY
1
POC
27
TAL
12
GLN
9
MCH
7
BRI
22
DAR
26
RCH
12
DOV
7
MAR
8
NWS
17
CLT
2*
CAR
38
RSD
5
ATL
4
9th 3530 [57]
1988 12 DAY
1*
RCH
11
CAR
22
ATL
11
DAR
9
BRI
5
NWS
20
MAR
8
TAL
2
CLT
17
DOV
10
RSD
22
POC
39
MCH DAY POC TAL GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR CLT NWS CAR PHO ATL 33rd 1654 [58]
Daytona 500[edit]
Year Team Manufacturer Start Finish
1961 Ralph Stark Chevrolet 36 31
1965 Bobby Allison Motorsports Ford 13 11
1966 Betty Lilly Ford 44 20
1967 Bud Moore Engineering Mercury 31 40
1968 Bondy Long Ford 6 3
1969 Mario Rossi Dodge 41 43
1970 6 3
1971 Bobby Allison Motorsports Dodge 31 18
1972 Howard & Egerton Racing Chevy 4 16
1973 Bobby Allison Motorsports Chevy 29 25
1974 9 30
1975 Penske Racing AMC 3 2
1976 Mercury 8 25
1977 Bobby Allison Motorsports AMC 7 15
1978 Bud Moore Engineering Ford 33 1
1979 7 11
1980 Mercury 9 2
1981 Ranier-Lundy Racing Pontiac 1 2
1982 DiGard Motorsports Buick 7 1
1983 Chevy 35 9
1984 Buick 4 34
1985 34 33
1986 Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 3 42
1987 6 6
1988 3 1

Busch Series[edit]

NASCAR Busch Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 NBSC Pts Ref
1982 Bobby Allison Motorsports 25 Pontiac DAY RCH BRI MAR DAR HCY SBO CRW RCH LGY DOV
9
HCY CLT
5
ASH HCY SBO CAR CRW SBO HCY LGY IRP
9
BRI HCY RCH MAR 39th 596 [59]
Plessinger Racing 88 Pontiac CLT
3
HCY MAR
1983 DAY
17
RCH CAR
2
HCY MAR NWS SBO GPS LGY 30th 819 [60]
A.G. Dillard Motorsports 22 Pontiac DOV
2*
BRI DAR
37
RCH NWS SBO MAR ROU
Olds CLT
5
SBO HCY ROU SBO ROU CRW ROU SBO HCY LGY IRP GPS BRI HCY CLT
4
HCY MAR
1984 DAY
5
RCH CAR
32
HCY MAR DAR
3
ROU NSV LGY MLW
4
DOV
6
DAR
24
RCH NWS CLT HCY CAR
31
MAR 27th 1129 [61]
Plessinger Racing CLT
1
SBO HCY ROU SBO ROU HCY
A.G. Dillard Motorsports 23 Pontiac IRP
24
LGY SBO BRI
1985 22 Buick DAY
2
CAR
27
HCY BRI MAR DAR
30
SBO LGY DOV
26
CLT
8
SBO HCY ROU IRP SBO LGY HCY MLW BRI DAR RCH NWS ROU CLT
38
HCY CAR
30
MAR 35th 674 [62]
1986 Bobby Allison Motorsports 85 Buick DAY CAR HCY MAR BRI DAR SBO LGY JFC DOV
27
CLT
33
SBO HCY ROU DAR
27
RCH DOV MAR ROU CLT
6
CAR
19
MAR 36th 701 [63]
7 IRP
6
SBO RAL OXF
32
SBO HCY LGY ROU BRI
1987 33 DAY
31
HCY MAR DAR
8
BRI LGY SBO CLT DOV IRP
28
ROU JFC OXF SBO HCY RAL LGY ROU BRI JFC DAR RCH DOV MAR CLT
5
CAR
37
MAR 43rd 356 [64]
1988 12 DAY
1
HCY CAR MAR DAR
30
BRI
30
LNG NZH
3
SBO NSV CLT
3
DOV ROU LAN LVL MYB OXF SBO HCY LNG IRP ROU BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR CLT CAR MAR 37th 656 [65]

International Race of Champions[edit]

(key) (Bold – Pole position. * – Most laps led.)

International Race of Champions results
Year Make Q1 Q2 Q3 1 2 3 4 Pos. Pts Ref
1973–74 Porsche RSD
11
RSD
7
RSD
9
DAY 9th NA [66]
1974–75 Chevy MCH
4
RSD
12
RSD
1
DAY
4
4th NA [67]
1975–76 MCH
2
RSD
11
RSD
1
DAY
7
4th NA [68]
1978–79 MCH
1
MCH RSD RSD
3
ATL
3
4th NA [69]
1979–80 MCH
2
MCH RSD RSD
2
ATL
1
1st 41 [70]

American open-wheel racing[edit]

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)

USAC Championship Car[edit]

USAC Championship Car results
Year Team Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Pos. Pts
1973 Penske Racing McLaren M16C Offy 159 ci t TWS TRE TRE INDY
32
MIL POC MCH MIL ONT ONT ONT MCH MCH TRE TWS PHX NC 0
1975 Penske Racing McLaren M16C Offy 159 ci t ONT ONT
6
ONT
32
PHX TRE INDY
25
MIL POC
27
MCH
17
MIL MCH TRE PHX NC 0
Indianapolis 500[edit]
Year Chassis Engine Start Finish Team
1973 McLaren Offenhauser 12 32 Penske Racing
1975 McLaren Offenhauser 13 25 Penske Racing

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f Poole, Francis (2002) [1992]. Dawson, Dawn P. (ed.). Great Athletes. Vol. 1 (Revised ed.). Salem Press. pp. 46–48. ISBN 1-58765-008-8.
  2. ^ "Cale Yarborough-Bobby Allison fight at 1979 Daytona 500 put NASCAR in national spotlight". Los Angeles Times. 2019-02-15. Retrieved 2020-11-01.
  3. ^ "Home".
  4. ^ Allison, Bobby; Packman, Tim (April 2004). Bobby Allison: A Racer's Racer. Sports Publishing LLC. p. 24. ISBN 1582617236. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  5. ^ "Modified Champions in NASCAR Hall of Fame". Nascar.com. June 16, 2020. Retrieved July 18, 2020.
  6. ^ a b "Bobby Allison | Class of 2011". nascarhall.com. NASCAR Hall of Fame. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  7. ^ Bernstein, Dan (18 February 2020). "Daytona 500 winners: List of past champions, most wins in NASCAR history". sportingnews.com. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  8. ^ McAdory, Joe (15 February 2018). "Bobby Allison dominated Daytona with and without a bumper". alexcityoutlook.com. Alex City Outlook. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  9. ^ MacPherson, Greg (8 July 2013). "JIMMIE JOHNSON SWEEPS 2013 RACES AT DAYTONA". insidetracknews.com. Inside Track Motorsports News. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  10. ^ "Double dippers: Those who have competed in NASCAR and the Indy 500". foxsports.com. Fox Media LLC and Fox Sports Interactive Media, LLC. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  11. ^ Demmons, Doug (14 October 2010). "Bobby Allison's Career Highlights". al.com. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  12. ^ Crossman, Matt. "Bobby Allison still struggles to remember historic Daytona 500 victory over son Davey". sportingnews.com. Archived from the original on 2020-06-30. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  13. ^ Gluck, Jeff (11 May 2010). "Bobby Allison: Inside The 1979 Daytona 500 Fight". sbnation.com. Vox Media, LLC. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  14. ^ Gluck, Jeff (11 May 2010). "Bobby Allison: Inside The 1979 Daytona 500 Fight". sbnation.com. Vox Media, LLC. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  15. ^ "Bobby Allison's most vivid Daytona memories aren't from 1979". motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  16. ^ Zeller, Bob (13 August 1992). "CLIFFORD ALLISON DIES FROM MASSIVE TRAUMA\ ALLISON SON KILLED IN RACING ACCIDENT". Greensboro.con. Greensboro News and Record. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  17. ^ "Davey Allison dies from crash injuries Never regained consciousness". The Baltimore Sun. 14 July 1993. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  18. ^ Robinson, Carol (19 December 2015). "NASCAR 'matriarch' Judy Allison, wife of racing legend Bobby Allison, dies unexpectedly at 74". al.com. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  19. ^ Bobby Allison at the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America
  20. ^ "2011 NASCAR Hall of Fame Inductees". Si.com. ABG-SI LLC. 23 May 2011. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  21. ^ Thompson, Richard (6 April 2020). "Looking Back on the Career and Legacy of Bobby Allison". altdriver.com. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  22. ^ "Bobby Allison". NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers. NASCAR. Archived from the original on 24 March 2012. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
  23. ^ a b "A Race Without A Winner". Grand National East. Retrieved 2015-01-20.
  24. ^ Anderson, Lars (July 25, 2007). "Pushing the envelope: NASCAR has a proud history of tweaking the rules". SI.com. Time. Archived from the original on June 17, 2009. Retrieved May 13, 2009.
  25. ^ "Owner".
  26. ^ "Driver Season Stats".
  27. ^ "Driver Season Stats".
  28. ^ a b c Holmes, Heath. "Hut Stricklin's Racing Bio and Stats". HutStricklin.net. Archived from the original on July 9, 2008. Retrieved May 13, 2009.
  29. ^ 1994 NASCAR Preview and Press Guide, UMI Publications
  30. ^ "Ron Zook Invests In Bobby Allisons Team". Orlando Sentinel. October 13, 1994. p. 43. Retrieved June 22, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  31. ^ Berger, Ken (June 7, 1995). "AUTO RACING PACKAGE: Stricklin Tries To Help Allison's Ex-Team". Associated Press. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  32. ^ "Meet the Inductees l NASCAR Hall of Fame - 2011". Archived from the original on 2012-03-12. Retrieved 2012-03-31.
  33. ^ Hembree, Mike (December 19, 2015). "Judy Allison, matriarch of cornerstone NASCAR family, dies at 74". USA Today. Retrieved December 20, 2015.
  34. ^ "Bobby Allison – 1961 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  35. ^ "Bobby Allison – 1965 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  36. ^ "Bobby Allison – 1966 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  37. ^ "Bobby Allison – 1967 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  38. ^ "Bobby Allison – 1968 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  39. ^ "Bobby Allison – 1969 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  40. ^ "Bobby Allison – 1970 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  41. ^ "Bobby Allison – 1971 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  42. ^ "Bobby Allison – 1972 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  43. ^ "Bobby Allison – 1973 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  44. ^ "Bobby Allison – 1974 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  45. ^ "Bobby Allison – 1975 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  46. ^ "Bobby Allison – 1976 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  47. ^ "Bobby Allison – 1977 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  48. ^ "Bobby Allison – 1978 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  49. ^ "Bobby Allison – 1979 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  50. ^ "Bobby Allison – 1980 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  51. ^ "Bobby Allison – 1981 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  52. ^ "Bobby Allison – 1982 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  53. ^ "Bobby Allison – 1983 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  54. ^ "Bobby Allison – 1984 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  55. ^ "Bobby Allison – 1985 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  56. ^ "Bobby Allison – 1986 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  57. ^ "Bobby Allison – 1987 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  58. ^ "Bobby Allison – 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  59. ^ "Bobby Allison – 1982 NASCAR Budweiser Late Model Sportsman Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  60. ^ "Bobby Allison – 1983 NASCAR Budweiser Late Model Sportsman Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  61. ^ "Bobby Allison – 1984 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  62. ^ "Bobby Allison – 1985 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  63. ^ "Bobby Allison – 1986 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  64. ^ "Bobby Allison – 1987 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  65. ^ "Bobby Allison – 1988 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  66. ^ "Bobby Allison – 1974 IROC Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  67. ^ "Bobby Allison – 1975 IROC Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  68. ^ "Bobby Allison – 1976 IROC Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  69. ^ "Bobby Allison – 1979 IROC Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  70. ^ "Bobby Allison – 1980 IROC Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 7, 2015.

External links[edit]

Sporting positions
Preceded by NASCAR Winston Cup Champion
1983
Succeeded by
Preceded by IROC Champion
IROC VII (1980)
Succeeded by
Achievements
Preceded by Daytona 500 Winner
1978
1982
1988
Succeeded by