Car numbers: To retire or not to retire
By Liz Allison, Turner Sports Interactive
August 15, 2001
3:30 PM EDT (1930 GMT)
I have been contributing columns to NASCAR.com for two months now and you have probably noticed that I am not a controversial writer. I simply share my stories with you of my experiences in NASCAR.
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Liz Allison
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But somehow I have not been able to get away from the controversial issue of retiring car numbers. Every racetrack I work for TNT and almost every letter that I receive from you, wants to know: Should NASCAR allow car numbers to be retired. So, here you go -- but remember you asked for it. This is my opinion on the "controversial" question.
Most of you know that I was married to Davey Allison who was the 1987 Rookie of the Year, 1992 Daytona 500 Winner and a darn good race car driver.
Davey drove the No. 28 Texaco Havoline Ford for his entire Winston Cup career with the exception of a few races in the beginning of his rookie year. His rookie car was owned by Harry Ranier who sold his team to Robert Yates, who continues to own and operate that team today. The No. 28 is driven by Ricky Rudd and many of Davey’s crew members are still a part of the Rudd/Yates team.
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Davey Allison
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Davey was a very popular driver. He was the son of the legendary Bobby Allison and a member of the famed "Alabama Gang." Davey had -- and still does -- a huge following.
In July 1993, a helicopter Davey was piloting crashed into the infield of Talladega SuperSpeedway. He died the next morning, leaving the NASCAR world stunned.
The following weekend was the Pocono race where Yates made the decision to pull the No. 28 team from competition. I agreed with this decision and felt that it was a respectful choice. The empty hauler stable in the garage was replaced by flowers and memorials in memory of Davey.
The following week was the return to none other than Talladega. Now let me set this up for you. Davey not only just lost his life at this facility two weeks before. He was the overall track champion at Talladega. He had won more races in combined events than any other driver. He won his very first Winston Cup race there and this was his home track.
Nowhere on the circuit was Davey more at home than Talladega and nowhere did Davey’s fans show up more than Talladega. Most importantly, Davey loved this track.
I was reeling over the loss of my husband at home and taking care of our two infant children when suddenly it occurred to me that a decision had to be made about Davey’s car for Talladega. I wondered at this point, What would the team do? Who would drive the car and what would the car look like? I had no idea at this point that those decisions had already been made. Yates had decided to not only compete in the race but keep the car identical to Davey’s paint scheme.
I went in to an emotional whirlwind to say the least. I became quite vocal about having the No. 28 retired and the paint scheme changed. I felt that it was only right to do this. In my opinion, it would be disrespectful to do anything less. A sentiment that was shared with the majority of the Allison family as well as many race fans.
I pleaded my case to NASCAR and to Yates. In NASCAR’s defense, it was not their decision to make. Yates owned the No. 28 in Winston Cup racing. NASCAR had not set a rule on retiring numbers, so therefore it was up to him to make that final call, and he did.
As set as I was on retiring the number and changing the paint scheme, Yates was adamant about not changing a thing. He felt that changing the car or number would be like Davey never existed and that he would not be a part of their team forever. We were like two bulls fighting it out in the ring. I ultimately lost my battle.
I was so hurt and grief-stricken that I could not even watch a race because I could not stand the pain of watching “Davey’s car” go around the track without him in it. It was a constant reminder to me and to many of Davey’s fans that he was no longer with us.
Several years went by before I allowed myself to start watching the sport again that I had loved so much. I quickly realized that I had missed it more than I thought that I would.
I was sitting in front of my television in my home watching the first race that I had seen in years when I saw the No. 28 car. It took my breath for just a moment then I felt a little smile come to my face, a little pride crept in there.
It occurred to me that the No. 28 car still felt special to me, even after everything that had happened. It was not pain that I felt anymore. The pain was replaced with all good feelings. I felt that even though Davey was not driving the car, he was still a part of that team. Could that have been what Yates was feeling years before when we battled over retiring the No. 28 from Winston Cup racing?
Today there are so many decisions that still have to be made for Dale Earnhardt and the Richard Childress team. Should the black No. 3 Goodwrench Chevrolet make its way back to Winston Cup competition?
There are definitely two sides to every story, and I can only wish Richard Childress peace in his heart as he tries to make the tough decisions ahead of him.
The No. 28 car looks today almost exactly like it did in 1993 when Davey lost his life. I will never look at that car and not think of Davey. What was an emotional plea to have the No. 28 retired from competition some eight years ago has turned to pride.
Pride that Davey was there when the Yates team got started. He was there to bring Yates his very first win as a car owner and there to bring many championships battles throughout his career. The two will forever be remembered for their close relationship on and off the track and their hard drive to win together as a team.
Most importantly, you can be sure that Davey has been in Victory Lane every time the No. 28 team took the checkered flag since his death. Dale Jarrett made a point to remember Davey when he won his Winston Cup title, acknowledging Davey’s work years ago that helped make the Yates teams what they are today -- true championship material just like their very first driver, Davey Allison.
So back to the question: Do I believe that Winston Cup numbers should be retired? Eight years ago I would have fought you tooth and nail to have the No. 28 number retired. Now, I am thankful that people still see Davey when they look at the No. 28.
It is hard to forget someone when there are constant reminders of them. I don’t know about you but I choose not to forget Davey or Dale Earnhardt or anyone else that has passed through this sport.
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