Many great warriors have competed in motorsports, but none have responded with unmatched bravery through tragedy and heartbreak more than Bobby Allison.
Taking inventory of his losses is staggering. The NASCAR Hall of Famer suffered the sudden deaths of his two sons, Clifford (1992) and Davey (1993), in separate racing and aviation accidents. Then, the loss of fellow “Alabama Gang” member Neil Bonnett (1994) in a Daytona International Speedway practice crash. Later, the loss of the love of his life, Judy (2015), following what should have been a relatively simple medical procedure.
The rivalries of his Cup career were legendary and certainly sharpened his steel, including fender-banging duels and heated exchanges with other future Hall of Famers Curtis Turner, Richard Petty, Junior Johnson and Darrell Waltrip.
He backed down from no one.
Allison’s iron will and quest for perfection led to conflicts, resulting in him driving for more than 20 different Cup car owners. His legend grew all the while.
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In 1974, Bobby suffered a broken back in a crash at Riverside during the Saturday race of the IROC Series. Yet there he was, back on track in a makeshift brace the following day — beating the biggest names in motorsports such as Foyt, Unser, Petty, Pearson, Yarborough and Formula 1 world champions Jody Scheckter and Emerson Fittipaldi.
His fight with Cale Yarborough alongside his brother Donnie in the 1979 Daytona 500 created an unforgettable memory, still considered one of the most significant events in NASCAR history.
Allison was the original barnstormer, racing anywhere, any day of the week. Local short tracks would promote his special appearances, where he shook hands, signed autographs and ran against the local heroes at hundreds of venues, building a nationwide following as one of the sport’s most popular drivers. He was famous for “buzzing” the tracks in his private plane upon arrival and departure, leaving fans to imagine where he was headed next.
On the track, he suffered wrecks that changed the course of NASCAR history. In 1987, his crash into the catch fencing at Talladega resulted in engine restrictor plates for Daytona and Talladega Superspeedway to slow down the cars. He suffered horrific crashes at Elko, Minnesota and Rockingham and hardly skipped a beat.
Following his father-son 1-2 finish with Davey in the 1988 Daytona 500, Bobby suffered a career-ending and nearly life-ending crash at Pocono in June, resulting in a severe head injury. Rebounding from that injury, Bobby focused on resuming his career as a car owner and supporting Clifford and Davey’s racing careers.
After retiring as a car owner, Bobby made numerous appearances at fan gatherings, festivals and special events. Sitting alongside his brother and fellow NASCAR Hall of Famers Donnie Allison and Red Farmer, they were always among the most famous legends in the autograph line and drew the longest lines.
Bobby endured several health issues in his final years, but he always had the support of his daughters, Bonnie and Carrie, and numerous lifelong friends who would stop by with a strawberry milkshake from Chick-fil-A.
Some competitors are judged by their numbers and he loses no shine there – Allison’s 85 career wins rank fourth on the all-time Cup Series win list. Others are judged by their contributions as innovators, and Bobby was one of the best at developing power steering and spotter radio communications. Some might be judged by fan appeal and popularity, and once again, Bobby’s legion of fans is legendary.
He did it all with grit, determination and bravery.
Bobby first came to my attention when I was 14 and attending the 1966 Old Dominion 500 at Martinsville. Bobby and Fred Lorenzen competed in a classic battle. Bobby led for 218 laps in his little Chevelle, owned by Donald Brackins, while Lorenzen led for 172 laps in his factory-supported Holman Moody Ford. Late engine problems relegated Bobby to third, while Lorenzen went on to win.
From that day at Martinsville forward, I closely followed Bobby’s career. When I started on the media side of the sport 42 years ago, I never dreamed that I would know Bobby so well. I especially enjoyed visiting Bobby and Judy in their home, where Judy had gluten-free cookies waiting upon my arrival. The stories we shared will always be with me.
One of my most cherished accomplishments is my small role in NASCAR recognizing his 85th career win at Bowman Gray Stadium in 1971.
Through all his trials and tribulations, Bobby maintained his faith, cherished his family’s love and was supported by thousands of friends and fans.
Rest well, my friend, and enjoy your family reunion.
Ken Martin, director of historical content, has worked exclusively for NASCAR since 2008, but has been involved with the sport since 1982. He has worked in the broadcast booth for hundreds of races and calculated the “points as they run” for the historic 1992 finale at Atlanta Motor Speedway.