Bobby Allison, NASCAR Hall of Fame Driver, Dies at 86: ‘Shaped the Sport for So Many’

Mar. 15, 2025

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The racing legend died peacefully at his home on Saturday, Nov. 9,announcedNASCAR, which did not share a cause of death.

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Allison’s full-time premier series career began in 1966 following back-to-back NASCAR Modified titles, per NASCAR. Before that, Allison, his younger brother Donnie and fellow racer Red Farmer famously relocated to Alabama and formed what would become known as the “Alabama Gang.”

Allison’s career highlights include his 1983 Winston Cup Series Champion victory, three Daytona 500 wins and becoming a member of NASCAR’s second Hall of Fame class in 2011.

The final victory in Allison’s career took place at the 1988 Daytona 500, when he and his son Davey Allison had a legendary father-son 1-2 finish, per NASCAR.

Davey died following a helicopter crash in July 1993, less than a year after his younger brother Clifford Allison died of injuries sustained during a crash at Michigan International Speedway in August 1992.

Several friends and admirers in the racing world paid tribute to Allison over the weekend, including NASCAR greatJimmie Johnson, who remembered the hall-of-fame driver as “a true legend” in a post shared toX.

In another touching tribute, Richard Petty wrote that Allison was “not just a fierce competitor on the track, but a friend off the track.”

source: people.com