The NASCAR world lost one of its legends on Saturday when Bobby Allison passed away at the age of 86.
NASCAR released a statement from Allison’s family saying he died at his home in Mooresville, North Carolina.
A cause of death was not given, but Allison had been in declining health for years.
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Bobby Allison speaks during a press conference at the NASCAR Hall of Fame Aug. 3, 2016, in Charlotte, NC. (Streeter Lecka/Stewart-Haas Race via Getty Images)
“Bobby was the ultimate fan driver,” Allison’s family said in a statement. “He really enjoyed spending time with his fans and would stop to sign autographs and chat with them everywhere he went. He was a devoted family man and friend, and a devout Catholic.”
“Bobby Allison personified the word ‘racing,'” NASCAR Chairman Jim France said in a statement. “While he is best known as one of the winningest drivers in NASCAR Cup Series history, his impact on the sport extends far beyond the record books.”
Allison’s resume speaks for itself. He won the Daytona 500 three times, one of only five racers to accomplish that feat. He is one of 10 drivers to win NASCAR’s career “grand slam” which includes the Cup Series’ top races – the Daytona 500, Winston 500, Coca-Cola 600 and Southern 500.
Allison was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2011 as part of the second class.
Born in Miami in 1937, Allison began looking for other racing opportunities outside of the Sunshine State. He came to central Alabama, where he found a number of small dirt tracks.
Bobby Allison stands next to his car and talks to the media after winning the pole position during qualifying for the 500-mile national stock car race at Pocono Raceway Aug. 2, 1975, Long Pond, Pa. (Photo/AP File)
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He returned to Florida to pick up his brother Donnie and close friend Red Farmer. They set up shop in Hueytown, Alabama, and dominated regional racing in the 1960s and early 1970s. They were later joined in the Alabama Gang by Jimmy Mears, Neil Bonnett and Allison and Bonnett’s sons, Davey and Clifford.
Allison retired in 1988 after a near-fatal accident. In June 1987, he crashed on the opening lap at Talledega Superspeedway. He hit the outside wall and got T-boned in the driver’s side door. He was initially pronounced dead when he arrived at the local hospital, but he came back to life.
Bobby Allison at the 2024 NASCAR Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Charlotte, NC, Jan. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond, File)
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He finally regained his memory, relearned daily activities and tried to come back. But a series of tragedies led to Allison’s resignation. His son, Clifford, was killed in a crash in practice for the second round of the Busch Series at Michigan International Speedway in 1992. A year later, son Davey died in a helicopter crash in Talladega.
He sits in fourth place in NASCAR Cup Series history for wins.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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