Race Car Driver Bobby Allison Passes at 86

[Cypress Sun]

 

NASCAR legend Bobby Allison has passed away at the age of 86.

 

Mr. Allison won 85 races during his NASCAR career, including the Daytona 500 (twice).

 

He was unintentionally partially responsible for the rapid growth in the popularity of NASCAR racing due to a fight with Cale Yarborough after the 1979 Daytona 500 race was over. The race had been televised, start to finish, on live tv. Much of the country was snowed in and many people (not snowed in but myself included) were watching as Yarborough and Bobby's brother, Donnie, crashed while leading on the last lap. Bobby stopped at the crash site to make sure that Donnie was okay and to give him a lift back to the garage area. An altercation ensued between Yarborough and Bobby Allison. Allison described it as "Cale decided to hit his (Cale's) nose repeatedly on my fist". Many race fans were created that day.

 

In 1988 at Talladega super speedway, Allison's car went airborne at the end of the first lap of the race after cutting a tire. The car flew into the main grandstand fence at 200 mph, tearing down 300' of fence. Allison was uninjured in the crash but debris from the crash injured multiple fans in the stands, a few seriously. It was just luck that the car didn't get through the fencing and go into the stands which would have killed dozens. After that crash, NASCAR mandated that the cars would use carburetor restrictor plates to slow them down in (failed) attempt to keep them on the pavement in the event of a crash. This eventually led to the devices used today to keep the cars on the ground.

 

Bobby had his share of tragedy in his life.

In 1988, a few months after winning his second Daytona 500, he was seriously injured in a crash at Pocono raceway which ended his career. He was declared dead at the hospital but brought back by lifesaving efforts of the emergency room doctors. He was left in a vegetative state that he was eventually able to overcome through rigorous physical/mental rehab. He never got all of his memory back and had "blank" areas for the rest of his life after that. He never competitively drove a race car again.

In 1992, his son Clifford was killed in a racing crash at Michigan Intl Speedway.

In 1993, his son Davey was killed in a helicopter crash at Talladega Super Speedway when he got the tail rotor into a fence while landing. 

 

I always enjoyed watching Mr. Allison drive a race car. My favorite memory of his was him winning the 1988 Daytona 500 with his son, Davey, finishing a close second. Seeing the two in victory lane is etched into my memory forever.

 

Thanks for all of the great racing that you provided over the years.

Rest in Peace Mr. Allison

[Blackwater 53393]

Tough competitor, old school hard driver, worthy champion, and he was great for his sponsors!!

[Widder, SASS #59054]

He, and a handful of others like him during the 'Heyday', were so popular it almost made NASCAR like

professional wrestling.  Ya had bad guys and good guys.   Ya had thousands of fans that love the bad guys

and thousands that love the good guys.

 

Then on any particular weekend or race, the bad guy could seem like a good guy........ and vice-versa.

 

RIP Bobby.   And thanks for the great memories you've given many of us.

 

..........WIdder

 

[Cypress Sun]

3 hours ago, Widder, SASS #59054 said:

He, and a handful of others like him during the 'Heyday', were so popular it almost made NASCAR like

professional wrestling.  Ya had bad guys and good guys.   Ya had thousands of fans that love the bad guys

and thousands that love the good guys.

 

Then on any particular weekend or race, the bad guy could seem like a good guy........ and vice-versa.

 

RIP Bobby.   And thanks for the great memories you've given many of us.

 

..........WIdder

 

 

Everyone always had someone, some driver they were 'pulling' for...and the driver they hated.

 

The wrestling comparison is spot on, especially with local short track racing. Local favorites, heroes and villains. Lots of fun. It's where race car drivers and race fans get their start!

[Blackwater 53393]

10 hours ago, Widder, SASS #59054 said:

He, and a handful of others like him during the 'Heyday', were so popular it almost made NASCAR like

professional wrestling.  Ya had bad guys and good guys.   Ya had thousands of fans that love the bad guys

and thousands that love the good guys.

 

Then on any particular weekend or race, the bad guy could seem like a good guy........ and vice-versa.

 

RIP Bobby.   And thanks for the great memories you've given many of us.

 

..........WIdder

 

One of the prime examples of the villains and heroes thing that Widder brought up was back in the early days of the all star race.

 

Back then it was called the Winston  and was run a couple days before a point paying race in mid season.

 

Darrel Waltrip was one of the most disliked drivers in NASCAR at the time.  He was leading the Winston in the last laps and Rusty Wallace was trying, but unable, to pass him cleanly.  Rusty was a crowd favorite at the time.

 

He crowded Waltrip and eventually spun him into the infield. It did very minor damage to Waltrip’s car, but it cost him the race, which Wallace went on to win!

 

Two days later, Waltrrip started the points race with the same car, even leaving the small dent in the quarter panel there for everyone to see.  He won the race! He was loudly cheered by the fans in the stands, and almost overnight, the villain and hero roles were reversed and Waltrip became the most popular driver in NASCAR. A title he held for several years.

[Cypress Sun]

52 minutes ago, Blackwater 53393 said:

One of the prime examples of the villains and heroes thing that Widder brought up was back in the early days of the all star race.

 

Back then it was called the Winston  and was run a couple days before a point paying race in mid season.

 

Darrel Waltrip was one of the most disliked drivers in NASCAR at the time.  He was leading the Winston in the last laps and Rusty Wallace was trying, but unable, to pass him cleanly.  Rusty was a crowd favorite at the time.

 

He crowded Waltrip and eventually spun him into the infield. It did very minor damage to Waltrip’s car, but it cost him the race, which Wallace went on to win!

 

Two days later, Waltrrip started the points race with the same car, even leaving the small dent in the quarter panel there for everyone to see.  He won the race! He was loudly cheered by the fans in the stands, and almost overnight, the villain and hero roles were reversed and Waltrip became the most popular driver in NASCAR. A title he held for several years.

 

Rusty dumped him and lost a ton of fans that night. Him and Waltrip still harp at each other about that night at the Winston. Never could stand Waltrip until he retired from driving, I liked him in the booth.

I was at the Firecracker 400 in Daytona when Waltrip flipped so many times on the back stretch and ended up upside down with fuel pouring all over the ground. Broke his leg in that one IIRC.

[Blackwater 53393]

I became a DW fan when he made a commercial for Gatorade while driving for DiGard Racing.  In that commercial, he said that as a driver he wanted to qualify on the pole every time, lead every lap, and win every race!!

 

I was managing a drag racing operation at the time.  That’s EXACTLY the attitude I looked for in our drivers!

 

He was known as Jaws because of his outspoken and sometimes braggodocious attitude and The Mouth of the South because he didn’t hesitate to say what was on his mind!

 

He and Dale sr. were frienemies. They enjoyed bagging and ragging on each other, but when Darrell’s wife, Stevie, began writing little prayers and words of encouragement on pieces of tape that she’d stick to his dashboard, Dale asked her where was his. Darrell saw to it that Dale got ‘em too!

 

When Dale jr. started racing in NASCAR, it was in trucks.  In his first race, Sr. put him in a good truck and put Waltrip in one just like it.  Big Dale’s instructions to Junior were, “Follow DW and do what he does!  If he goes to the pits and gets out and goes to the restroom, YOU FOLLOW DW!”

 

 

Waltrip and Bobby were often at odds.  Bobby was always more serious and had a dry wit about him. Darrell is/was boisterous and flamboyant. Bobby wasn’t fond of that.

 

Both of them were fierce competitors. There was natural friction between them, bordering on animosity.

 

 

Edited November 11 by Blackwater 53393

[watab kid]

did not realize he was that old , but then i wake up every morning thinking im gonna shave a 16 year old face then reality sets in and i leave the beard 

[Widder, SASS #59054]

Hey Blackwater and Sun,

Lets not forget our heroes based on what brand of car they drove.

I was a Dodge/Plymouth fan.    I liked the 'Petty Blue' color so much that I had the new JEDI pins made in the

same color.....Petty Blue.

 

I sorta liked Chevy..... but I hated the Pontiac because Rusty drove one.

 

I never liked FORD much..... although I liked Davey and actually saddened me at his death.

 

I was at the Firecracker 400 when Petty won his 200th race.   Please dont ask me to remember the year.

But, I was in turn 4 about 1/2 up, which gave me a little birds eye view of him and Cale screaming out of turn 4

heading into the trip-oval.     I thought Cale won as we watched them from the back side but quickly

saw the 'Leader Board' light up with 43.

 

Some of us fellers here in E.Tennessee would go to church and every February, we would remind the Preacher

that the Daytona starts at such-n-such time and he needed to make sure his sermon was short.   True story.

 

..........Widder

 

[Rooster Ron Wayne]

RIP Bobby  .

Thank you 

[Cypress Sun]

7 hours ago, Widder, SASS #59054 said:

Hey Blackwater and Sun,

Lets not forget our heroes based on what brand of car they drove.

I was a Dodge/Plymouth fan.    I liked the 'Petty Blue' color so much that I had the new JEDI pins made in the

same color.....Petty Blue.

 

I sorta liked Chevy..... but I hated the Pontiac because Rusty drove one.

 

I never liked FORD much..... although I liked Davey and actually saddened me at his death.

 

I was at the Firecracker 400 when Petty won his 200th race.   Please dont ask me to remember the year.

But, I was in turn 4 about 1/2 up, which gave me a little birds eye view of him and Cale screaming out of turn 4

heading into the trip-oval.     I thought Cale won as we watched them from the back side but quickly

saw the 'Leader Board' light up with 43.

 

Some of us fellers here in E.Tennessee would go to church and every February, we would remind the Preacher

that the Daytona starts at such-n-such time and he needed to make sure his sermon was short.   True story.

 

..........Widder

 

 

That was 1984! Ronald Reagan was there at the race. There is a picture somewhere of Air Force One landing at the airport behind the track and Petty's race car on the track during the race, all in the same picture frame.

 

Don't forget, Bobby Allison also drove a AMC Matador (#16) in a couple of NASCAR races also!

[Widder, SASS #59054]

Your correct, SUN.

That picture is sometimes referred to as .... "40 and 43" because Reagan was our 40th Prez.

 

On a side note:  I won $35 that day from my family and Uncle.

We all put $5 in a pot and drew out 3 numbers each.   The hat had a number for each car in the race and there was 7 of us family folks.

 

Anyhow, I drew #43 and 2 other numbers.   I faintly recall either Darrell or Rusty and one of the insignificant drivers.

Anyhow, my Uncle had Cal's number and I thought I had lost the pot.   But quickly found out I won the $35.

Back in '84, that $35 felt pretty nice in my pocket.

I dont recall exactly, but I think many of the ball cap prices at NASCAR were around $8 or $9 bucks, which featured

your favorite car # and some of them actually had a 'patch' of the car, its colors and number.

 

I think I will GOOGLE some NASCAR history to help refresh my aging memory.....

 

..........Widder

 

Edited November 11 by Widder, SASS #59054

[Blackwater 53393]

1 hour ago, Cypress Sun said:

 

That was 1984! Ronald Reagan was there at the race. There is a picture somewhere of Air Force One landing at the airport behind the track and Petty's race car on the track during the race, all in the same picture frame.

 

Don't forget, Bobby Allison also drove a AMC Matador (#16) in a couple of NASCAR races also!

At that time, Petty Enterprises had gone to Chevrolet and Richard was driving a Monte Carlo.

 

After the race, Petty’s car failed inspection.  The engine was bored for 350 cu in pistons on one side and 400s on the other!

 

They took Petty’s points, but let the win stand. I don’t recall whether they held the purse or not.

 

Bobby Allison and Kyle Petty both drove AMC Matadors at one time. One of Kyle’s few NASCAR victories was in the Matador.  They were painted the same paint scheme that originally was found on the AMX that competed in Trans Am, red at the rear, white in the middle, and blue on the nose!  The blue used on the Matador was lighter in color than on the AMXs, almost Petty blue!

 

Petty Enterprises also ran Fords for a year when NASCAR made some rules changes that really hurt the Plymouth.

 

EDIT:  When Chrysler introduced the Dodge Daytonas, Petty was still running Plymouth. They created the Super Bird just for him and they built the absolute minimum number of cars to qualify it for competition!  A lot of people think the cars are the same, but the Bird is built around the Road Runner body with a smaller rear window and different roof profile among other less obvious differences.

 

 

 

 

Edited November 11 by Blackwater 53393