NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Bobby Allison has passed away at the age of 86, his family announced Saturday evening.
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According to a statement, Allison passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by family members. The statement said that he had been in declining health in recent years.
"Bobby Allison personified the term 'racer,'" NASCAR CEO Jim France said in a statement. "Though 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.
"As a driver, he won races and championships across several NASCAR divisions. But as the leader of the famous 'Alabama Gang,' Bobby connected with fans in a profound manner. In the most significant ways, he gave his all to our sport.
"On behalf of the France family and all of NASCAR, I offer my deepest condolences to Bobby's family, friends, and fans on the loss of a NASCAR giant."
He was more than just a racer.
He was a giant of our sport.
We remember Bobby Allison. pic.twitter.com/c2UKOeL9vs
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) November 10, 2024
Allison, one of the sport's 75 Greatest Drivers, made his Cup Series debut back in 1961 with four starts. He made eight more starts in 1965 and then massively expanded his schedule with 33 starts in 1966. He won three races in the No. 2 Chevrolet during this part-time season.
Allison made 718 starts at the top level of NASCAR, and he achieved significant success. He won 85 races, the fourth-most in Cup Series history, and he won the 1983 title.
Allison also secured multiple crown jewel wins. He won the World 600 — now the Coca-Cola 600 — three times and the Southern 500 four times. Allison won the Daytona 500 three times.
Interestingly, the NASCAR record books only showed 84 wins on Allison's resume until 2024.
NASCAR did not officially recognize a win at Bowman Gray Stadium that took place on Aug. 6, 1971. This was a race that featured two divisions competing in the same race — the top Grand National Series and the smaller Grand American Series.
The sanctioning body announced on Oct. 23, 2024, that it officially recognized this win, which moved Allison to 85.
"For 53 years, the Myers Brothers Memorial was the only race run by NASCAR that did not have an official winner," France said in a statement. "As we began preparations for the upcoming Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium, the topic of that August 6, 1971 race returned to the forefront.
"We felt it was the right thing to officially recognize Bobby's win and honor him as an 85-time NASCAR Cup Series winner. We are grateful for Bobby's lifetime contributions to NASCAR."
