2024-11-10 05:48:30 :
NASCAR Hall of Famer Bobby Allison, founder of the “Alabama Gang” in motorsports, died Saturday. He is 86 years old.
NASCAR released a statement from Allison’s family, saying he died at his home in Mooresville, North Carolina. No cause of death was given, but Allison’s health had been deteriorating over the years.
Last month, Allison finished fourth on the NASCAR Cup Series win list and was recognized by chairman Jim France at the 1971 Meyers Brothers Memorial at Bowman Gray Stadium in North Carolina. The winner of the competition. The sanctioning body updated its record books to reflect the decision, giving Allison 85 wins, lifting him out of a tie with Darrell Waltrip.
France and longtime NASCAR executive Mike Helton presented Allison with a plaque commemorating the victory. With it, Allison trails only Hall of Famers Richard Petty (200), David Pearson (105) and Jeff Gordon (93) in Cup wins.
Allison was inducted into the second class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2011. He was the 1983 NASCAR champion, finished second in the series championship five times and was a three-time Daytona 500 winner.
He put NASCAR on the map not just through his driving skills. His infamous battle with Cale Yarborough in the final laps of the 1979 Daytona 500 became one of the sport’s defining moments.
“Kyle hit me with the nose,” Allison said repeatedly, often using the phrase to describe the fight. “Carl understands, as do I, that this is really good for the interest in motorsport. It proves we are sincere.”
AP Sports Writer Mark Long contributed to this report.
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