Bobby Allison, NASCAR Cup champion and winner of 85 races, dies at 86

Bobby Allison, a legendary racer who won the 1983 NASCAR Cup Series championship, was an 85-time NASCAR Cup Series race winner and was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in the Class of 2011, has died at age 86.

According to a statement from the Allison family, the legendary driver passed away peacefully on Sunday, November 9th at his home surrounded by his family.

“It is with deep sadness that the family of Bobby Allison announces his death at the age of 86. He passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family on November 9, 2024. His health declined in recent years, but his health continued to decline. “Give back to the sport he loved,” the family said in the statement.

“Bobby was the ultimate fan driver. He really enjoyed spending time with his fans and stopped everywhere to sign autographs and have conversations with them. He was a committed family man and friend and a devout Catholic.”

Allison’s family has not announced any arrangements and the family asks anyone who would like to honor Allison to make a donation to his home church (St. Theresa Catholic Church in Mooresville, NC), any local Catholic church or diocese, and the International Motorsports Hall of Fame Preservation Society to consider or Victory Junction Gang Camp.

While every driver wants to compete for victories and championships, the most prestigious honor a driver can achieve is to be viewed as a true racer. It was Allison.

“Bobby Allison epitomized the term ‘racing driver,'” NASCAR Chairman and CEO 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. As a driver, he won races and championships in multiple NASCAR divisions. But as the leader of the Bobby, the famed “Alabama Gang,” he built a deep connection with fans and championed our sport. On behalf of the French family and all of NASCAR, I extend my deepest condolences to Bobby’s family. Friends and fans at the loss of a NASCAR giant.”

Allison, who called Hueytown, Alabama, his home, made the first of 718 NASCAR Cup Series starts in the 1961 Daytona 500 Qualifier race on February 24, 1961. Allison started 29th that day and came home with a 20th place finish, which helped secure his spot in the 1961 Daytona 500.

Allison accomplished an incredible amount in his illustrious career, but despite numerous close calls, he had yet to win a NASCAR Cup Series championship prior to the 1983 season. In a bitter season-long battle with Darrell Waltrip, Allison was able to secure his first and only NASCAR Cup Series championship at the age of 45 after earning six season victories for DiGard Racing, a team Waltrip had previously driven for.

Of Allison’s 85 career NASCAR Cup Series victories, 11 came in the incredible 1971 season, which marked the most wins he achieved in a single season of his NASCAR Cup Series career.

Just last month, Allison was officially recognized with his 85th career victory, bringing his total to 11 wins during the 1971 season. Allison had won a NASCAR Cup Series Grand American Combined race at Bowman Gray Stadium in 1971, but after a protest by NASCAR Cup Series drivers following the race, Allison, who drove a Grand American car in the race, was never released honored with the award of official victory.

Throughout his life, Allison emphasized the fact that he won that race in 1971. On October 23, 2024, that fact was finally reflected in the record book when NASCAR decided to finally recognize Allison’s 85th career win.

The final race of Allison’s NASCAR Cup Series driving career was at Pocono Raceway on June 19, 1988, where Allison suffered near-fatal injuries in a serious accident on the first lap when he was struck by Jocko Maggiacomo.

Allison underwent head surgery and survived the medically induced coma. After recovering from his injuries, Allison became a successful car owner in the NASCAR Cup Series.

One of the greatest drivers of all time, Allison recorded 718 starts in her 25-year career in the NASCAR Cup Series. Allison achieved 85 wins, 336 top-five finishes and 446 top-10 finishes, as well as 59 pole positions.