Best finish 16th (1967) Siblings Bobby Allison | Name Donnie Allison | |
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Born September 7, 1939 (age 84) Miami, Florida, U.S. ( 1939-09-07 ) Achievements 1970 World 600 Winner1971 Winston 500 Winner1970 Firecracker 400 Winner1975 Snowball Derby winner Awards 1967 Winston Cup Series Rookie of the Year1970 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the YearInternational Motorsports Hall of Fame (2009) First win 1968 Carolina 500 (Rockingham) Similar People Bobby Allison, Cale Yarborough, Davey Allison, Neil Bonnett, Buddy Baker | ||
Daytona 1979 donnie allison and cale yarborough fight
Dunkiny "Donnie" Allison (born September 7, 1939 in Miami, Florida) is a former driver on the NASCAR Grand National/Winston Cup circuit, who won ten times during his racing career, which spanned the 1960s, 1970s and early 1980s. He was part of the "Alabama Gang," and is the brother of 1983 champion Bobby Allison and uncle of Davey Allison and Clifford Allison. He was inducted in the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2009.
Contents
- Daytona 1979 donnie allison and cale yarborough fight
- Donnie Allison NASCAR Video Talks About his Book
- NASCAR career
- 1979 Daytona 500
- USAC career
- Awards
- NASCAR
- Winston Cup Series
- International Race of Champions
- References
Donnie Allison NASCAR Video Talks About his Book
NASCAR career
Allison managed to get ten wins in NASCAR Cup Series competition with his first coming at the 1968 Carolina 500 at Rockingham Speedway and his final at the 1978 Dixie 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Allison would suffer serious injuries at the 1981 Coca Cola 600, this would end his career in NASCAR for the most part. Allison would only race fourteen more Winston Cup races (he would also fail to qualify four times for races during this time) from 1982 to 1988. Allison would also win the 1967 NASCAR Grand National Rookie of the Year.
1979 Daytona 500
Allison possibly is most remembered for his involvement in a final-lap crash and a subsequent fist-fight with Cale Yarborough in the 1979 Daytona 500. He was leading the race on the final lap with Yarborough drafting him tightly. As Yarborough attempted his signature slingshot pass at the end of the backstretch, Allison attempted to block him but Yarborough refused to give ground. As he pulled alongside Allison, his left side tires left the pavement and went into the wet and muddy infield grass. Yarborough's car resultingly started losing control and contacted Allison's halfway down the backstretch. As both drivers tried to regain control, their cars made contact several times and finally locked together and crashed into the outside wall in turn 3. After the cars settled in the grass, Allison and Yarborough started to argue. After they had talked it out, Bobby Allison, who was lapped at that point, pulled over and began to defend his brother, but a fist-fight broke out. It all happened on the first nationally televised NASCAR race. Richard Petty, who was over half a lap behind at the time of the crash, went on to win the race. The fight made headlines all across America. The publicity was instrumental in the growth of NASCAR.
USAC career
Allison first raced in the USAC Championship Car Series in 1970. Driving the No. 83 Greer Eagle 67-Offenhauser for Ansted-Thompson Racing in the 1970 Indianapolis 500, he finished 4th and won the 1970 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year Award. He would have finished 20th in points, but because he was using a NASCAR license, he was ineligible for points. For the 1971 Allison drove the No. 84 Purolator Filters Coyote-Ford V8, finishing 6th in the Indianapolis 500. He also competed in the Rex Mays 150 at Milwaukee State Fairgrounds Speedway, the Schaefer 500 at Pocono International Raceway, and the California 500 at Ontario Motor Speedway, retiring from both. Allison was again ineligible for points.
Awards
NASCAR
(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)
Winston Cup Series
Daytona 500
International Race of Champions
(key) (Bold – Pole position. * – Most laps led.)