Donnie Allison

Donnie Allison (born September 7, 1939) is an American former driver on the NASCAR Grand National/Winston Cup circuit, who won ten times during his racing career, which spanned from 1966 to 1988. He is 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. He was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame on January 19, 2024.

NASCAR career Before racing in the Grand National Series, Allison, like his brother Bobby, drove modified stock cars. 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 coming 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 also won the 1967 NASCAR Grand National Rookie of the Year.

1979 Daytona 500 Allison is perhaps best remembered for his involvement in a final-lap crash and a subsequent 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 started to go below Allison, he attempted to take the inside lane away but Yarborough hit Allison from behind first and got Allison sideways. Yarborough made contact with the side of Allison's car and it put him in the grass. He came back to hit Allison side to side and 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 infield grass, Allison and Yarborough were in a heated conversation when, Bobby Allison, who finished laps down after his earlier collision with his brother, pulled over and to check on his brother, but Yarborough accused him of causing the accident and started to hit Bobby while Bobby was still in his car. At that point, a fight ensued. As the 1979 Daytona 500 was the first live flag-to-flag nationally televised NASCAR race, the finish and the post-race squabble were a ratings dream for CBS. 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 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 twentieth 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 raced 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.

After racing Allison, who lives in Alabama and North Carolina, has been a television and radio commentator; has also been involved in his sons' Ronald, Donald and Kenny Allison's "Allison Brothers Race Cars" and the "Allison Legacy Race Series" as a consultant to the series and to many up and coming race drivers such as Joey Logano, Trevor Bayne, Regan Smith, John Hunter Nemechek and several others

Awards 1967 NASCAR Grand National Rookie of the Year 1968 NASCAR Most Popular Driver Grand Touring Division (Baby Grand) 1970 Stark and Wetzel Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year 1970 NASCAR Most Popular Driver Late Model Sportsman Division Inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 1999 Inducted into the Florida Sports Hall of Fame in 2000 Inducted into the Stock Car Racing Hall of Fame in 2001 Inducted into the Alabama Auto Racing Pioneers in 2005 Inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2009 Inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2011 Inducted into the Augusta Raceway Preservation Society in 2017 Inducted into the National Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame in 2018 Inducted into the Talladega-Texaco Walk of Fame Inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2024

Motorsports career results

NASCAR (key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Grand National Series NASCAR Grand National Series results Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 Pts Ref 1966 Robert Harper 05 Chevy AUG RSD DAY DAY DAY CAR BRI ATL HCY CLB GPS BGS NWS MAR DAR LGY MGR MON RCH CLT DTS ASH PIF SMR AWS BLV GPS DAY ODS BRR OXF FON ISP BRI SMR NSV ATLDNQ CLB AWS BLV BGS DAR HCY RCH HBO MAR NWS CLT27 CAR9 64th 1944 1967 AUG RSD DAY20 DAY DAY11 AWS BRI7 GPS BGS ATL12 CLB HCY NWS MAR19 SVH RCH 16th 18298 Donald Brackins 2 Chevy DAR27 BLV4 LGY5 ASH2* MGR SMR15 BIR15 CAR GPS MGY19 Jon Thorne 12 Dodge CLT26 Ford DAY10 TRN OXF FDA ISP ATL4 BGS CLB SVH DAR7 HCY RCH BLV HBO MAR24 NWS CLT15 CAR25 AWS Chevy BRI25 SMR NSV 1968 Holman-Moody 66 Ford MGR MGY RSD DAY40 25th 1307 Matthews Racing 27 Ford BRI30 RCH ATL3 HCY GPS CLB NWS MAR3 AUG AWS DAR29 BLV LGY CLT2 ASH MGR SMR BIR CAR1 GPS DAY ISP OXF FDA TRN BRI34 SMR NSV ATL3 CLB BGS AWS SBO LGY DAR10 HCY RCH BLV HBO MAR8 NWS AUG CLT6 CAR16 JFC 1969 MGR MGY RSD DAY3 DAY DAY3* CAR6 AUG BRI5 ATL CLB HCY GPS RCH NWS MAR AWS DAR34 BLV LGY CLT2 MGR SMR MCH27 KPT GPS NCF DAY3 DOV TPN TRN BLV BRI3 NSV SMR ATL5 MCH33 SBO BGS AWS DAR4 HCY RCH TAL CLB MAR31 NWS CLT1* SVH AUG CAR30 JFC MGR TWS2 24th 1662 1970 RSD4 DAY4 DAY DAY35 RCH CAR SVH ATL7 BRI1* TAL NWS22 CLB DAR BLV LGY CLT1* SMR MAR MCH RSD HCY17 KPT GPS DAY1 AST TPN TRN BRI25 SMR NSV ATL5 CLB ONA MCH28 TAL BGS SBO DAR11* HCY6 RCH3 DOV NCF CLT18 MAR5 MGR CAR4 LGY 40th 841 Junior Johnson & Associates 98 Ford NWS3 1971 Matthews Racing 27 Mercury RSD DAY6 DAY DAY26 ONT RCH CAR HCY BRI ATL CLB GPS SMR NWS 29th 1280 Wood Brothers Racing 21 Mercury MAR15* DAR4* SBO TAL1 ASH KPT CLT2 DOV MCH4* RSD HOU GPS DAY5 BRI AST ISP TRN NSV ATL6 BGS ONA MCH TAL41 CLB HCY DAR MAR5 CLT3 DOV CAR39 MGR RCH NWS TWS

Winston Cup Series NASCAR Winston Cup Series results Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Pts Ref 1972 Monty Myers 27 Chevy RSD DAY RCH ONT CAR ATL5 BRI DAR NWS MAR TAL28 36th 1849.15 Bud Moore Engineering 15 Ford CLT34 DOV MCH33 DAY8 BRI TRN ATL32 DAR38 RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT25 CAR TWS Penske Racing 16 AMC RSD3 TWS Crawford Racing 22 Plymouth TAL31 MCH NSV 1973 DiGard Motorsports 59 Chevy RSD DAYDNQ RCH25 CAR BRI24 ATL NWS9 DAR 35th 1755.75 88 MAR27 DOV38 TWS RSD MCH7 DAY28 BRI ATL3 TAL26 NSV DAR RCH DOV12 NWS MAR34 CLT32 CAR6 08 TAL2 NSV CLT 1974 88 RSD6 DAY6 RCH17 CAR27 BRI5 ATL5 DAR4 NWS7 MAR23 TAL36 NSV2 DOV30 CLT30 RSD MCH20 DAY33 BRI NSV ATL30 POC TAL40 MCH DAR RCH DOV31 NWS MAR3 CLT4 CAR6 ONT 17th 728.8 1975 RSD DAY28 RCH CAR28 BRI ATL6 NWS DAR3 MAR21 TAL42 NSV DOV28 CLT9 RSD MCH35 DAY5 NSV POC 28th 1376 Ellington Racing 28 Chevy TAL3 MCH DAR DOV NWS MAR ATL27 ONT Howard & Egerton Racing 27 Chevy CLT33 RCH CAR9 BRI 1976 Ellington Racing 28 Chevy RSD DAY CAR RCH BRI ATL NWS DAR34 MAR TAL7 NSV DOV35 CLT6 RSD MCH DAY NSV POC TAL MCH BRI DAR33 RCH DOV MAR NWS ONT34 34th 988 1 CLT1 CAR7 ATL3 1977 RSD DAY30 RCH CAR3 ATL4 NWS DAR2 BRI MAR26 TAL4* NSV DOV CLT33 RSD MCH24 DAY6 NSV POC TAL1* MCH BRI DAR2 RCH DOV4 MAR28 NWS CLT36 CAR1* ATL4* ONT42 24th 1970 1978 Olds RSD DAY39 RCH POC35 TAL2 MCH29 BRI DOV9 MAR NWS 25th 1993 Chevy CAR31 ATL3 BRI DAR23 NWS MAR TAL24 DOV CLT2 NSV RSD MCH5 DAY33 NSV DAR24 RCH CLT4 CAR20 ATL1 ONT3 1979 RSD5 CAR30 RCH9 ATL7 NWS11 BRI6 DAR3 MAR27 CLT37 TWS RSD MCH2 DAY12 NSV POC TAL30 MCH BRI DAR31 RCH DOV2 MAR CLT5 NWS CAR4 ATL35 ONT11 24th 2508 Olds DAY4* TAL23 NSV DOV 1980 RSD DAY7 RCH 26th 1730 Chevy CAR5 ATL26 BRI DAR NWS MAR Halpern Enterprises 02 Olds TAL25 NSV DOV Ogden Racing 18 Chevy CLT31 TWS Kennie Childers Racing 12 Chevy RSD30 MCH36 NSV27 POC MCH3 BRI DAR32 RCH DOV7 NWS MAR6 CLT5 CAR22 ATL37 ONT39 Olds DAY19 TAL26 1981 RSD DAY12 RCH CAR34 ATL29 BRI NWS DAR MAR 44th 527 John Rebhan 77 Olds TAL5 NSV DOV11 CLT38 TWS RSD MCH DAY NSV POC TAL MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR ATL RSD 1982 Ogden Racing 18 Buick DAY34 RCH BRI ATL11 CAR22 45th 406 Rogers Racing 37 Buick DAR9 NWS MAR30 TAL6 NSV DOV8 CLT37 POC RSD MCH DAY NSV POC TAL MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV NWS CLT MAR CAR Ellington Racing 1 Olds ATL38 RSD 1983 Cliff Stewart Racing 88 Pontiac DAY RCH CAR ATL DAR NWS MAR TAL NSV DOV BRI CLT RSD POC MCH DAY NSV POC TAL MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR ATL36 RSD14 NA 0 1986 Gray Racing 54 Chevy DAY RCH CAR ATL BRI DAR NWS MAR TAL DOV CLT RSD POC MCH DAY POC TAL GLN MCH BRI DAR33 RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR ATL RSD 114th 64 1987 DAYDNQ CAR RCH ATL DAR NWS BRI MAR TAL CLT DOV POC RSD MCH DAY POC TAL GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR RSD ATL NA - 1988 AAG Racing 34 Buick DAYDNQ RCH CAR ATL DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL CLT DOV RSD POC MCH DAY POC TAL GLN 81st 58 Bob Clark Motorsports 31 Olds MCH35 BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR CLT NWS CAR PHO ATL

Daytona 500 Year Team Manufacturer Start Finish 1967 Robert Harper Chevrolet 44 11 1968 Holman-Moody Ford 7 40 1969 Matthews Racing Ford 7 3 1970 7 35 1971 Mercury 11 26 1973 DiGard Motorsports Chevrolet DNQ 1974 7 6 1975 1 28 1977 Ellington Racing Chevrolet 1 30 1978 Oldsmobile 7 39 1979 2 4 1980 2 7 1981 Kennie Childers Racing Oldsmobile 33 12 1982 Ogden Racing Buick 29 34 1987 Gray Racing Chevrolet DNQ 1988 AAG Racing Buick DNQ

Busch Series NASCAR Busch Series results Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Pts Ref 1984 A.G. Dillard Motorsports 22 Olds DAY RCH CAR HCY MAR DAR ROU NSV LGY MLW DOV CLT SBO HCY ROU SBO ROU HCY IRP LGY SBO BRI DAR RCH NWS CLT8 HCY CAR MAR 72nd 142 1986 Collins Engineering 23 Buick DAY5 CAR HCY MAR BRI DAR9 SBO LGY JFC DOV CLT40 SBO HCY ROU IRP SBO RAL OXF SBO HCY LGY ROU BRI DAR35 RCH DOV MAR ROU CLT11 CAR30 MAR 38th 597 1987 DAY21 HCY MAR9 DAR29 BRI28 LGY SBO CLT29 DOV IRP16 ROU JFC OXF SBO HCY RAL LGY ROU BRI JFC DAR34 RCH DOV MAR15 CLT12 CAR7 MAR 34th 957 1988 DAY23 HCY CAR MAR DAR BRI LNG NZH SBO NSV CLT13 DOV ROU LAN LVL MYB OXF SBO HCY LNG IRP ROU BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR CLTDNQ CAR MAR 63rd 218 1989 DAY37 CAR MAR HCY DAR BRI NZH SBO LAN NSV CLT DOV ROU LVL VOL MYB SBO HCY DUB IRP ROU BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR CLT CAR MAR 94th 52

International Race of Champions (key) (Bold – Pole position. * – Most laps led.) International Race of Champions results Year Make Q1 Q2 Q3 1 2 Pos. Pts Ref 1978–79 Chevy MCH3 MCH RSD RSD10 ATL11 10th NA 1979–80 MCH8 MCH RSD RSD ATL NA 0

American open-wheel racing (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)

USAC Championship Car USAC Championship Car results Year Team Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Pts 1970 Foyt-Greer Racing Eagle 67 Ford 159ci V8t PHX SON TRE INDY4 MIL LAN CDR MCH IRP ISF MIL ONT DSF INF SED TRE SAC PHX 20th 600 1971 Foyt-Greer Racing Coyote 71 Ford 159ci V8t RAF RAF PHX TRE INDY6 POC28 MCH MIL ONT24 TRE PHX NC 0 Coyote 69 MIL17

Indianapolis 500 Year Chassis Engine Start Finish Team 1970 Eagle Ford 20 4 Foyt-Greer Racing 1971 Coyote Ford 20 6 Foyt-Greer Racing