Donnie Allison American racer Date of Birth: 07.09.1939 Country: USA

1. Biography of Donnie Allison
2. The Daytona 500 Incident
3. NASCAR Career
4. USAC Championship Car Series
5. Accomplishments and Honors

Biography of Donnie Allison

Donnie Allison is an American racing driver who participated in the NASCAR Grand National/Winston Cup series. He achieved a total of 10 victories throughout his career in the 1960s, 1970s, and early 1980s. He was a member of the famous "Alabama Gang," a group of local drivers in Alabama. Donnie is the brother of the 1983 champion Bobby Allison and the uncle of Davey Allison.

The Daytona 500 Incident

Donnie Allison is most remembered for his involvement in a car accident during the final stage of the 1979 Daytona 500 race, which led to a fight with fellow driver Cale Yarborough. Allison was leading the race, with Yarborough closely behind him. In an attempt to pass Allison, Yarborough made a move, but Allison tried to block him. Unfortunately, Yarborough lost control of his car and crashed into Allison's car. Both drivers lost control and collided with the outer wall of a turn.

After the crash, a heated argument ensued between Allison and Yarborough to determine who was at fault. Bobby Allison, Donnie's brother, intervened and the confrontation escalated into a brawl. Richard Petty, who was initially trailing behind the leaders, went on to win the race. Surprisingly, this incident played a significant role in popularizing the NASCAR series, as it was the first NASCAR race to receive national attention.

NASCAR Career

Throughout his tenure in the NASCAR Sprint Cup series, Donnie Allison achieved 10 victories, with his first win in 1968 and his last win in 1978. In 1981, during the Coca Cola 600 race, Allison was involved in a serious car accident that ultimately ended his racing career. Despite his injuries, he continued to compete until 1988, but only participated in 14 races, excluding 4 races in which he failed to qualify. The Champion Spark Plug 400 in Michigan in 1988 marked his final NASCAR race.

USAC Championship Car Series

In 1970, Donnie Allison made his debut in the USAC Championship Car Series, driving for Ansted-Thompson Racing in a "Greer Eagle 67-Offenhauser." He finished in 4th place in his first race, the 1970 Indianapolis 500, earning him the Rookie of the Year award. Despite his achievements, Allison couldn't compete for the overall ranking at that time as he was still primarily racing in the NASCAR series.

In 1971, Allison participated in the Indianapolis 500 once again, driving the #84 Purolator Filters Coyote-Ford V8, and finished in 6th place. He also competed in other races that year, including the Rex Mays 150, Schafer's 500, and California 500. However, he was unable to compete for the overall ranking.

Accomplishments and Honors

Donnie Allison was named the NASCAR Rookie of the Year in 1967. In 2009, he was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame and the Florida Sports Hall of Fame. These honors recognized his significant contributions to the world of auto racing.