Photo by Shee_rah77 (cropped) – Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
Remembering the legend of NASCAR, Davey Allison, the start that we lost too soon!
His early life and racing roots
Allison was born back in 1961, in February 25, Hollywood, Florida, but he grew up in Hueytown, Alabama.
His father, Bobby Allison was already a NASCAR legend, racing was in Davey’s blood from the very beginning.
However, he was part of the Alabama Gang, a famous group of racers that included his father, Red Farmer and later his brother Clifford.
Davey did not just follow the family tradition, he added his own chapter to it.
Starting his career in Motorsport
Davey began racing in the late of ’70s, he moved up quickly and entered the ARCA racing series, in the early of ’80s, he won several races and was named ARCA Rookie of the year in 1984.
His biggest early wins came at Talladega Superspeedway, a track that became one of his favorites.
Strong results in ARCA opened the door to NASCAR’s top level, in 1987, Davey joined the CUP Series full-time, driving the NO. 28, Toxaco-Havoline FORD for Robert Yates racing.
A fast start in NASCAR
RISE was fast, in 14th Cup start, he won the Winston 500 at Talladega, becoming the first rookie to win on a superspeedway, he ended that year as Rookie of the year and proved that he could race with the best back in the day!
However, over the next few season, Davey became a regular contender, he was already one of the best, he won on all types of tracks, short track, ovals, superspeedways and even road courses, he was not just fast, he was smart, aggresive and consistent also.
His Greatest Season
1992 year was his best, he won the Daytona 500, NASCAR’s biggest race, that season he also won other major races and stayed in the championship until the very end.
Also it was a tough year, he suffered serious crashes at Pocono, Bristol and Charlotte, he had injuries but kept racing, he finished the year third in points, showing how tough and determined he really was.
Career Stats and Success
Even though his career was short, Davey’s success was huge. Here’s what he achieved in NASCAR:
- 191 starts in the Cup Series
- 19 wins
- 14 poles
- 92 top-ten finishes
- Two 3rd-place finishes in the season standings (1991, 1992)
He helped build Robert Yates Racing into one of the top teams in the sport. His car, the black No. 28, became one of the most iconic paint schemes in NASCAR history.
The day we lost the Legend
On July 12, 1993, Davey flew a helicopter to Talladega Superspeedway to visit a friend. During landing, the helicopter crashed. Davey was taken to the hospital but passed away the next day. He was only 32 years old.
It was heartbreaking time for the Allison family, who also lost his brother earlier, Clifford in a racing accident.
Remembering Davey
Even though he is gone, we still remember Davey, he was added to NASCAR’s 50 greatest drivers list in 1998, and to the 75 Greatest drivers list in 2023, and he also was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
Fans still visit Davey Allison Memorial Park in Talladega. The site honors his life and his career. His story is still told today, and many believe he would have won championships if he had more time.
Why fans still talk about him
Davey was not just a great driver, he was a humble, honest, and strong person. He raced hard, respected others, and had a calm confidence. People connected with him. He made them believe in racing again.
We believe that the most memorable moment of him was 1998 Daytona 500, when he finished second behind his father, Bobby.
Davey Allison left the sport too soon, but his name, his spirit, and his impact will never be forgotten.
