2011 NASCAR Hall of Fame Inductee Bobby Allison passed away on Nov. 9 at the age of 86.
Allison stamped his mark on the sport in a multitude of ways.
The 1983 NASCAR Cup Series champion won the series’ crown jewel races multiple times, including the Daytona 500 (three times), Southern 500 (four times) and the Coca-Cola 600 (three times) and tallied 85 career victories, fourth most all-time only behind Richard Petty, David Pearson and Jeff Gordon.
Amid the news on Saturday night, numerous personalities shared their thoughts on Allison’s impact on the sport of stock car racing.
Team Penske owner Roger Penske released a statement on Sunday paying tribute to Allison as both a driver and person. Allison drove for Penske from 1974-1976 in the Cup Series.
“Bobby Allison was a great champion, a NASCAR legend and a real racer,” the statement read. “During his four seasons competing with our team, we saw what made Bobby one of our sport’s true heroes. He was tough, he was smart, and he knew what to do behind the wheel of a race car. While Bobby earned four wins for us in NASCAR competition, he also raced Indy cars, including two Indianapolis 500s, for Team Penske.
“Beyond his hall of fame career, Bobby was a good man and a good friend, who also had a great connection with race fans of all ages. Our thoughts are with the Allison family and all of Bobby’s friends and fans, who will certainly miss the leader of the ‘Alabama Gang.’”
Seven-time Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson posted his thoughts on social media. Allison was one of Johnson’s “heroes growing up.”
“Sad to say goodbye to a true legend. Bobby Allison was one of my heroes growing up — an incredible driver and person who shaped the sport for so many of us. Grateful for his kindness and everything he brought to racing. He’ll be deeply missed.”
Sad to say goodbye to a true legend. Bobby Allison was one of my heroes growing up—an incredible driver and person who shaped the sport for so many of us. Grateful for his kindness and everything he brought to racing. He’ll be deeply missed. pic.twitter.com/2ZWHM3ewS9
— Jimmie Johnson (@JimmieJohnson) November 10, 2024
Former NASCAR driver and TV personality Kenny Wallace posted on X (formerly Twitter) about the impact Allison had on Wallace and his brothers, former NASCAR drivers Rusty Wallace and Mike Wallace.
It was Bobby Allison that taught our Wallace family how to become NASCAR racers.
— Kenny Wallace (@Kenny_Wallace) November 10, 2024
Bobby will always be in my heart.
My prayers to his family ❤️
“It was Bobby Allison that taught our Wallace family how to become NASCAR racers. Bobby will always be in my heart. My prayers to his family.”
NASCAR Hall of Fame Executive Director Winston Kelley released a statement on behalf of the Hall of Fame.
“First and foremost, on behalf of the NASCAR Hall of Fame team, I want to offer our sincere condolences to Bobby’s daughters, Carrie and Bonnie, his entire family and all the members of the Alabama Gang on the passing of Bobby Allison,” Kelley stated.
“NASCAR and the NASCAR industry have lost one of our toughest and most versatile competitors and one of our staunchest and most active ambassadors of all time,” he continued. “Along with many others, we at the NASCAR Hall of Fame have lost a cherished friend. Bobby’s remarkable legacy and accomplishments in and for NASCAR will live in our minds, our hearts and the archives of the NASCAR Hall of Fame forever.”
Following his championship victory as an owner with JR Motorsports driver Justin Allgaier on Saturday night, NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. took a moment to remember Allison.
“Yeah, I had heard that Bobby was dealing with some challenges in the past several weeks, and he’s a champion and left his mark on this sport, and we should celebrate him and remember the incredible moments that he might have — whether it was a race you watched or an opportunity to actually get to be with him and talk with him,” Earnhardt said.
“I was kind of indirectly linked to Bobby working with the Allison brothers when they were building legends cars. That was my first job. I got a speeding ticket, and Dad told me to go get a job.
“I got to know Donnie (Allison) and all of the guys, and then they made me like the honorary member of the Alabama gang at one point, which was really nice because it was a really tight group there.
“Getting to know Red Farmer and — through all of that, I got to know Bobby better. And just an incredible career. So cool of NASCAR to acknowledge his win at Bowman Gray just weeks ago, and he’ll be missed.
“I remember when he was injured and how deeply that affected my dad. They were very close,” Earnhardt continued. “I think that Bobby and Dad had a relationship there when Dad was young in ’79, ’80, ’81, through that period. Bobby was very helpful. Dad would say that Bobby and Donnie were the ones that would actually talk to him and answer his questions and stuff.
“They were pretty close, and I remember being young when all that was going on and how thankful we were that he was able to survive that.
“I’ll say this, too: I was at Dover, I think it was my first year as a broadcaster, so 2018, and I got in an elevator or something to go up to the booth, and Bobby walked in or came into the elevator, and I thought, ‘Man, of all the places he could be at his age, and he wants to be at Dover for a Cup race. Of all the places this man could be right now, and he’s here.’
“What a dedication, right, to the sport. He gave more than anybody I could imagine to the sport, and he continued to give and continued to be a part of it.”