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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.
Before racing in the Grand National Series, Allison, like his brother Bobby, drove modified stock cars. [1] 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, [2] [3] this would end his career in NASCAR for the most part. [4] 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.
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. [5] 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.
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 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.
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 [6] [7]
(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)
NASCAR Grand National Series results | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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 | NGNC | 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 | ATL DNQ | CLB | AWS | BLV | BGS | DAR | HCY | RCH | HBO | MAR | NWS | CLT 27 | CAR 9 | 64th | 1944 | [15] | ||||||||||||
1967 | AUG | RSD | DAY 20 | DAY | DAY 11 | AWS | BRI 7 | GPS | BGS | ATL 12 | CLB | HCY | NWS | MAR 19 | SVH | RCH | 16th | 18298 | [16] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Donald Brackins | 2 | Chevy | DAR 27 | BLV 4 | LGY 5 | ASH 2* | MGR | SMR 15 | BIR 15 | CAR | GPS | MGY 19 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Jon Thorne | 12 | Dodge | CLT 26 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ford | DAY 10 | TRN | OXF | FDA | ISP | ATL 4 | BGS | CLB | SVH | DAR 7 | HCY | RCH | BLV | HBO | MAR 24 | NWS | CLT 15 | CAR 25 | AWS | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chevy | BRI 25 | SMR | NSV | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1968 | Holman-Moody | 66 | Ford | MGR | MGY | RSD | DAY 40 | 25th | 1307 | [17] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Matthews Racing | 27 | Ford | BRI 30 | RCH | ATL 3 | HCY | GPS | CLB | NWS | MAR 3 | AUG | AWS | DAR 29 | BLV | LGY | CLT 2 | ASH | MGR | SMR | BIR | CAR 1 | GPS | DAY | ISP | OXF | FDA | TRN | BRI 34 | SMR | NSV | ATL 3 | CLB | BGS | AWS | SBO | LGY | DAR 10 | HCY | RCH | BLV | HBO | MAR 8 | NWS | AUG | CLT 6 | CAR 16 | JFC | ||||||||||||||||||||
1969 | MGR | MGY | RSD | DAY 3 | DAY | DAY 3* | CAR 6 | AUG | BRI 5 | ATL | CLB | HCY | GPS | RCH | NWS | MAR | AWS | DAR 34 | BLV | LGY | CLT 2 | MGR | SMR | MCH 27 | KPT | GPS | NCF | DAY 3 | DOV | TPN | TRN | BLV | BRI 3 | NSV | SMR | ATL 5 | MCH 33 | SBO | BGS | AWS | DAR 4 | HCY | RCH | TAL | CLB | MAR 31 | NWS | CLT 1* | SVH | AUG | CAR 30 | JFC | MGR | TWS 2 | 24th | 1662 | [18] | ||||||||||
1970 | RSD 4 | DAY 4 | DAY | DAY 35 | RCH | CAR | SVH | ATL 7 | BRI 1* | TAL | NWS 22 | CLB | DAR | BLV | LGY | CLT 1* | SMR | MAR | MCH | RSD | HCY 17 | KPT | GPS | DAY 1 | AST | TPN | TRN | BRI 25 | SMR | NSV | ATL 5 | CLB | ONA | MCH 28 | TAL | BGS | SBO | DAR 11* | HCY 6 | RCH 3 | DOV | NCF | CLT 18 | MAR 5 | MGR | CAR 4 | LGY | 40th | 841 | [19] | |||||||||||||||||
Junior Johnson & Associates | 98 | Ford | NWS 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1971 | Matthews Racing | 27 | Mercury | RSD | DAY 6 | DAY | DAY 26 | ONT | RCH | CAR | HCY | BRI | ATL | CLB | GPS | SMR | NWS | 29th | 1280 | [20] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Wood Brothers Racing | 21 | Mercury | MAR 15* | DAR 4* | SBO | TAL 1 | ASH | KPT | CLT 2 | DOV | MCH 4* | RSD | HOU | GPS | DAY 5 | BRI | AST | ISP | TRN | NSV | ATL 6 | BGS | ONA | MCH | TAL 41 | CLB | HCY | DAR | MAR 5 | CLT 3 | DOV | CAR 39 | MGR | RCH | NWS | TWS |
NASCAR Winston Cup Series results | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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 | NWCC | Pts | Ref | |||||||
1972 | Monty Myers | 27 | Chevy | RSD | DAY | RCH | ONT | CAR | ATL 5 | BRI | DAR | NWS | MAR | TAL 28 | 36th | 1849.15 | [21] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bud Moore Engineering | 15 | Ford | CLT 34 | DOV | MCH 33 | DAY 8 | BRI | TRN | ATL 32 | DAR 38 | RCH | DOV | MAR | NWS | CLT 25 | CAR | TWS | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Penske Racing | 16 | AMC | RSD 3 | TWS | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Crawford Racing | 22 | Plymouth | TAL 31 | MCH | NSV | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1973 | DiGard Motorsports | 59 | Chevy | RSD | DAY DNQ | RCH 25 | CAR | BRI 24 | ATL | NWS 9 | DAR | 35th | 1755.75 | [22] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
88 | MAR 27 | DOV 38 | TWS | RSD | MCH 7 | DAY 28 | BRI | ATL 3 | TAL 26 | NSV | DAR | RCH | DOV 12 | NWS | MAR 34 | CLT 32 | CAR 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
08 | TAL 2 | NSV | CLT | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1974 | 88 | RSD 6 | DAY 6 | RCH 17 | CAR 27 | BRI 5 | ATL 5 | DAR 4 | NWS 7 | MAR 23 | TAL 36 | NSV 2 | DOV 30 | CLT 30 | RSD | MCH 20 | DAY 33 | BRI | NSV | ATL 30 | POC | TAL 40 | MCH | DAR | RCH | DOV 31 | NWS | MAR 3 | CLT 4 | CAR 6 | ONT | 17th | 728.8 | [23] | ||||||||||
1975 | RSD | DAY 28 | RCH | CAR 28 | BRI | ATL 6 | NWS | DAR 3 | MAR 21 | TAL 42 | NSV | DOV 28 | CLT 9 | RSD | MCH 35 | DAY 5 | NSV | POC | 28th | 1376 | [24] | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Ellington Racing | 28 | Chevy | TAL 3 | MCH | DAR | DOV | NWS | MAR | ATL 27 | ONT | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Howard & Egerton Racing | 27 | Chevy | CLT 33 | RCH | CAR 9 | BRI | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1976 | Ellington Racing | 28 | Chevy | RSD | DAY | CAR | RCH | BRI | ATL | NWS | DAR 34 | MAR | TAL 7 | NSV | DOV 35 | CLT 6 | RSD | MCH | DAY | NSV | POC | TAL | MCH | BRI | DAR 33 | RCH | DOV | MAR | NWS | ONT 34 | 34th | 988 | [25] | |||||||||||
1 | CLT 1 | CAR 7 | ATL 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1977 | RSD | DAY 30 | RCH | CAR 3 | ATL 4 | NWS | DAR 2 | BRI | MAR 26 | TAL 4* | NSV | DOV | CLT 33 | RSD | MCH 24 | DAY 6 | NSV | POC | TAL 1* | MCH | BRI | DAR 2 | RCH | DOV 4 | MAR 28 | NWS | CLT 36 | CAR 1* | ATL 4* | ONT 42 | 24th | 1970 | [26] | |||||||||||
1978 | Olds | RSD | DAY 39 | RCH | POC 35 | TAL 2 | MCH 29 | BRI | DOV 9 | MAR | NWS | 25th | 1993 | [27] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chevy | CAR 31 | ATL 3 | BRI | DAR 23 | NWS | MAR | TAL 24 | DOV | CLT 2 | NSV | RSD | MCH 5 | DAY 33 | NSV | DAR 24 | RCH | CLT 4 | CAR 20 | ATL 1 | ONT 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
1979 | RSD 5 | CAR 30 | RCH 9 | ATL 7 | NWS 11 | BRI 6 | DAR 3 | MAR 27 | CLT 37 | TWS | RSD | MCH 2 | DAY 12 | NSV | POC | TAL 30 | MCH | BRI | DAR 31 | RCH | DOV 2 | MAR | CLT 5 | NWS | CAR 4 | ATL 35 | ONT 11 | 24th | 2508 | [28] | ||||||||||||||
Olds | DAY 4* | TAL 23 | NSV | DOV | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1980 | RSD | DAY 7 | RCH | 26th | 1730 | [29] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chevy | CAR 5 | ATL 26 | BRI | DAR | NWS | MAR | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Halpern Enterprises | 02 | Olds | TAL 25 | NSV | DOV | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ogden Racing | 18 | Chevy | CLT 31 | TWS | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Kennie Childers Racing | 12 | Chevy | RSD 30 | MCH 36 | NSV 27 | POC | MCH 3 | BRI | DAR 32 | RCH | DOV 7 | NWS | MAR 6 | CLT 5 | CAR 22 | ATL 37 | ONT 39 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Olds | DAY 19 | TAL 26 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1981 | RSD | DAY 12 | RCH | CAR 34 | ATL 29 | BRI | NWS | DAR | MAR | 44th | 527 | [30] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
John Rebhan | 77 | Olds | TAL 5 | NSV | DOV 11 | CLT 38 | TWS | RSD | MCH | DAY | NSV | POC | TAL | MCH | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | MAR | NWS | CLT | CAR | ATL | RSD | ||||||||||||||||||||
1982 | Ogden Racing | 18 | Buick | DAY 34 | RCH | BRI | ATL 11 | CAR 22 | 45th | 406 | [31] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rogers Racing | 37 | Buick | DAR 9 | NWS | MAR 30 | TAL 6 | NSV | DOV 8 | CLT 37 | POC | RSD | MCH | DAY | NSV | POC | TAL | MCH | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | NWS | CLT | MAR | CAR | |||||||||||||||||||
Ellington Racing | 1 | Olds | ATL 38 | 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 | ATL 36 | RSD 14 | NA | 0 | [32] | ||||||||
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 | DAR 33 | RCH | DOV | MAR | NWS | CLT | CAR | ATL | RSD | 114th | 64 | [33] | |||||||||
1987 | DAY DNQ | 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 | - | [34] | ||||||||||||
1988 | AAG Racing | 34 | Buick | DAY DNQ | RCH | CAR | ATL | DAR | BRI | NWS | MAR | TAL | CLT | DOV | RSD | POC | MCH | DAY | POC | TAL | GLN | 81st | 58 | [35] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Bob Clark Motorsports | 31 | Olds | MCH 35 | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | MAR | CLT | NWS | CAR | PHO | ATL |
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 |
NASCAR Busch Series results | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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 | NBSC | 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 | CLT 8 | HCY | CAR | MAR | 72nd | 142 | [36] | ||||||
1986 | Collins Engineering | 23 | Buick | DAY 5 | CAR | HCY | MAR | BRI | DAR 9 | SBO | LGY | JFC | DOV | CLT 40 | SBO | HCY | ROU | IRP | SBO | RAL | OXF | SBO | HCY | LGY | ROU | BRI | DAR 35 | RCH | DOV | MAR | ROU | CLT 11 | CAR 30 | MAR | 38th | 597 | [37] | ||||
1987 | DAY 21 | HCY | MAR 9 | DAR 29 | BRI 28 | LGY | SBO | CLT 29 | DOV | IRP 16 | ROU | JFC | OXF | SBO | HCY | RAL | LGY | ROU | BRI | JFC | DAR 34 | RCH | DOV | MAR 15 | CLT 12 | CAR 7 | MAR | 34th | 957 | [38] | |||||||||||
1988 | DAY 23 | HCY | CAR | MAR | DAR | BRI | LNG | NZH | SBO | NSV | CLT 13 | DOV | ROU | LAN | LVL | MYB | OXF | SBO | HCY | LNG | IRP | ROU | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | MAR | CLT DNQ | CAR | MAR | 63rd | 218 | [39] | ||||||||
1989 | DAY 37 | 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 | [40] |
(key) (Bold – Pole position. * – Most laps led.)
International Race of Champions results | |||||||||
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Year | Make | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | 1 | 2 | Pos. | Pts | Ref |
1978–79 | Chevy | MCH 3 | MCH | RSD | RSD 10 | ATL 11 | 10th | NA | [41] |
1979–80 | MCH 8 | MCH | RSD | RSD | ATL | NA | 0 | [42] |
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)
USAC Championship Car results | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Year | Team | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | Pos. | Pts | ||||||||||
1970 | Foyt-Greer Racing | Eagle 67 | Ford 159ci V8 t | PHX | SON | TRE | INDY 4 | MIL | LAN | CDR | MCH | IRP | ISF | MIL | ONT | DSF | INF | SED | TRE | SAC | PHX | 20th | 600 | ||||||||||
1971 | Foyt-Greer Racing | Coyote 71 | Ford 159ci V8 t | RAF | RAF | PHX | TRE | INDY 6 | POC 28 | MCH | MIL | ONT 24 | TRE | PHX | NC | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
Coyote 69 | MIL 17 |
Year | Chassis | Engine | Start | Finish | Team |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1970 | Eagle | Ford | 20 | 4 | Foyt-Greer Racing |
1971 | Coyote | Ford | 20 | 6 | Foyt-Greer Racing |