Post by ricklou on Dec 5, 2009 15:14:21 GMT -5
It is hard to dispute that Bobby Allison is the best driver/mechanic in the history of Nascar. There have been other greats of course but a closer look at Bobby's accomplishments tell the story.
After dominating Florida's hotbed of short track racing Bobby moved to Alabama to find the next level. His expertise in building and working on race cars would pay off well. Allison broke into Grand National racing at the right time when the sport was transforming from production based automobiles trimmed out for racing to purpose built racing machines.
Bobby's years of short track experience also gave him the skills to compete at the highest level. Over Allison's illustrious career he drove for over 25 different car owners in Grand National competition. No other driver has the same resume. Allison's stubborness may be cost him more than one championship by not sticking with a team but his unwavering desire to do it his way resulted in huge success.
On more than one occasion Allison left a team to run his own deal usually ending up right where he wanted and that was in control of his destiny. Bobby's knowledge and expertise would make a decent car good and a good car great. After finally having enough of doing his own deal after the 1977 season he signed up to drive for Bud Moore. Moore's cars were always solid but when Bobby strapped into the the white and blue numeraled Thunderbird it was Katy Bar the Door. In his second race of 1978 Bobby rewarded Bud Moore by winning the Daytona 500.
During his stint in Moore's Ford's Bobby won 14 races over a three year period winning on every type of track including Daytona, Talladega, Charlotte, Richmond, North Wilkesboro,Dover,Michigan,Riverside, Atlanta, Rockingham and Ontario. Bud Moore had not enjoyed such success for many years but with Bobby behind the wheel the 15 car was a threat to win on any given Sunday.
In his prime Bobby Allison was considered one of the best developmental drivers in the world with the likes of Mario Andretti. His endurance and skill on the race track left many drivers gasping for breath. In 1971 Allison performed an amazing feat by winning the World 600 at Charlotte then took the grueling 500 mile race at Dover Downs a week later. Not to be undone he took the checkers in the next three events at Michigan, Riverside and Houston. All of these victories coming in consecutive weeks.
Aliison's strong will and determination was with one goal in mind and that was to run up front and win. While driving Junior Johnson's Richard Howard owned cars in 1972 Bobby's experience told him that his own car was better suited for the upcoming event at Trenton New Jersy's reverse dog leg mile Super Speedway. He brought is own mount to the race and took the checkered flag. To say the least Junior was not very happy with this turn of events but Bobby would not be denied.
Again Bobby was hot right out of the chute by winning the 1982 Daytona 500 in his first start for Digard Racing, he backed that up with 7 more victories and doubled up Daytona by winning again in July. The hard driving and hard work finally paid off for Bobby as he won the Winston Cup Championship in 1983.
Whether Bobby was driving his own car or anothers his competitive spirit ranks him as one of the best ever in the history of Nascar
After dominating Florida's hotbed of short track racing Bobby moved to Alabama to find the next level. His expertise in building and working on race cars would pay off well. Allison broke into Grand National racing at the right time when the sport was transforming from production based automobiles trimmed out for racing to purpose built racing machines.
Bobby's years of short track experience also gave him the skills to compete at the highest level. Over Allison's illustrious career he drove for over 25 different car owners in Grand National competition. No other driver has the same resume. Allison's stubborness may be cost him more than one championship by not sticking with a team but his unwavering desire to do it his way resulted in huge success.
On more than one occasion Allison left a team to run his own deal usually ending up right where he wanted and that was in control of his destiny. Bobby's knowledge and expertise would make a decent car good and a good car great. After finally having enough of doing his own deal after the 1977 season he signed up to drive for Bud Moore. Moore's cars were always solid but when Bobby strapped into the the white and blue numeraled Thunderbird it was Katy Bar the Door. In his second race of 1978 Bobby rewarded Bud Moore by winning the Daytona 500.
During his stint in Moore's Ford's Bobby won 14 races over a three year period winning on every type of track including Daytona, Talladega, Charlotte, Richmond, North Wilkesboro,Dover,Michigan,Riverside, Atlanta, Rockingham and Ontario. Bud Moore had not enjoyed such success for many years but with Bobby behind the wheel the 15 car was a threat to win on any given Sunday.
In his prime Bobby Allison was considered one of the best developmental drivers in the world with the likes of Mario Andretti. His endurance and skill on the race track left many drivers gasping for breath. In 1971 Allison performed an amazing feat by winning the World 600 at Charlotte then took the grueling 500 mile race at Dover Downs a week later. Not to be undone he took the checkers in the next three events at Michigan, Riverside and Houston. All of these victories coming in consecutive weeks.
Aliison's strong will and determination was with one goal in mind and that was to run up front and win. While driving Junior Johnson's Richard Howard owned cars in 1972 Bobby's experience told him that his own car was better suited for the upcoming event at Trenton New Jersy's reverse dog leg mile Super Speedway. He brought is own mount to the race and took the checkered flag. To say the least Junior was not very happy with this turn of events but Bobby would not be denied.
Again Bobby was hot right out of the chute by winning the 1982 Daytona 500 in his first start for Digard Racing, he backed that up with 7 more victories and doubled up Daytona by winning again in July. The hard driving and hard work finally paid off for Bobby as he won the Winston Cup Championship in 1983.
Whether Bobby was driving his own car or anothers his competitive spirit ranks him as one of the best ever in the history of Nascar