NASCAR declares Bobby Allison the winner of a 1971 race, moving him into 4th on all-time wins list
Bobby Allison stands beside his car and talks with the press after winning the pole position during qualifyiing for the 500 mile grand national stock car race at Pocono Raceway, Aug. 2, 1975, in Long Pond, Pa. Credit: AP
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — NASCAR Hall of Famer Bobby Allison finally got his victory from Bowman Gray Stadium, more than five decades after he took the checkered flag and the trophy.
NASCAR on Wednesday formally recognized the 86-year-old Allison as the winner of the Meyers Brothers Memorial at the track in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, on Aug. 6, 1971. The sanctioning body updated the record books to reflect it, giving Allison 85 wins and moving him into fourth on the all-time wins list.
The race was one of six that season that featured a mix of Grand National (currently the Cup Series) and Grand American cars. Allison, who competed in both series at the time, chose to drive his Grand American Ford and won the race while leading 138 of 200 laps. Despite celebrating in victory lane, the win never counted toward Allison’s Cup Series total.
“For 53 years, the Myers Brothers Memorial was the only race run by NASCAR that did not have an official winner,” said Jim France, NASCAR chairman and CEO. “As we began preparations for the upcoming Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium, the topic of that August 6, 1971, race returned to the forefront.
“We felt it was the right thing to officially recognize Bobby’s win and honor him as an 85-time NASCAR Cup Series winner. We are grateful for Bobby’s lifetime contributions to NASCAR.”
France and longtime NASCAR executive Mike Helton visited Allison on Wednesday and told him of the news and presented him with a plaque commemorating the victory.
With Allison’s updated win total, he now only trails fellow NASCAR Hall of Famers Richard Petty (200), David Pearson (105) and Jeff Gordon (93).
Bobby Allison, facing camera, is hugged by his pit crew after winning the Atlanta 500 stock car race, March 29, 1970 at the Atlanta International Raceway in Hampton, Ga. Credit: AP
Allison was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s second class in 2011. He is a five-time NASCAR champion and a three-time winner of the Daytona 500.
