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Allison was born on December 3, 1937, in Miami, Florida, the fourth of ten children. While a senior in High School, Bobby had his own car, and after some discussion with his parents he was allowed to enter his car in competition. In that first race he finished 10th out of 55 cars. His young racing career was brought to a temporary end by his father when he flipped his car twice. After graduation from High School, Bobby was employed testing engines at Mercury Outboard, which involved running boats at high speeds. During that time he learned that preventive maintenance was as important to winning as a fast car, and that racing was a business. From boat engine testing and NASCAR Grand National mechanic work, Allison spent two years as a garage owner, and then decided to drive race cars again. While he lived at home, Allison drove under the assumed name of Bob Sunderman until his parents found out. Then, claiming an older age, he began running the NASCAR Sportsman circuit as probably one of the youngest 21 year-olds in racing history. His first major victory came on June 1, 1959, in Montgomery. Allison raced modified stock cars, honing his skills in the tough Alabama modified sportsman circuit. He won his first national NASCAR "Modified Special Crown" in 1962, and he won it again in 1963 and in 1964 he won NASCAR's Modified crown. Allison raced on the Grand National circuit, the SCCA's TransAm series, and in the 1973 Indianapolis 500. Allison has scored 84 Winston Cup victories, was the Most Popular Driver for NASCAR's Winston Cup Division four times, won the 1983 Winston Cup title, and in 1988 received NASCAR's Award of Excellence. He raced in 717 Winston Cup races, claimed 57 poles, and won more than $7.1 million dollars. Bobby Allison has been inducted in the International Motorsports Hall of Fame, as well as the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. He is married to Judy Allison, who he met when he moved to Alabama. Bobby Allison, a member of the Alabama Gang...and the first class of Inducteed in the Talladega-Texaco Walk of Fame.
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Bobby Allison finished his illustrious driving
career in 1987 as one of the most successful drivers in NASCAR history, and is
now a car-owner on the same Winston Cup circuit that he helped make so popular.
