If you are a longtime NASCAR fan you undoubtedly know the
name Allison. Bobby Allison was inducted to the second class of the
NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2011 and he and brother Donnie were two of the original “Alabama
Gang”.
Bobby had two sons, Davey and Clifford, who were following in their
dad’s tire tracks. Unfortunately, tragedy struck twice in the Allison family.
First, fate claimed Clifford on August 13, 1992 at Michigan International
Speedway during practice for the Detroit Gasket 200 in the NASCAR Busch Series.
Injuries sustained on the track took the young Allison’s life. Within a year,
on July 12, 1993, while piloting his helicopter to Talladega to take part in
the race, Davey Allison crashed and perished.
As a mother, I cannot imagine the unbreakable sadness that
would grip me losing not just one but also two of my sons. The enormity would
be too much for me to bear. And then, as an extra cruel twist of fate, having
the death dates less than a year apart and at the same time of the month would
simply do me in. Bobby, having dealt with his own tragic career-ending crash,
was dealt the most unfair of hands, and yet, to this day, is still a great
ambassador for NASCAR. He does what most of us take for granted; he gets up
each morning and breathes. For those of you who have lived through tragedy and
adversity, you know how difficult that one activity can be.
The Allisons were a dynasty in NASCAR; a racing family that
was supposed to endure through the generations. Davey and younger brother
Clifford were talented and good and primed to be the next generation of the
“Alabama Gang”. Davey, several times, was a breath away from sitting at the
lead table at the Waldorf Astoria. Many have pondered, “What if Davey lived”
scenarios that include “would Dale Earnhardt have won as many Cups?” No one
will ever know.
February 25,
2020 marks what would have been Davey Allison’s fifty-ninth birthday.
As a fan in Davey’s heyday, it is hard for me to wrap my brain around
that. It was important for me to bring
Davey’s name back to the forefront for a moment. I’m sure Bobby hasn’t
forgotten; I just wanted him to know, I haven’t forgotten either.
