| Back in 1959, Donnie Allison left his home in south | | | | the Year (1970). Donnie said that his biggest |
| Florida to look for racing opportunities in the Georgia | | | | disappointment in his racing career was not winning |
| and Alabama area. He and his brother Bobby and | | | | the Daytona 500 or any races at Darlington. |
| their friend Red Farmer located in Central Alabama | | | | Donnie Allison may best be remembered for his part |
| where they found numerous small dirt tracks and | | | | in a confrontation with Cale Yarborough that took |
| became known as The Alabama Gang. | | | | place after their two cars came together at the 1979 |
| Unlike his brother Bobby, Donnie didn't grow up with | | | | Daytona 500. They were battling for the lead and |
| a passion and desire to race. He entered the world of | | | | both ended up in the wall. After the race, there was |
| racing on a challenge from his brother. Bobby said | | | | a fight between the two which included brother |
| that Donnie would never be a racecar driver and | | | | Bobby. The infamous incident was televised on |
| that's when Donnie set out to prove his brother | | | | national TV. |
| wrong. Donnie followed his brother Bobby all the way | | | | Donnie's career ended when he suffered a serious |
| to NASCAR's Grand National Division after he already | | | | crash in the 1981 World 600 at Charlotte. He was |
| had over 200 victories under his belt. He had | | | | severely injured and was only able to race in 13 more |
| mastered some of the south's most famous short | | | | Cup events after that. "I had all the confidence in the |
| tracks. He had developed a strong desire to win, and | | | | world in my abilities and the fact that my injuries |
| that's what played a part in building his racing career, | | | | were healed, but I just could not get the opportunity |
| which spanned from the 1960's to the early 1980's. | | | | (to drive a top car again) he said. I talked to several |
| His Winston Cup wins include victories at Atlanta, | | | | people, but for whatever reason, they weren't sure |
| Rockingham, Bristol, Daytona, and Talladega. His best | | | | about my head injury or...I just never got the |
| season was in 1970 when he had ten top-fives in | | | | opportunity. It was all downhill from then on." Even |
| only 19 starts. He won at Bristol, Charlotte, and | | | | though he stopped competing, Donnie remained |
| Daytona that year and won NASCAR's Most Popular | | | | active in the sport through the 1990's by continuing |
| Driver Award-Late Model Division and also Rookie of | | | | to work in the Busch and Winston Cup Series. |