NASCAR
Bobby Allison Rewarded 85th Cup Series Win from Bowman Gray Stadium
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Announced today, NASCAR has formally recognized Bobby Allison as the winner of the Cup Series Myers Brothers Memorial at Bowman Gray Stadium. This race occurred on August 6, 1971, and was the last National Series event at ‘The Madhouse’. NASCAR record books have been updated to give Allison fourth-most all-time Cup Series victories, with 85 checkered flags.
“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.”
On Wednesday, France and Senior Advisor to NASCAR Mike Helton visited with Allison to bring him the major news.
This event was one of six in 1971 to include both Grand National (Cup) cars and smaller Grand American cars. Allison ran simultaneously in both divisions and chose to drive his Grand American Ford Mustang. The Alabama native won at BGS, leading 138 of 200 laps. The Mustang was an advantageous car around the bullring due to a shorter wheelbase. Even with Allison given the trophy in Victory Lane, the win never counted towards Allison’s Cup Series total, until 2024. This discrepancy began by a protest from second-place finisher Richard Petty.
Allison’s career win tally now reads as 85. This mark now only trails fellow NASCAR Hall of Famers Richard Petty (200), David Pearson (105), and Jeff Gordon (93). A tie is also broken between Allison and longtime rival Darrell Waltrip.
Allison, who was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s second class in 2011, is a five-time NASCAR champion. He won titles in the Cup Series (1983), Modified Division (1964, ’65) and Modified Special Division (1962, ’63). He also conquered the Daytona 500 three times (1978, ’82, ’88). The 1988 Great American Race was his final victory. That day Bobby held off his son and fellow NASCAR Hall of Famer Davey Allison. This was one of NASCAR’s defining historic moments from the 1980s. In 2023, Allison was named one of NASCAR’s elite 75 Greatest Drivers.
Written by Peter Stratta
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Photo Credit to Sean Gardner/Getty Images
