2/25/61 - 7/13/93
Hueytown, AL
191 career Cup Starts (1985 - 1993)
Best Finish: 1st, 19 times
Most Recent Win: 1993 Pontiac Excitement 400 @ Richmond (3/7/93)
86 career BGN starts (1983 - 1993)
Best Finish: 2nd, twice
Most Recent: 1992 Budweiser 250 @ Bristol (4/4/92))
Davey got his first break into NASCAR driving cars for veteran car owner Hoss Ellington. His uncle, Donnie Allison, drove for Ellington from 1976 through 1980. Davey's debut came at Talladega in May 1985. After qualifying 22nd, Allison ran strong all day and brought home a tenth place finish. He would drive two more races for Ellington in '85 but failed to finish both due to engine failure. Davey teamed up with the Sadler Bros. Racing team in 1986 for four races, but his season highlight came in a race where he substituted for fellow Alabama driver Neil Bonnett. Junior Johnson called on the young driver to fill in for injured Bonnett at Talladega, a track he knew Davey had a knack for. Davey did not disappoint. He qualified a strong seventh, led thirteen laps on the day, and finished seventh. Allison's foot was solidly in the door. His big break was soon to come.
Long-time car owner Harry Ranier, who had fielded cars for Bobby Allison in 1981, gave Davey his first big shot at NASCAR in 1987. Without major sponsorship at the beginning of the season, the future of the Allison-Ranier relationship was up in the air. That was until Daytona came around. He put his unsponsored Ford on the front row for the Daytona 500. A week later, Davey won the pole at Rockingham. It did not take long for a major sponsor to take notice of the young driver. Just before the fourth race of the season at Atlanta, Texaco Havoline signed on to sponsor Davey for the rest of the '87 season. The partnership blossomed in May at Talladega. Allison started third and dominated the Winston 500, leading 101 of the race's 178 laps. It was his first Winston Cup win, and it came in a race where his father suffered a spectacular crash on the front straightaway. Just three weeks later, the rookie was in victory lane again at Dover. He became this first rookie driver to win two races in his rookie season in the modern NASCAR era. He would go on to win four more poles and capture the 1987 Winston Cup Rookie of the Year honors. There was a new member to the famed "Alabama Gang."
Over the next few years, Davey would become one of the most formidable opponents on the NASCAR circuit. He won six more races between 1988 through 1990. In 1991 he tied Harry Gant for the most races won in the season and finished a career high third in the final point standings. Allison was the man to beat in 1992. Davey kicked off the year by dominating the Daytona 500. He also captured victories at North Wilkesboro, Michigan, Talladega, and Phoenix. But 1992 was a hard season for Davey. He broke his arm in a horrific crash at Pocono in June, and in August, he lost his younger brother Clifford in a Busch Series practice crash at Michigan. He used his brother's memory to motivate him through the rest of the season.
Davey fought through the adversity and lead the Winston Cup point standings going into the final race at Atlanta by a mere 30 points over Alan Kulwicki. It seemed like being the Winston Cup Champion was his destiny. But 1992 had one of the tightest point battles in NASCAR history. The top six drivers in points were seperated by only 113 points. Despite running well, Davey was caught up in a crash when Ernie Irvan spun off of Turn 4. His dreams of a NASCAR championship were dashed. Alan Kulwicki ended up winning the championship by a mere 10 points over Bill Elliott. Davey finished third, 63 points behind.
1993 was supposed to be a season of redemption for Allison. Most NASCAR experts picked him to be the favorite to win the Winston Cup. After disappointing showings in the first two races of the season, he notched his 19th career win at Richmond. Davey fought back with a series of top 5 finishes and sat fifth in the points after the 16th race of the season at Loudon. Then on Monday, July 12 Allison and family friend, legendary racer Red Farmer, flew to Talladega to watch Neil Bonnett's son David test a car in anticipation for his upcoming Busch Series debut. Sadly, Davey crashed trying to land in the infield. Neil Bonnett was able to free Farmer from the wreckage but could not reach Davey. Rescue workers pulled the young driver from the accident alive, but he had suffered massive head injuries. Davey Allison died the next day. Allison's death shook a sport that was already reeling from the death of defending Winston Cup champion, Alan Kulwicki in April. His death came just eleven months after he lost his brother Clifford. It is uncertain whether or not Davey would have won the Winston Cup in his career had the accident never happened, but many who were fortunate enough to see him race consider him a champion nevertheless.
