He lost his wife in 2015 and his sons in 1992 and 1993.
Key Takeaways
- Legendary NASCAR driver Bobby Allison passed away on November 10, 2024, at the age of 86.
- Bobby was married to Judy Allison from 1960 until her passing in 2015.
- The couple had four children but tragically lost two of them within a year in separate accidents.
Bobby Allison, the professional stock car racing driver, owner of the NASCAR Hall of Famer, and founder of the “Alabama Gang” racing team, sadly passed away on November 10, 2024, at the age of 86.
He was married to Judy Allison from 1960 until her passing in 2015. The couple had four children—Davey, Clifford, Bonnie, and Carrie.
He was more than just a racer.
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) November 10, 2024
He was a giant of our sport.
We remember Bobby Allison. pic.twitter.com/c2UKOeL9vs
The couple met through Judy’s sister, Carolyn, and her husband, Ralph Stark.
They married in 1960. Bobby was 23, while Judy was 19.
Judy was a respected figure not only in the couple’s personal circle but also in the wider American racing community.
Not only did Judy support her husband’s career for most of her life, but she also persevered and supported Bobby through the untimely demise of their two sons, Davey and Clifford.
1979 Talladega Winston 500 – Bobby and Judy Allison all smiles in victory lane pic.twitter.com/dbrVDHXEFx
— Mark (@NCMarrk) May 14, 2024
Clifford Allison was born on October 20, 1964.
He was an emerging star in the NASCAR Busch Series.
On August 13, 1992, during a practice session for the Detroit Gasket 200 at Michigan International Speedway, Clifford lost control of his car and crashed into the wall.
Suffering fatal injuries, he was declared DOA at Foote Memorial Hospital in Jackson, Michigan.
RIP to the damn man Bobby Allison. Such a sweet man who endured horrific heartbreak. Your boys Davey & Clifford are waiting for you. 😔 pic.twitter.com/iuh8rRYWt9
— Brian Thomerson (@BrianThome40750) November 10, 2024
Davey Allison, born on February 25, 1961, was a rising NASCAR driver.
He was known for his successes in the Winston Cup Series.
On July 12, 1993, roughly a year after his brother’s crash, Davey was piloting his helicopter to Talladega Superspeedway when it crashed while attempting to land.
The crash gave Davey severe head injuries, which required serious treatment.
Throughout the lengthy surgery, he never regained consciousness.
He passed away the next day at Carraway Methodist Medical Center in Birmingham, Alabama.
When I think of Bobby Allison I think of him as a father before a racer. This photo of him running to Davey tells the whole story of Bobby. #NASCAR #BobbyAllison pic.twitter.com/vMvJeyqbOM
— James Kuch (@JamesKuch) November 10, 2024
Losing two children in the span of nine months must have had a severe impact on both Bobby and Judy because, in 1996, they divorced.
However, they reconnected four years later at their daughter-in-law’s wedding and remarried in 2000.
They remained together until Judy’s passing in 2015 due to surgery-related complications. She was 74.
And one more…Bobby Allison and his lovely wife, Judy. They were doing a promotion at Walmart during a race weekend. pic.twitter.com/IKlG1LC4O0
— Angie Campbell (@angiecampbell_) February 9, 2024
Today, Bobby and Judy are survived by the daughters, Bonnie Allison-Farr and Carrie Allison Hewitt.
Bonnie and Carrie both are happily married.
Bonnie still lives in her hometown of Hueytown, Alabama, while Carrie lives in Concord, North Carolina.
While they have opted to stay relatively out of the public spotlight, they still share the occasional social media post honoring their father’s legendary motorsports career and remembering their late mother.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Bobby Allison won the prestigious Daytona 500 three times in his career—1978, 1982, and 1988.
- Bobby Allison was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2011.
- He is among the few drivers to have won NASCAR’s career “grand slam,” which includes victories in the Daytona 500, the Winston 500, the Coca-Cola 600, and the Southern 500.
