There was a time when Hueytown, Alabama, was as big a part of the NASCAR geography as Daytona Beach and Charlotte. Bobby Allisonhis brother Donnie Allison and their friend Red Farmer did it with their ability to make stock cars go fast and then drive them in that direction.

Under the collective moniker of the Alabama Gang, each achieved a level of success in the sport that placed them in the NASCAR Hall of Fame. But at the highest level of stock car racing, Bobby Allison has become embroiled in the debate over several of the best drivers in history.

Allison died on Saturday at the age of 86. NASCAR announced.

Despite his affiliation with Alabama, Allison was not a native of the state. Instead, he was a Floridian who was attracted to Alabama because of its lively racing scene.

“Asphalt racetracks are what brought me to Alabama when I was ready to expand my racing career.” Allison told AL.com In 2017. “I was pretty comfortable on pavement, but I was pretty uncomfortable on dirt tracks. I came to Alabama because I heard it had nice paved roads. My brother Donnie came with me. A few more people came from South Florida: a driver named Gil Hearn and a car owner named Kenny Andrews.

“We went to Montgomery Speedway and the organizer said, ‘We’re running here tomorrow night, but they’re running tonight at Dixie Speedway in Birmingham.’ And we said, ‘Which way is this?’ we said. He gestured and we got in the trucks, drove to Midfield and found Dixie Speedway. I won a decent amount of money at Dixie on Friday night; My winnings for the night were $135, which was the largest purse I had collected at that point in my career. We spent the night there and went to Montgomery on Saturday night. I met the drivers at that track and a few of the competitors from Alabama. I made friends with many competitors and the organizers and fans were very understanding. It was really a good deal for me. I had yet to win a feature event in my career and it looked like Sonny Black was on the verge of winning when he managed to beat me in his more powerful Cadillac. But I made a lot of money and we jumped into Atlanta for the Peach Bowl on Sunday night.

“Alabama has become a very special place for both me and Donnie. I got married the following spring. Judy and I moved to Alabama. We loved the people, the place, the racetracks and the sport we played there. “I really loved Alabama.”

Allison raced all over the state to reach the top rung of the racing ladder.

“Birmingham. “Montgomery” Allison said In 2017. “Huntsville had a quarter mile of highway. It was a great place for me. I won there several times. Mobile built a race track and I ran there. Pensacola, Florida is on the south side of Alabama, so I almost think it’s an Alabama track and I’ve had good luck there. I ran in Columbus, Georgia, Macon and the Peach Bowl. I also managed Nashville and Chattanooga. “There were a lot of good places for me to run to improve my racing career.”

Allison raced in the NASCAR Cup Series from 1961 to 1988, going from Grand National to Winston Cup.

Allison won 85 races at NASCAR’s top level, including the Daytona 500 three times, the Southern 500 four times and four events at Talladega Superspeedway, won the Winston Cup championship in 1983 and was named NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver in eight seasons.

Allison’s racing career took him to the NASCAR Hall of Fame as part of the second class of inductees, but it wasn’t a fun ride.

A horrific crash during the Miller High Life 500 at Pocono Raceway on June 19, 1988 brought an abrupt end to his career. In 1992, his son Clifford died in a crash at Michigan International Speedway. In 1993, his son Davey died in a helicopter crash in Talladega.

Along the way, Allison played a central role in perhaps NASCAR’s most famous stage; As he and his brother Donnie passed Richard Petty to win the 1979 title, he came to blows with fellow driver Cale Yarbrough near the wrecked cars on the grass shortly before the finish line. Daytona 500.

Allison’s death came less than a month after he won his last victory.

Last month, NASCAR recognizes Allison’s victory On August 6, 1971, at the Myers Brothers Memorial at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, the win was entered into the official record book.

The controversy surrounding Allison’s victory arose because he was driving a Grand American car, not a Grand National car, in the 250-lap race. At the time, some NASCAR races had two series on the track at the same time, and Allison competed in both series. That day at Bowman Gray, Allison was leading the final 138 laps after Richard Petty in his smaller Grand American-class Ford Mustang had led the first 112 in the Plymouth. They were the only drivers to finish the preliminary round.

While receiving praise for his Cup victory, Allison broke out of a tie with Darrell Waltrip and moved into sole fourth place in NASCAR Cup Series wins. Petty holds the record with 200 wins, followed by David Pearson with 105 wins and Jeff Gordon with 93 wins.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter: @AMarkG1.