Bobby Allison, founder of racing’s “Alabama Gang” and a NASCAR Hall of Famer, died Saturday. He was 86 years old.

NASCAR released a statement from Allison’s family saying he died at his home in Mooresville, North Carolina. The cause of death was not disclosed, but Allison’s health had been deteriorating for years.

Allison moved into fourth place on NASCAR’s Cup Series victory list last month when chairman Jim France recognized him as the 1971 winner of the Meyers Brothers Memorial at Bowman Gray Stadium in North Carolina. 85 wins and saved him from a tie with Darrell Waltrip.

France and longtime NASCAR executive Mike Helton presented Allison with a plaque commemorating the victory. However, Allison trails only Hall of Famers Richard Petty (200), David Pearson (105) and Jeff Gordon (93) in Cup wins.

Allison was inducted into NASCAR’s second Hall of Fame class in 2011. He was the 1983 NASCAR champion, finished second in the series championship race five times and won the Daytona 500 three times.

“Bobby was the ultimate fan driver,” Allison’s family said in a statement. “He enjoyed spending time with his fans and everywhere he went he would stop, sign autographs and chat with them. “He was a dedicated family man, friend and devout Catholic.”

Beyond his driving, he helped put NASCAR on the map. His famous battle with Cale Yarborough in the final laps of the 1979 Daytona 500 became one of the sport’s defining moments.

“Cale started beating my fist with his nose,” Allison said repeatedly, a phrase she often used to describe the fight. “Cale understands, as do I, that this is a real benefit to racing. It shows that we are sincere.”

Born in Miami in 1937, Allison began looking for more racing opportunities outside the Sunshine State. He landed in central Alabama, where he found numerous small dirt tracks.

He returned to Florida to pick up his brother Donnie and close friend Red Farmer. They opened stores in Hueytown, Alabama, and dominated regional racing in the 1960s and early 1970s. Later, Jimmy Mears, Neil Bonnett, and Bonnett and Allison’s sons Davey and Clifford also joined the Alabama Gang.

Allison retired in 1988 following a near-fatal accident. He crashed on the opening lap of Talledega Superspeedway in June 1987. He hit the outside wall and then T-boned the driver’s side door. He was initially pronounced dead upon arrival at a local hospital, but was later revived.

He eventually regained his memory, relearned daily activities, and attempted a comeback. However, a series of tragedies caused Allison to retire. His son, Clifford, was fatally injured in a 1992 crash during second-tier Busch Series practice at Michigan International Speedway. A year later, his son Davey was killed in a helicopter crash in Talladega.

Three years later, Bobby and his wife, Judy, divorced. They reunited four years later at their bride’s wedding and remarried in 2000. They remained together until Judy’s death in 2015.

Allison was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1992 and the NASCAR Hall of Fame along with Ned Jarrett, Bud Moore, Pearson and Lee Petty.

“Bobby Allison personified the term ‘racer’,” France said in a statement. “While he is known as one of the winningest drivers in NASCAR Cup Series history, his impact on the sport extends far beyond the record books.

Allison is one of 10 drivers to win a NASCAR career “grand slam,” which includes the Cup Series’ most iconic races: the Daytona 500, Winston 500, Coca-Cola 600 and Southern 500.

Allison made six IndyCar Series starts, including a pair of Indy 500s for Roger Penske.

— Jenna Fryer | AP Auto Racing Writer

— AP Sports Writer Mark Long contributed to this report.