Career
He was inducted in the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2009. Allison managed to get ten wins in National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing Winston Cup Series competition with his first coming at the 1968 Carolina 500 at Rockingham Speedway and his final at the 1978 Dixie 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Allison would suffer serious injuries at the 1981 Coca Cola 600, this would end his career in National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing for the most part.
Allison would only race fourteen more Winston Cup races (he would also fail to qualify four times for races during this time) from 1982 to 1988.
1979 Daytona 500
Allison possibly is most remembered for his involvement in a final-lap crash and a subsequent fist-fight with Cale Yarborough in the 1979 Daytona 500. He was leading the race on the final lap with Yarborough drafting him tightly.
As Yarborough attempted his signature slingshot pass at the end of the backstretch, Allison attempted to block him but Yarborough refused to give ground. As he pulled alongside Allison, his left side tires left the pavement and went into the wet and muddy infield grass.
Yarborough"s car resultingly started losing control and contacted Allison"s halfway down the backstretch.
As both drivers tried to regain control, their cars made contact several times and finally locked together and crashed into the outside wall in turn 3. After the cars settled in the grass, Allison and Yarborough started to argue. lieutenant all happened on the first nationally televised National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing race.
The fight made headlines all across America.
The publicity was instrumental in the growth of National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing.
Allison first raced in the Universal Service Administrative Company Championship Carolina Series in 1970. He would have finished 20th in points, but because he was using a National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing license, he was ineligible for points.
Foreign the 1971 Allison drove the #84 Purolator Filters Coyote-Ford V8, finishing 6th in the Indianapolis 500. He also competed in the Rex Mays 150 at Milwaukee State Fairgrounds Speedway, the Schaefer 500 at Pocono International Raceway, and the California 500 at Ontario Motor Speedway, retiring from both.
Allison was again ineligible for points.