“A mentor and a great friend”: Rusty Wallace pays tribute to NASCAR great Bobby Allison following his passing

Rusty Wallace paid tribute to veteran NASCAR driver Bobby Allison upon his passing last week. Allison had an incredible career, winning 85 NASCAR Cup Series between 1961 and 1988. He also clinched the championship once in 1983.

Bobby Allison took part in a total of 718 races over a span of 25 years in the Cup Series, registering. a whopping 447 top-10 finishes, making him one of the most consistent and successful drivers of all time.

Allison passed away on November 9, 2024, less than a month before his 87th birthday. As NASCAR paid tribute to the sport's legend, Rusty Wallace, who was his friend, did the same, calling him a "titan" of the sport and someone he considered a mentor.

"Bobby Allison was a titan of our sport and someone that I considered to be both a mentor and a great friend," Wallace wrote on X.

Wallace also said that he would not have achieved what he did if not for Allison.

"As I was growing up racing in series like USAC, ARTGO, ASA and NASCAR, Bobby always went out of his way to help me. He taught me so much and I wouldn’t have achieved what I did without his help. I’ll really miss him a lot and I’d like to offer my condolences to the entire Allison family," Wallace said.

Rusty Wallace raced between 1980 and 2005, winning the championship once in 1989.

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NASCAR CEO pays tribute to "Alabama Gang" founder Bobby Allison

Upon Allison's passing, the entire crew of NASCAR paid tribute to the legendary driver. Apart from being a racer, he was also the founder of the Alabama Gang. This was a group of NASCAR racers from Hueytown, Alabama. The gang initially started out with Allison, his brother Donnie Allison, and their friend Red Farmer.

NASCAR CEO Jim France mentioned this as he paid tribute to Bobby Allison. He said:

"Bobby Allison personified the term ‘racer.’ Though he is best known as one of the winningest drivers in NASCAR Cup Series history, his impact on the sport extends far beyond the record books,” NASCAR CEO Jim France said in a statement. "As a driver, he won races and championships across several NASCAR divisions. But as the leader of the famous “Alabama Gang,” Bobby connected with fans in a profound manner. In the most significant ways, he gave his all to our sport. On behalf of the France family and all of NASCAR, I offer my deepest condolences to Bobby’s family, friends and fans on the loss of a NASCAR giant."

Jimmy Means also joined their gang in 1973, and later their sons would carry on the legacy of the Alabama Gang. Other notable drivers like Dale Earnhardt were also closely related to the gang despite not being residents of the state.