Who were the prominent figures in NASCAR's Alabama Gang? All you need to know

The NASCAR Alabama gang was originally named after a successful group of drivers who operated from Hueytown, situated near Birmingham, Alabama. The gang was started by the late NASCAR driver Bobby Allison.

Back in the 1950s, Allison left Florida to try his luck in racing. While he was traveling across America, he discovered Alabama on this journey. He then came back to Florida to link with his friend, Red Farmer, and brother, Donnie Allison before setting up shop in Alabama.

As the trio started the gang, they were pretty dominant in the NASCAR circuit through the 1960s and 70s. In 1973, Jimmy Means joined the set-up, followed by Bobby Allison's son Davey. A few years later, Neil Bonnett and David Bonnett, fellow residents of Hueytown, also joined the gang.

Donnie Allison's daughter Pam got married to Hut Stricklin, who joined in as well. Bobby's son and Davey's brother, the late Clifford Allison, was also a part of the gang before he lost his life in a crash during race practice in 1992. Besides the aforementioned names who were directly involved with the gang, Dale Earnhardt was friendly with many members.

Currently, the Alabama gang is in its third straight generation. Donnie Allison's grandson, Pam, and Hut Stricklin's son, Taylor, ARCA Menards Series driver Justin Allison (son of Kenny), and Justin Bonnett (son of David Bonnett) are the current members of the Alabama gang.

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Alabama gang's founder Bobby Allison passed away at 86

NASCAR legend and former driver Bobby Allison died at his home in Mooresville, North Carolina on November 9, 2024. A Cup Series champion, he raced competitively from 1961 to 1988.

A seven-time NASCAR Most Popular Driver award winner, three-time Daytona 500 winner, and two-time NASCAR Modified National Championship champion, Allison raked in 85 wins in the Cup Series, along with 59 pole positions and 447 Top 10s.

Bobbie Allison during the red carpet at Charlotte Convention Center Crown Ballroom. (Photo Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn)

With 85 wins, he has the fourth-highest race wins under his belt. Besides the Cup Series, Allison also raced in the Xfinity Series, NASCAR Grand National East Series, IndyCar, Trans-Am, and Can-Am. He was so popular that his family termed him as the ultimate fan's driver after his death.

"Bobby was the ultimate fan's driver," Allison's family said in a statement. "He thoroughly enjoyed spending time with his fans and would stop to sign autographs and have conversations with them everywhere he went. He was a dedicated family man and friend, and a devout Catholic."

Bobby Allison was born on December 2, 1937, in Miami, Florida. He started racing in the Cup Series in 1961, at 23 years old. A remarkable phenomenon, a NASCAR Hall of Famer and one of NASCAR's 75 Greatest Drivers, Allison left the world with an irreplaceable void.