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Legendary NASCAR driver, three-time Daytona 500 winner, dies at 86
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Legendary NASCAR driver, three-time Daytona 500 winner, dies at 86

NASCAR Hall of Famer Bobby Allison died Saturday.

He was 86 years old.

NASCAR announced Allison’s passing, noting that he died peacefully at his home in Mooresville, North Carolina, surrounded by his family. ESPN reported that no cause of death was given, but added that Allison “had been in poor health for years.”

Allison, who was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2011, actually had a victory last month, placing him fourth on the all-time NASCAR Cup Series wins list. He didn’t actually drive last month, of course, but NASCAR President Jim France recognized Allison’s victory in the Meyers Brother Memorial at Bowman Gray Stadium in 1971. That brought him to 85 victories for his career.

According to ESPN, Allison is behind Richard Petty (200), David Pearson (105) and Jeff Gordon (93) on the all-time wins list. He won the Daytona 500 three times and in 1983 he was the NASCAR Cup Series champion.

“Bobby was the ultimate fan drive,” the Allison family said in a statement, according to ESPN. “He truly enjoyed spending time with his fans and stopped to sign autographs and chat with them wherever he went. He was a devoted family man and friend, and a devout Catholic.

Allison died in a 1987 crash at Talladega Speedway, but was revived at a local hospital. He retired from driving in 1988. Tragically, his son Clifford Allison was killed in an accident while practicing for the Busch Series at Michigan International Speedway, and Davey Allison, a NASCAR star, was killed in a helicopter crash in 1992.