One of the most controversial moments in NASCAR history has finally been put to rest. After 53 years of debate, NASCAR has officially declared Hall of Famer Bobby Allison as the winner of a Cup Series race at Bowman Gray Stadium on August 6, 1971. This decision marks the end of the only race in NASCAR history that did not have an official winner. As a result of this announcement, Allison, now 86 years old, will be credited with 85 career Cup Series wins, placing him in fourth place on the all-time wins list.
The Myers Brothers Memorial 250 race at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston Salem, North Carolina, has been a topic of dispute for many years due to the unique circumstances surrounding it. The race was a combination event where both Grand National and Grand American series cars competed against each other. Grand National teams had raised concerns about the advantage that the smaller and more fuel-efficient Grand American cars had on the quarter-mile oval track. During the race, Richard Petty, driving a Grand National Plymouth, had to pit for fuel after leading 112 laps, while Allison, in a Grand American Mustang, managed to lead the remaining 138 laps without needing to pit.
Following the race, officials decided not to declare an official winner due to the scoring disputes between the two series. This decision meant that Allison did not receive credit for his 25th Cup win, and Petty, who finished second, was not recognized as the winner either. However, NASCAR CEO Jim France and senior advisor Mike Helton recently visited Allison to inform him that the decision had been reversed. They stated that it was the right thing to officially acknowledge Allison’s win and honor him as an 85-time NASCAR Cup Series winner, especially as Bowman Gray Stadium is set to host the season-opening Clash in 2025.
With this revision, Allison now holds the fourth spot on NASCAR’s all-time wins list, surpassing Darrell Waltrip. His 85 victories put him behind Jeff Gordon (93), David Pearson (105), and Richard Petty (200). This update not only resolves a longstanding issue for Allison but also adds to the Allison family’s overall Cup Series wins. When combined with Donnie Allison’s 10 wins and Davey Allison’s 19 wins, the family now boasts a total of 114 victories in NASCAR history.
Allison, who had expressed his frustration over the unacknowledged win during his Hall of Fame induction in 2011, can now proudly claim his 85 career victories. This decision by NASCAR not only recognizes Allison’s accomplishments but also adds a new chapter to the sport’s history books, closing the controversy that had lingered for over five decades.
