One of the most enduring controversies in the history of auto racing has finally been put to rest. NASCAR has officially declared Hall of Famer Bobby Allison as the rightful winner of a Cup Series race that took place at Bowman Gray Stadium on August 6, 1971. This announcement marks the end of a 53-year dispute surrounding the only race in NASCAR’s history that did not have an official winner. With this decision, Allison, who is now 86 years old, will be credited with a total of 85 career Cup Series wins, placing him in fourth place on the all-time wins list in the sport.
The race in question, the 1971 Myers Brothers Memorial 250 at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston Salem, North Carolina, had been a subject of debate since its inception. NASCAR had organized the event as a combination race, where both the Grand National tour and the Grand American series for “pony cars” would compete together in an effort to increase participation. However, controversy arose as Grand National teams objected to the perceived advantage of the Grand American cars on the quarter-mile oval track due to their size, agility, and fuel efficiency. During the race, Richard Petty, driving a Grand National Plymouth, had to make a pit stop for fuel after leading the first 112 laps, while Allison, behind the wheel of a Holman-Moody Grand American Mustang, managed to lead the remaining 138 laps and claim victory.
In response to the complaints from Grand National drivers, NASCAR officials decided not to declare an official winner for the race. This decision meant that Allison did not receive credit for what should have been his 25th career Cup win, and Petty, who finished in second place, was not recognized as the winner either. However, with the upcoming Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium scheduled for 2025, NASCAR CEO Jim France and senior advisor Mike Helton visited Allison to inform him that the ruling had been overturned.
France stated, “For 53 years, the Myers Brothers Memorial was the only race run by NASCAR that did not have an official winner. As we began preparations for the upcoming Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium, the topic of the race returned to the forefront. We felt it was the right thing to officially recognize Bobby’s win and honor him as an 85-time NASCAR Cup Series winner. We are grateful for Bobby’s lifetime contributions to NASCAR.”
With this revision, Allison’s position on NASCAR’s all-time wins list has been solidified, moving him ahead of Darrell Waltrip and into fourth place. His total of 85 wins now only trails Jeff Gordon, David Pearson, and Richard Petty. This decision not only rectifies a long-standing issue for Allison but also adds to the legacy of the Allison family in NASCAR. Combined, Bobby, his brother Donnie Allison, and his son Davey Allison now account for a total of 114 Cup Series wins, further emphasizing the family’s impact on the sport.
