Sure, most folks remember Donnie Allison for that unforgettable 1979 race – the one he didn’t win but became legendary for the fisticuffs with Cale Yarborough. Yet, it’s his 1970 victory that sealed his ticket to be considered as one of the legendary drivers. It’s been a whopping 53 years since Donnie Allison pulled off a jaw-dropping win in the 1970 Firecracker 400 at Daytona International Speedway, steering his way to victory in a Banjo Matthews Ford.

Now, as we tip our hats to this legendary driver’s Hall of Fame induction, it’s the perfect time to stroll down memory lane and relive his standout triumph at Charlotte Motor Speedway. But, what went down at the Firecracker 400 in Daytona Beach?

Donnie Allison shook things up with a borrowed engine to clinch the 1970 race

Kicking off his career with a bang in the early 60s, Donnie Allison cut his teeth on short tracks all over the South before stepping up to the big leagues. He made his debut on what was then the NASCAR Grand National circuit. Over the next two decades, he became a familiar face on the track, racking up an impressive resume: 10 wins, 17 poles, 79 top 5s, and a whopping 115 top 10 finishes. It means nearly one-third of the time, Donnie was among the top 5, and almost half the time, he was in the top 10. Out of 16 races, he bagged top 5s in 10 and added another top 10 to his tally.

1969 wasn’t just a big year for Neil Armstrong and the Apollo astronauts. The Allison-Matthews duo also rocketed onto the NASCAR scene, leaving a trail of smoke behind them. Riding this wave, 1970 saw Allison hit the jackpot with a victory at the Firecracker 400 on July 4 at Daytona International Speedway. It was a landmark win for him on this track, hot on the heels of his triumph at the grueling World 600 in Charlotte on May 24.

At Daytona, Allison’s win was nothing short of a stroke of genius. He zoomed to victory in his Ford, powered by a borrowed engine, especially after Ford teammate David Pearson had a tire blowout just shy of the finish. He left Buddy Baker, in his Dodge, eating dust, a full 15 seconds behind.

Before his Daytona race, Allison’s World 600 race at Charlotte was a tough one though, with his right foot burnt so badly he couldn’t keep it on the gas pedal. He even tried switching to his left foot, but that didn’t pan out. Despite the hurdles, Allison clinched the win, making it a stunning prequel to his Daytona success.

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A record crowd of 57,500 witnessed Allison’s third major victory of 1970 at Daytona. He also bagged the top prize at the Southeastern 250 in Bristol, Tenn., and, of course, the World 600. Pole winner Cale Yarbrough was hot on his heels, bumper to bumper with Baker, until his engine gave out. Allison humbly noted that his Ford Talladega wasn’t the fastest of the 40 cars. As per The New York Times, he said, “I latched on the draft of faster people all day. I guess Pearson’s bad luck was my good luck.” And now, it looks like NASCAR is finally tipping its hat to Allison, honoring him with a well-deserved spot in the Hall of Fame.

From ‘Never planned to be a race car driver’ to Hall of Fame Glory

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Part of the legendary “Alabama Gang,” Donnie Allison has been the face of NASCAR for five decades. But apparently, he never had his sights set on becoming a race car driver. It all changed when his older brother, Bobby Allison, threw down the gauntlet, doubting Donnie’s chops as a driver.

That lit a fire under Donnie, who was determined to prove Bobby—and the rest of the world—wrong. Following Bobby’s tire tracks, Donnie began his journey in modifieds and eventually revved up to the pinnacle of stock car racing.

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Back in August, NASCAR dropped the news announcing that the 14th group since the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s debut in 2010 would include a trio of legends: Jimmie Johnson, Chad Knaus, and none other than Donnie Allison. The big day is set for Friday, Jan. 19, at the NASCAR Hall of Fame and Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.