NASCAR makes major change to all-time wins list, ending 53-year controversy

For over half a century, controversy and debate surrounded a NASCAR Cup Sequence race at Bowman Grey Stadium on August 6, 1971.

It was one in all six races that yr that includes a blended discipline with Cup automobiles and the smaller Grand American automobiles. Bobby Allison selected to drove a Grand American ’70 Ford Mustang that day and ended up beating all the Cup stars, main 138 of 200 laps with Richard ‘The King’ Petty a number of seconds behind in second place.

Whereas Allison went to Victory Lane and hoisted the trophy like some other week, the win was by no means truly acknowledged within the report books. The truth is, nobody was awarded the Cup win for that race regardless of it being an official a part of the 1971 schedule. The truth that he wasn’t driving a Cup automotive within the blended discipline meant that he wasn’t credited as a Cup Sequence winner.

Bobby Allison being acknowledged for 85 NASCAR Cup wins

Photograph by: NASCAR Media

Allison has not been quiet on his views on the race,  having been adamant about having 85 Cup wins — not 84. It is much more vital since being granted that win would break a tie with one other NASCAR Corridor of Famer. Nicely, it is lastly occurred. NASCAR has dug into the report books, grabbed some white out and made it proper. At 86 years outdated, Allison takes sole possession of fourth on the all-time wins listing after being tied with Darrell Waltrip since 1992.

The victory additionally modifications one other truth in NASCAR historical past: The primary driver to win a Cup race in a Ford Mustang was Brad Keselowski in 2019, however that honor now retroactively goes to Allison.

Allison, the patriarch of the Alabama Gang, gained the 1983 NASCAR Cup Sequence title and was additionally inducted into the NASCAR Corridor of Fame in 2011. This additionally comes at some attention-grabbing timing as Bowman Grey — the positioning of this controversial end result — is returning to the Cup schedule in 2025. The historic quick monitor in Winston-Salem, North Carolina will host ‘The Conflict’ in 2025, which serves because the unofficial kick-off to the brand new season.

Will probably be the primary Cup race at Bowman Grey since that controversial 1971 occasion the place Allison did not get credit score for a win that was rightfully his. Because the newly topped most up-to-date Cup winner at Bowman Grey, he will certainly be there subsequent February when the inexperienced flag flies.

Up to date All-Time Wins Checklist