Miracle: Bobby Allison and the Saga of the Alabama Gang
While you were sitting in the stands or watching at home on TV, did you ever ask yourself what's really going on behind the scenes? Take a ride on the seat next to auto-racing legend Bobby Allison and relive the dramatic saga of the Alabama Gang in this unique look at NASCAR from the inside.\ Bobby Allison, who ranks third place in wins in NASCAR history, began his Grand National/Winston Cup career in 1966. After winning eighty-five races, he retired in 1988 when an accident at Pocono Raceway...
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The tragic, untold story of the legendary Alabama Gang—NASCAR's famous racing family. Kirkus Reviews Bestselling sportswriter Golenbock (Amazin', 2002, etc.) chronicles the terrible toll stock-car racing has taken on NASCAR legend Bobby Allison and those close to him. Allison fought for every shred of respect he garnered on the Winston Cup circuit. He was a crack mechanic before he ever got behind the wheel of a race car, and no factory team would sponsor him as a driver until he proved himself by winning in the heaps he patched together himself. Allison and his Alabama Gang-brothers Eddie and Donnie, Neil Bonnet and Red Farmer-strutted their racing savvy on the southern speedways, but they were infuriated by racetrack officials' habit of cutting slack for reigning champ Richard Petty. Allison conducted plenty of bitter feuds with fellow racers (not to mention his stormy ups and downs with wife Judy), but he had a singular rivalry with Petty: "They would race side by side, trading paint, gaining advantage . . . it was as close to motorized ballet as NASCAR ever presented." But ballets don't end with participants literally crashing and burning; car races sometimes do. Donnie Allison was nearly killed in 1981, and in 1988 Bobby sustained career-ending head injuries. During the long process of piecing himself together, he lost two sons: Clifford died while racing, and Davey, also a driver, was killed in a helicopter crash on the way to the track. The Allison story, told with thrusting energy, even while tragedy after tragedy sucks the air out of the room.
Preface xiThe Photograph 1Pop and Kitty 3Bobby: Exiled to Wisconsin 10Bobby: Bob Sunderman 21Bobby: Judy 27Donnie and Eddie: Built from the Chassis Up 36Pat: Alabamy Bound 40Red Farmer: Short-Track Racer 45Bobby: Nose to the Grindstone 51Donnie and Eddie: Busting Their Humps 56Bobby: Eddie Makes a Sacrifice 59Bobby: Bud, Cotton, Harry, and Ol' Ralph 71Bobby: An Independent Again 82Bobby and Eddie: Mario 85Bobby: Outsmarted by the Pettys 93Donnie: Banjo 99Bobby: Allison Versus the Pettys 104Bobby: Junior 112Bobby: Iroc and Indy, 1973 126Bobby: The Roger Penske Years 135Donnie: Outsmarted by the Gardners 146Neil Bonnett: Susan 150Bobby: Bud Moore Saves Him 155Donnie: Hoss 160Bobby and Donnie: The Fight at Daytona 163Bobby: Butting Heads 170Donnie: T-Boned and in a Coma 181Bobby: AChampionship-At Last 186Bobby: It Gets Ugly 197Davey: The Prodigal Son 208Hut: Rookie of the Year 217Neil: In Waltrip's Shadow 223Bobby: The Oldest Winner Ever 230Bobby and Davey: Father, Son Finish 1,2 238Bobby: At Death's Door 248Bobby and Judy: The Long Road Back 260Bobby and Judy: A Miracle 266Neil: Amnesia 275Davey: Robert Yates Hires Larry Mac 282Clifford: "Crazy Wild" 289Davey: The Lost Championship: Part I 294The Death of Clifford Allison 309Davey: The Lost Championship: Part II 315Davey: Life on the Edge 321The Death of Davey Allison 328Alabama Mourns 337Hut: Scarred 344Bobby and Judy: No Peace 348The Death of Neil Bonnett 354Hut: A Career Fizzles 361The End Of Bobby Allison Motorsports 367Bobby and Judy: Financial Ruin and Divorce 373Bobby and Judy: Reunited 380Notes 387
\ From the Publisher"[A] riveting oral history. Miracle is the definitive chronicle of the Allisons' troubles and triumphs." —Dayton Beach News-Journal "Fascinating and dramatic." —Accent On Tampa Bay "There will be significant demand for this crowd pleaser." —Booklist "The Allison story, told with thrusting energy." —Kirkus "The Allisons were the heart and soul of stock car racing, in victory and in tragedy. Golenbock captures the heartbreak and the inspiration of their story, from the thrilling rides in big-time races to the true grit of an American family fighting to survive." —Robert Lipsyte, former New York Times sports columnist"NASCAR is not just about sheetmetal and horsepower; it's about people. Bobby Allison is an American hero, and this book allows us to become temporary members of his family. By the last page, we all want to give Bobby and Judy Allison a hug. This is the best NASCAR book ever written." —Tom Cotter, NASCAR historian and author of "Holman Moody: The Legendary Race Team." "You hold in your hands, reader, our family saga. It's about racing, beating the odds, chasing your dream, making something out of nothing and, of course, the importance of family. Peter Golenbock has done a wonderful job telling our tale. We hope it entertains and inspires you." —Judy Allison\ \ \ \ \ Kirkus ReviewsBestselling sportswriter Golenbock (Amazin', 2002, etc.) chronicles the terrible toll stock-car racing has taken on NASCAR legend Bobby Allison and those close to him. Allison fought for every shred of respect he garnered on the Winston Cup circuit. He was a crack mechanic before he ever got behind the wheel of a race car, and no factory team would sponsor him as a driver until he proved himself by winning in the heaps he patched together himself. Allison and his Alabama Gang-brothers Eddie and Donnie, Neil Bonnet and Red Farmer-strutted their racing savvy on the southern speedways, but they were infuriated by racetrack officials' habit of cutting slack for reigning champ Richard Petty. Allison conducted plenty of bitter feuds with fellow racers (not to mention his stormy ups and downs with wife Judy), but he had a singular rivalry with Petty: "They would race side by side, trading paint, gaining advantage . . . it was as close to motorized ballet as NASCAR ever presented." But ballets don't end with participants literally crashing and burning; car races sometimes do. Donnie Allison was nearly killed in 1981, and in 1988 Bobby sustained career-ending head injuries. During the long process of piecing himself together, he lost two sons: Clifford died while racing, and Davey, also a driver, was killed in a helicopter crash on the way to the track. The Allison story, told with thrusting energy, even while tragedy after tragedy sucks the air out of the room.\ \
