Neil Bonnett
A member of the famed “Alabama Gang” that included fellow EMPA Hall of Famer Bobby Allison, his brother Donnie Allison and the legendary Charles “Red” Farmer, Hueytown, Alabama’s Neil Bonnett (July 30, 1946 – February 11, 1994) raced anywhere and everywhere in his efforts to reach NASCAR’s Cup Series where he had 18 career victories.
However, when Bonnett reached those heights, he never forgot his roots and what it took to get there. When situations moved him into the television booth, his TV efforts were as smooth as those on the race track as it was just like watching the telecast with an old friend.
A pipe fitter by trade who kept his union card current throughout his racing career “just in case,” Bonnett started racing in 1969 on the short tracks in the Montgomery-Birmingham area in his 1957 Chevrolet and 1964 Chevy Chevelle. As he began to win some races and beat members of the “Alabama Gang” on a regular basis, he was invited to become one of them.
As one of the “Gang” the mustachioed Bonnett raced throughout the South and East, sometimes even driving one of Bobby’s machines when “an Allison car” was expected to be at one of the nation’s short tracks on a particular night.
Bonnett raced in NASCAR’s Late Model Sportsman Series and in a few Cup Series races in 1974 as he worked at Bobby’s Hueytown shop. His efforts were such that the boss put him in a car at Talladega (Alabama) Superspeedway in 1975 as “payment” for his hard work.
In 1976, Bonnett ran his own No. 12 Chevrolet in the Cup Series, but in March he attracted a great deal of attention when he substituted for an injured Bobby Allison during qualifications at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway and put the No. 2 Mercury of EMPA Hall of Famer Roger Penske on the pole for the Richmond 400. He did the same thing in July when the again-injured Bobby wasn’t able to run against the clocks at Nashville, Tennessee.
On September 11, 1977, Bonnett won his first race – the Capital City 400 at Richmond –from second spot in the No. 5 Harry Hyde-tuned/Jim Stacey-owned Dodge. And he did the same on November 20 at the L. A. Times 500 at the old 2.5-mile Ontario (Cal.) Motor Speedway.
From 1979-1982, Bonnett – one of NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers – won 10 races in the famed No. 21 Wood Brothers Mercurys and Fords, including the 1979 Firecracker 400 at Daytona International Speedway, the 1981 Southern 500 at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway and the 1982 World 600 at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway. Then, in 1983, while driving the No. 75 RahMoc Chevrolet he won the Busch Clash at Daytona and the World 600 again.
From 1984-1986, Bonnett drove the No. 12 Budweiser Chevrolet of EMPA Hall of Famer Junior Johnson to four victories, including his second Busch Clash win in 1984. He then rejoined RahMoc in 1987 before returning to the Wood Brothers from 1989-1990.
On April 1, 1990, Bonnett suffered life-threatening injuries during the TransSouth 500 at Darlington when his No. 21 Wood Brothers Ford hit protective water barrels at the entrance to pit road and he was left with amnesia and dizziness. Unable to drive, he began a successful TV career as a color commentator. Yet he still desired to race and returned as a test driver for his great friend and EMPA Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Sr. and car owner Richard Childress.
When cleared to drive again in 1993, Bonnett did so at Talladega and Atlanta in No. 31 Childress Racing Chevrolets but dropped out of both races due to an accident and blown engine.
In 1994, although some tried to talk him out of doing so, Neil Bonnett got sponsorship for at least six races with car owner James Finch. However, during the first practice session for the 1994 Daytona 500 he was killed when his yellow and hot pink No. 51 Country Time Lemonade Chevrolet blew a right-front tire in the fourth turn and then hit the outside wall nearly head-on.
However, when Bonnett reached those heights, he never forgot his roots and what it took to get there. When situations moved him into the television booth, his TV efforts were as smooth as those on the race track as it was just like watching the telecast with an old friend.
A pipe fitter by trade who kept his union card current throughout his racing career “just in case,” Bonnett started racing in 1969 on the short tracks in the Montgomery-Birmingham area in his 1957 Chevrolet and 1964 Chevy Chevelle. As he began to win some races and beat members of the “Alabama Gang” on a regular basis, he was invited to become one of them.
As one of the “Gang” the mustachioed Bonnett raced throughout the South and East, sometimes even driving one of Bobby’s machines when “an Allison car” was expected to be at one of the nation’s short tracks on a particular night.
Bonnett raced in NASCAR’s Late Model Sportsman Series and in a few Cup Series races in 1974 as he worked at Bobby’s Hueytown shop. His efforts were such that the boss put him in a car at Talladega (Alabama) Superspeedway in 1975 as “payment” for his hard work.
In 1976, Bonnett ran his own No. 12 Chevrolet in the Cup Series, but in March he attracted a great deal of attention when he substituted for an injured Bobby Allison during qualifications at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway and put the No. 2 Mercury of EMPA Hall of Famer Roger Penske on the pole for the Richmond 400. He did the same thing in July when the again-injured Bobby wasn’t able to run against the clocks at Nashville, Tennessee.
On September 11, 1977, Bonnett won his first race – the Capital City 400 at Richmond –from second spot in the No. 5 Harry Hyde-tuned/Jim Stacey-owned Dodge. And he did the same on November 20 at the L. A. Times 500 at the old 2.5-mile Ontario (Cal.) Motor Speedway.
From 1979-1982, Bonnett – one of NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers – won 10 races in the famed No. 21 Wood Brothers Mercurys and Fords, including the 1979 Firecracker 400 at Daytona International Speedway, the 1981 Southern 500 at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway and the 1982 World 600 at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway. Then, in 1983, while driving the No. 75 RahMoc Chevrolet he won the Busch Clash at Daytona and the World 600 again.
From 1984-1986, Bonnett drove the No. 12 Budweiser Chevrolet of EMPA Hall of Famer Junior Johnson to four victories, including his second Busch Clash win in 1984. He then rejoined RahMoc in 1987 before returning to the Wood Brothers from 1989-1990.
On April 1, 1990, Bonnett suffered life-threatening injuries during the TransSouth 500 at Darlington when his No. 21 Wood Brothers Ford hit protective water barrels at the entrance to pit road and he was left with amnesia and dizziness. Unable to drive, he began a successful TV career as a color commentator. Yet he still desired to race and returned as a test driver for his great friend and EMPA Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Sr. and car owner Richard Childress.
When cleared to drive again in 1993, Bonnett did so at Talladega and Atlanta in No. 31 Childress Racing Chevrolets but dropped out of both races due to an accident and blown engine.
In 1994, although some tried to talk him out of doing so, Neil Bonnett got sponsorship for at least six races with car owner James Finch. However, during the first practice session for the 1994 Daytona 500 he was killed when his yellow and hot pink No. 51 Country Time Lemonade Chevrolet blew a right-front tire in the fourth turn and then hit the outside wall nearly head-on.