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Neil Bonnett

Lawrence Neil Bonnett (July 30, 1946 – February 11, 1994) was an American NASCAR driver who compiled 18 victories and 20 poles over his 18-year career. Bonnett was a member of the Alabama Gang, and started his career with the help of Bobby and Donnie Allison. He rose to prominence in the late 1970s with his performances in cars owned by Jim Stacy and Wood Brothers Racing, becoming one of the top competitors in the 1980s. The Alabama native currently ranks 47th in all-time NASCAR Cup victories.[2] He appeared in the 1983 film Stroker Ace and the 1990 film Days of Thunder. Bonnett hosted the TV show Winners for TNN from 1991 to 1994. He was a color commentator for CBS, TBS, and TNN in the years until his death. Bonnett's driving career was interrupted by a severe brain injury from a crash in 1990. He was killed while practicing for the 1994 Daytona 500 for a much-anticipated comeback.

Neil Bonnett
Bonnett in 1985
Born(1946-07-30)July 30, 1946
Hueytown, Alabama, United States
DiedFebruary 11, 1994(1994-02-11) (aged 47)
Daytona Beach, Florida, United States
Cause of deathAutoracing accident during practice for the 1994 Daytona 500
Achievements1981 Southern 500 Winner, 1983 World 600 Winner
1979 Firecracker 400 Winner
AwardsNamed one of NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers (1998)
National Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame (1997)
International Motorsports Hall of Fame (2001)
Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (2012)[1]
Winner of the first ever NASCAR race run outside of North America, the Goodyear NASCAR 500 held in Australia (1988)
NASCAR Cup Series career
362 races run over 18 years
Best finish4th (1985)
First race1974 Nashville 420 (Nashville)
Last race1993 Hooters 500 (Atlanta)
First win1977 Capital City 400 (Richmond)
Last win1988 Goodwrench 500 (Rockingham)
Wins Top tens Poles
18 156 20
Statistics current as of June 14, 2015.
Neil Bonnett's 1983 NASCAR Winston Cup Series racecar.

NASCAR career

Bonnett was born in the Birmingham suburb of Hueytown, Alabama on July 30, 1946. Bonnett began his NASCAR career as a protégé of 1983 Winston Cup champion Bobby Allison, working on the team's cars. He later became part of the famous "Alabama Gang" that included himself, Red Farmer and the Allison family: father Bobby, brother Donnie and, later, son Davey. He began driving in NASCAR in 1974 and earned his first victory in 1977 at the Capital City 400 in Richmond, Virginia driving for Harry Hyde-Jim Stacy Racing, which had bought out the K&K Insurance team that he had previously driven for. He had another victory in 1977 at the Los Angeles Times 500, which would be the last Dodge win in NASCAR until 2001. Many in racing circles thought 1978 would be his year to dominate, but troubles with his cars (the new for '78 Dodge Magnum) and financial problems between Hyde and Stacy caused his cars to fail and to drop out of many races. In addition, Bonnett had grown tired of Stacy's dictatorial management style and tendency to miss payments, which led to Hyde suing Stacy for unpaid bills.[3] In 1979 he signed with Wood Brothers Racing to replaced David Pearson and revived his career with three victories. He later won back-to-back World 600s (NASCAR's longest race, now the Coca-Cola 600) in 1982 and 1983 and back-to-back Busch Clash victories in 1983 and '84, including his first in which he did not win a single pole from the previous season, but was selected as a wild card entry.[4]

In 1984, Bonnett joined Junior Johnson's team, becoming a teammate to Darrell Waltrip. In 1985, he had one of his best seasons, finishing fourth in the points standings while Waltrip went on to win his third championship.

Bonnett participated in International Race of Champions (IROC) during three seasons (1979, 1980, and 1984), and finished second twice.

Bonnett holds the distinction of being the winner of the first ever NASCAR race held outside of North America when he won the 1988 Goodyear NASCAR 500 at the Calder Park Thunderdome in Melbourne, Australia (at the time the newly opened Thunderdome was also the first NASCAR style speedway to be built outside of North America). The race, run two weeks after the Daytona 500, was not a Winston Cup race but featured some drivers from the series including fellow Alabama Gang member Bobby Allison, Michael Waltrip, Dave Marcis and Kyle Petty who were up against Australian drivers somewhat new to NASCAR racing. Bonnett, who had won the Pontiac Excitement 400 at Richmond International Raceway the previous weekend, started from the pole driving his Valvoline sponsored Pontiac Grand Prix. He and Allison (who had won the Daytona 500 two weeks previous), driving a Buick LeSabre, dominated the crash marred, 280 lap 500 km (310 mile) race finishing first and second ahead of Dave Marcis on a day when cabin temperatures were reported to reach over 57° Celsius (135° Fahrenheit) as the race was held during Australia's notoriously hot summer.

On April 1, 1990, Bonnett suffered a life-threatening crash during the TranSouth 500 at Darlington, South Carolina, when his car slammed into Sterling Marlin's car during a 14-car crash on lap 212. He was left with amnesia and dizziness and retired from racing and turned to television, becoming a race color commentator for TNN, CBS Sports, and TBS Sports, and hosting the TV show Winners for TNN.

However, Bonnett still desired to continue racing. In 1992, he began testing cars for good friends Dale Earnhardt and car owner Richard Childress. Cleared to race again in 1993 and upon Earnhardt's suggestion, Childress gave Bonnett a ride for the 1993 DieHard 500 at Talladega Superspeedway which was numbered 31 and sponsored by GM Goodwrench. But his comeback race was marred by a crash in which his car spun, became airborne, and crashed into the spectator fence. He was uninjured and called the rest of the race from the CBS broadcast booth after being cleared at the infield care center. He would also start the final race of the 1993 season in Atlanta, but he dropped out after just three laps. The reason the team gave for removing the car from the race was a blown engine; however, he was teamed with points leader Earnhardt, and the car was retired to assist Earnhardt in winning the season's championship. Earnhardt needed to maximize his finishing position, and by Bonnett quitting the race he was assured of those three championship points. This would become Bonnett's final NASCAR Winston Cup Series start.

Death

Despite the setbacks, Bonnett was encouraged because he had secured a ride and sponsorship for at least five races in the 1994 season with car owner James Finch, including the season-opening race, the Daytona 500, for Phoenix Racing. But on February 11, 1994, during the first practice session for the 1994 Daytona 500, a shock mount broke, causing him to lose control of his Chevrolet on the track's high-banked fourth turn. The car swerved onto the track apron, and then up the steep bank, before crashing into the wall nearly head on. Bonnett did not survive the accident; he was 47 years old.

That weekend, another racing death occurred, as 1993 Goody's Dash (four-cylinder) champion Rodney Orr was also killed in a racing crash during the practices surrounding the first weekend. In the middle of the second Goodyear-Hoosier tire war, Hoosier withdrew from the race immediately.

Bonnett is buried in Pleasant Grove's cemetery, Forest Grove Memorial Gardens. A road called "Allison-Bonnett Memorial Drive" in his hometown honors him, along with fellow native Davey Allison, who died seven months earlier.

When Earnhardt, Bonnett's colleague, won the 1998 Daytona 500, he dedicated the victory to Bonnett among others.

Earnhardt himself died in a racing accident during the final lap of the 2001 Daytona 500. About three weeks after the accident, magazine photographers released photographs of Bonnett's autopsy, as well as those of another driver who died a few days later, Rodney Orr, to the public, which led to a lawsuit.[5]

When Brad Keselowski scored Phoenix Racing's first Sprint Cup win 15 years later in the 2009 Aaron's 499 at Talladega Superspeedway, Finch dedicated the win to Bonnett. During the 2013 season, Finch designed the No. 51 car's paint scheme in the Cup and Nationwide Series like Bonnett's 1994 Country Time Chevrolet that he drove shortly before his death.

In popular culture

Bonnett was portrayed by the actor Sean Bridgers in the TV movie 3: The Dale Earnhardt Story.

Motorsports career results

NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Winston Cup Series

NASCAR Winston Cup Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 NWCC Pts Ref
1973 K&K Insurance Racing 1 Dodge RSD DAY RCH CAR BRI ATL NWS DAR MAR TAL
DNQ
NSV CLT DOV TWS RSD MCH DAY BRI ATL TAL NSV DAR RCH DOV NWS MAR CLT CAR NA - [6]
1974 Roberts Racing 77 Chevy RSD DAY RCH CAR BRI ATL DAR NWS MAR TAL
45
NSV DOV CLT RSD MCH DAY BRI NSV ATL POC 87th 3.52 [7]
Bobby Allison Motorsports 1 Chevy TAL
39
MCH DAR RCH DOV NWS MAR CLT CAR ONT
1975 12 RSD DAY RCH CAR BRI ATL NWS DAR MAR TAL NSV DOV CLT RSD MCH DAY NSV
14
POC TAL
35
MCH DAR DOV NWS MAR CLT RCH CAR BRI ATL ONT NA 0 [8]
1976 Bonnett Racing RSD DAY
5
CAR RCH BRI ATL
8
NWS DAR
30
MAR
19
TAL
39
NSV DOV CLT RSD
29
MCH DAY
33
TAL
38
MCH
6
BRI DAR
24
RCH DOV MAR NWS
28
CLT
35
CAR ATL
8
ONT 32nd 1130 [9]
Penske Racing 2 Mercury NSV
QL
POC
1977 K&K Insurance Racing 71 Dodge RSD
17
DAY
37
RCH
7
CAR
5
ATL
12
NWS
21
DAR
33
BRI
4
MAR
12
TAL
29
NSV DOV CLT
7
RSD MCH 18th 2649 [10]
Jim Stacy Racing 5 Dodge DAY
8
NSV
21
POC TAL
25
MCH BRI
17
DAR RCH
1*
DOV
17
MAR
22
NWS
3
CLT
8
CAR
28
ATL
38
ONT
1*
1978 RSD
4
DAY
27
RCH
9
CAR
6
ATL
33
BRI
26
DAR
32
NWS
24
MAR
2
DOV
5
NSV
5
RSD
10
MCH
36
12th 3129 [11]
Olds TAL
39
CLT
35
MCH
9
Osterlund Racing Chevy DAY
23
NSV
28
POC
36
TAL
8
BRI
20
DAR
34
RCH
3*
MAR
4
NWS
5
CLT
30
CAR
31
ATL
34
ONT
37
Olds DOV
29
1979 Jim Stacy Racing Chevy RSD
34
26th 2223 [12]
Olds DAY
32
Ellington Racing CAR
33
RCH ATL NWS BRI
Kennie Childers Racing 12 Olds DAR
13
Wood Brothers Racing 21 Mercury MAR
25
TAL
17*
NSV DOV
1
CLT
25
TWS RSD
28
MCH
4
DAY
1*
NSV POC
8
TAL
34
MCH
33
BRI DAR
32
RCH DOV
21
MAR
18
CLT
31
NWS CAR
29
ATL
1
ONT
6
1980 RSD
34
DAY
3
RCH CAR
6
ATL
41
BRI DAR
36
NWS MAR
6
TAL
27
NSV DOV
18
CLT
5
TWS RSD
2
MCH
4
DAY
34
NSV POC
1*
TAL
1
MCH
2
BRI DAR
5
RCH DOV
6
NWS MAR
19
CLT
30
CAR
25
ATL
2
ONT
2
19th 2865 [13]
1981 Ford RSD
27
DAY
33
RCH CAR
4
ATL
28
BRI NWS DAR
29
MAR
2
TAL
32
NSV DOV
13*
CLT
29
TWS RSD
4
MCH
9
DAY
30
NSV POC
34
TAL
37
MCH
28
BRI DAR
1*
RCH DOV
1*
MAR
4
NWS CLT
29*
CAR
35
ATL
1*
RSD
33
22nd 2449 [14]
1982 DAY
25
RCH
7
ATL
27
CAR
19
DAR
24
MAR
3
TAL
19
DOV
19
CLT
1
POC RSD
5
MCH
11
DAY
32
NSV POC TAL
16
MCH
9
BRI DAR
34
RCH
5
DOV
21
NWS CLT
28
MAR
22
CAR
3
ATL
11
RSD
4
17th 2966 [15]
Rogers Racing 37 Buick BRI
22
NWS
10
NSV
5
1983 RahMoc Enterprises 75 Chevy DAY
22
RCH
3
CAR
12
ATL
2
DAR
7
NWS
4
MAR
16
TAL
15
NSV
13
DOV
28
BRI
4
CLT
1
RSD
13
POC
7
MCH
31
DAY
28
NSV
6
POC
4
TAL
35
MCH
35
BRI
10
DAR
4
RCH
8
DOV
7
MAR
6
NWS
13
CLT
26
CAR
4
ATL
1
RSD
3
6th 3842 [16]
1984 Junior Johnson & Associates 12 Chevy DAY
4
RCH
5
CAR
28
ATL
33
BRI
11
NWS
9
DAR
10
MAR
5
TAL
23
NSV
2*
DOV
15
CLT
12
RSD
2
POC
14
MCH
17
DAY
9
NSV
10
POC
19
TAL
19
MCH
13
BRI
23
DAR
30
RCH
7
DOV
6
MAR
5
CLT
16
NWS
4
CAR
33
ATL
21
RSD
6
8th 3802 [17]
1985 DAY
10
RCH
23
CAR
1
ATL
3
BRI
19
DAR
6
NWS
1*
MAR
5
TAL
26
DOV
8
CLT
15
RSD
27
POC
5
MCH
8
DAY
12
POC
2*
TAL
2
MCH
11
BRI
3
DAR
4
RCH
9
DOV
5
MAR
9
NWS
10
CLT
42
CAR
15
ATL
12
RSD
3
4th 3902 [18]
1986 DAY
32
RCH
7
CAR
9
ATL
34
BRI
30
DAR
4
NWS
11
MAR
26
TAL
40
DOV
28
CLT
13
RSD
8
POC
23
MCH
25
DAY
11
POC
31
TAL GLN
5
MCH
34
BRI
11
DAR
24
RCH
5
DOV
2
MAR
8
NWS
12
CLT
3
CAR
1
ATL
6
RSD
9
13th 3369 [19]
1987 RahMoc Enterprises 75 Pontiac DAY
12
CAR
3
RCH
22
ATL
7
DAR
6
NWS
3
BRI
11
MAR
9
TAL
7
CLT
13
DOV
9
POC
8
RSD
3
MCH
17
DAY
18
POC
7
TAL
32
GLN
37
MCH
9
BRI
10
DAR
32
RCH
10
DOV
3
MAR
4
NWS
11
CLT
36
CAR RSD ATL 12th 3352 [20]
1988 DAY
4
RCH
1
CAR
1*
ATL
22
DAR
19
BRI
11
NWS
19
MAR
30
TAL
14
CLT
36
DOV
35
RSD
10
POC
11
MCH
19
DAY
18
POC TAL GLN
38
MCH
40
BRI
14
DAR
16
RCH
9
DOV
8
MAR
19
CLT
18
NWS
28
CAR
10
PHO
21
ATL
13
16th 3040 [21]
1989 Wood Brothers Racing 21 Ford DAY
42
CAR
14
ATL
7
RCH
21
DAR
39
BRI
12
NWS
13
MAR
10
TAL
9
CLT
7
DOV
7
SON
11
POC
8
MCH
24
DAY
21
POC
23
TAL
10
GLN
36
MCH
15
BRI
9
DAR
15
RCH
7
DOV
26
MAR CLT NWS CAR
6
PHO
34
ATL
9
20th 2995 [22]
1990 DAY
11
RCH
25
CAR
36
ATL
18
DAR
30
BRI NWS MAR TAL CLT DOV SON POC MCH DAY POC TAL GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR PHO ATL 43rd 455 [23]
1993 Richard Childress Racing 31 Chevy DAY CAR RCH ATL DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL SON CLT DOV POC MCH DAY NHA POC TAL
34
GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR PHO ATL
42
67th 98 [24]
1994 Phoenix Racing 51 Chevy DAY
Wth
CAR RCH ATL DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL SON CLT DOV POC MCH DAY NHA POC TAL IND GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR PHO ATL NA - [25]
- Qualified for Bobby Allison · - Fatal accident
Daytona 500

Busch Series

NASCAR Busch Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 NBSC Pts Ref
1983 Butch Mock Motorsports 75 Pontiac DAY
3
RCH CAR
6
HCY MAR NWS SBO GPS LGY DOV BRI CLT
2
SBO HCY ROU SBO ROU CRW ROU SBO HCY LGY IRP GPS BRI HCY DAR
1*
RCH NWS SBO MAR ROU CLT
5
HCY MAR 29th 820 [26]
1984 89 Olds DAY
22
RCH CAR HCY MAR DAR ROU NSV LGY MLW DOV CLT SBO HCY ROU SBO ROU HCY IRP LGY SBO BRI DAR RCH NWS CLT HCY CAR MAR 87th 97 [27]
1985 Darrell Waltrip Motorsports 17 Chevy DAY CAR HCY BRI MAR DAR SBO LGY DOV CLT
2
SBO HCY ROU IRP SBO LGY HCY MLW BRI DAR RCH NWS ROU CLT HCY CAR MAR 66th 170 [28]
1987 RahMoc Enterprises 51 Pontiac DAY
35
HCY MAR DAR BRI LGY SBO CLT DOV IRP ROU JFC OXF SBO HCY RAL LGY ROU BRI JFC DAR
4
RCH DOV MAR CLT
26
CAR MAR 45th 303 [29]
1988 DAY
41
HCY CAR MAR DAR BRI LNG NZH SBO NSV CLT DOV ROU LAN LVL MYB OXF SBO HCY LNG IRP ROU BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR 71st 164 [30]
Bobby Allison Motorsports 12 Buick CLT
13
CAR MAR
1993 Dale Earnhardt, Inc. 3 Chevy DAY CAR RCH DAR BRI HCY ROU MAR NZH CLT DOV MYB GLN MLW TAL IRP MCH NHA BRI DAR RCH DOV ROU CLT MAR CAR HCY ATL
35
106th 58 [31]

International Race of Champions

(key) (Bold – Pole position. * – Most laps led.)

International Race of Champions results
Year Make Q1 Q2 Q3 1 2 3 4 Pos. Pts Ref
1978–79 Chevy MCH
4
MCH RSD RSD
7
ATL
1
2nd NA [32]
1979–80 MCH
1
MCH RSD RSD
7
ATL
7
7th 20 [33]
1984 Chevy MCH
1
CLE
6
TAL
11
MCH
1
2nd 55 [34]

See also

References

  1. ^ Neil Bonnett at the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America
  2. ^ Sprint Cup / Nextel Cup / Winston Cup all time Victory Records
  3. ^ "#36 - J.D. Stacy". Race Fans Forever. Retrieved 2020-11-01.
  4. ^ From 1979 until 1997, and again in 2001, drivers who had the fastest times in second-round qualifying (discontinued after the 2000 season) were entered in a random drawing at the end of the season (from 1981 until 1996, it was held during the New York Awards Ceremony) to determine which driver, not in the Busch Clash, would make the feature. In 1998, the Budweiser Shootout entered those drivers instead in a 25-lap Sunday morning last chance race before the 25-lap Bud Shootout feature. This practice was discontinued after the 2000 race, and a drawing was used for the 2001 Shootout, the last before NASCAR discontinued second-round qualifying.
  5. ^ Lyons, Andrew (May 24, 2001). . The Daytona Beach News-Journal. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007.
  6. ^ "Neil Bonnett – 1973 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  7. ^ "Neil Bonnett – 1974 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  8. ^ "Neil Bonnett – 1975 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  9. ^ "Neil Bonnett – 1976 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  10. ^ "Neil Bonnett – 1977 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  11. ^ "Neil Bonnett – 1978 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  12. ^ "Neil Bonnett – 1979 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  13. ^ "Neil Bonnett – 1980 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  14. ^ "Neil Bonnett – 1981 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  15. ^ "Neil Bonnett – 1982 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  16. ^ "Neil Bonnett – 1983 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  17. ^ "Neil Bonnett – 1984 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  18. ^ "Neil Bonnett – 1985 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  19. ^ "Neil Bonnett – 1986 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  20. ^ "Neil Bonnett – 1987 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  21. ^ "Neil Bonnett – 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  22. ^ "Neil Bonnett – 1989 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  23. ^ "Neil Bonnett – 1990 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  24. ^ "Neil Bonnett – 1993 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  25. ^ "Neil Bonnett – 1994 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  26. ^ "Neil Bonnett – 1983 NASCAR Budweiser Late Model Sportsman Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  27. ^ "Neil Bonnett – 1984 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  28. ^ "Neil Bonnett – 1985 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  29. ^ "Neil Bonnett – 1987 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  30. ^ "Neil Bonnett – 1988 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  31. ^ "Neil Bonnett – 1993 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  32. ^ "Neil Bonnett – 1979 IROC Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  33. ^ "Neil Bonnett – 1980 IROC Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  34. ^ "Neil Bonnett – 1984 IROC Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved December 27, 2016.

External links

  • Neil Bonnett at Find a Grave
  • Neil Bonnett driver statistics at Racing-Reference
  • Video of Bonnett's fatal wreck on YouTube

neil, bonnett, lawrence, july, 1946, february, 1994, american, nascar, driver, compiled, victories, poles, over, year, career, bonnett, member, alabama, gang, started, career, with, help, bobby, donnie, allison, rose, prominence, late, 1970s, with, performance. Lawrence Neil Bonnett July 30 1946 February 11 1994 was an American NASCAR driver who compiled 18 victories and 20 poles over his 18 year career Bonnett was a member of the Alabama Gang and started his career with the help of Bobby and Donnie Allison He rose to prominence in the late 1970s with his performances in cars owned by Jim Stacy and Wood Brothers Racing becoming one of the top competitors in the 1980s The Alabama native currently ranks 47th in all time NASCAR Cup victories 2 He appeared in the 1983 film Stroker Ace and the 1990 film Days of Thunder Bonnett hosted the TV show Winners for TNN from 1991 to 1994 He was a color commentator for CBS TBS and TNN in the years until his death Bonnett s driving career was interrupted by a severe brain injury from a crash in 1990 He was killed while practicing for the 1994 Daytona 500 for a much anticipated comeback Neil BonnettBonnett in 1985Born 1946 07 30 July 30 1946Hueytown Alabama United StatesDiedFebruary 11 1994 1994 02 11 aged 47 Daytona Beach Florida United StatesCause of deathAutoracing accident during practice for the 1994 Daytona 500Achievements1981 Southern 500 Winner 1983 World 600 Winner1979 Firecracker 400 WinnerAwardsNamed one of NASCAR s 50 Greatest Drivers 1998 National Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame 1997 International Motorsports Hall of Fame 2001 Motorsports Hall of Fame of America 2012 1 Winner of the first ever NASCAR race run outside of North America the Goodyear NASCAR 500 held in Australia 1988 NASCAR Cup Series career362 races run over 18 yearsBest finish4th 1985 First race1974 Nashville 420 Nashville Last race1993 Hooters 500 Atlanta First win1977 Capital City 400 Richmond Last win1988 Goodwrench 500 Rockingham Wins Top tens Poles18 156 20Statistics current as of June 14 2015 Neil Bonnett s 1983 NASCAR Winston Cup Series racecar Contents 1 NASCAR career 2 Death 3 In popular culture 4 Motorsports career results 4 1 NASCAR 4 1 1 Winston Cup Series 4 1 1 1 Daytona 500 4 1 2 Busch Series 4 2 International Race of Champions 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksNASCAR career EditBonnett was born in the Birmingham suburb of Hueytown Alabama on July 30 1946 Bonnett began his NASCAR career as a protege of 1983 Winston Cup champion Bobby Allison working on the team s cars He later became part of the famous Alabama Gang that included himself Red Farmer and the Allison family father Bobby brother Donnie and later son Davey He began driving in NASCAR in 1974 and earned his first victory in 1977 at the Capital City 400 in Richmond Virginia driving for Harry Hyde Jim Stacy Racing which had bought out the K amp K Insurance team that he had previously driven for He had another victory in 1977 at the Los Angeles Times 500 which would be the last Dodge win in NASCAR until 2001 Many in racing circles thought 1978 would be his year to dominate but troubles with his cars the new for 78 Dodge Magnum and financial problems between Hyde and Stacy caused his cars to fail and to drop out of many races In addition Bonnett had grown tired of Stacy s dictatorial management style and tendency to miss payments which led to Hyde suing Stacy for unpaid bills 3 In 1979 he signed with Wood Brothers Racing to replaced David Pearson and revived his career with three victories He later won back to back World 600s NASCAR s longest race now the Coca Cola 600 in 1982 and 1983 and back to back Busch Clash victories in 1983 and 84 including his first in which he did not win a single pole from the previous season but was selected as a wild card entry 4 In 1984 Bonnett joined Junior Johnson s team becoming a teammate to Darrell Waltrip In 1985 he had one of his best seasons finishing fourth in the points standings while Waltrip went on to win his third championship Bonnett participated in International Race of Champions IROC during three seasons 1979 1980 and 1984 and finished second twice Bonnett holds the distinction of being the winner of the first ever NASCAR race held outside of North America when he won the 1988 Goodyear NASCAR 500 at the Calder Park Thunderdome in Melbourne Australia at the time the newly opened Thunderdome was also the first NASCAR style speedway to be built outside of North America The race run two weeks after the Daytona 500 was not a Winston Cup race but featured some drivers from the series including fellow Alabama Gang member Bobby Allison Michael Waltrip Dave Marcis and Kyle Petty who were up against Australian drivers somewhat new to NASCAR racing Bonnett who had won the Pontiac Excitement 400 at Richmond International Raceway the previous weekend started from the pole driving his Valvoline sponsored Pontiac Grand Prix He and Allison who had won the Daytona 500 two weeks previous driving a Buick LeSabre dominated the crash marred 280 lap 500 km 310 mile race finishing first and second ahead of Dave Marcis on a day when cabin temperatures were reported to reach over 57 Celsius 135 Fahrenheit as the race was held during Australia s notoriously hot summer On April 1 1990 Bonnett suffered a life threatening crash during the TranSouth 500 at Darlington South Carolina when his car slammed into Sterling Marlin s car during a 14 car crash on lap 212 He was left with amnesia and dizziness and retired from racing and turned to television becoming a race color commentator for TNN CBS Sports and TBS Sports and hosting the TV show Winners for TNN However Bonnett still desired to continue racing In 1992 he began testing cars for good friends Dale Earnhardt and car owner Richard Childress Cleared to race again in 1993 and upon Earnhardt s suggestion Childress gave Bonnett a ride for the 1993 DieHard 500 at Talladega Superspeedway which was numbered 31 and sponsored by GM Goodwrench But his comeback race was marred by a crash in which his car spun became airborne and crashed into the spectator fence He was uninjured and called the rest of the race from the CBS broadcast booth after being cleared at the infield care center He would also start the final race of the 1993 season in Atlanta but he dropped out after just three laps The reason the team gave for removing the car from the race was a blown engine however he was teamed with points leader Earnhardt and the car was retired to assist Earnhardt in winning the season s championship Earnhardt needed to maximize his finishing position and by Bonnett quitting the race he was assured of those three championship points This would become Bonnett s final NASCAR Winston Cup Series start Death EditDespite the setbacks Bonnett was encouraged because he had secured a ride and sponsorship for at least five races in the 1994 season with car owner James Finch including the season opening race the Daytona 500 for Phoenix Racing But on February 11 1994 during the first practice session for the 1994 Daytona 500 a shock mount broke causing him to lose control of his Chevrolet on the track s high banked fourth turn The car swerved onto the track apron and then up the steep bank before crashing into the wall nearly head on Bonnett did not survive the accident he was 47 years old That weekend another racing death occurred as 1993 Goody s Dash four cylinder champion Rodney Orr was also killed in a racing crash during the practices surrounding the first weekend In the middle of the second Goodyear Hoosier tire war Hoosier withdrew from the race immediately Bonnett is buried in Pleasant Grove s cemetery Forest Grove Memorial Gardens A road called Allison Bonnett Memorial Drive in his hometown honors him along with fellow native Davey Allison who died seven months earlier When Earnhardt Bonnett s colleague won the 1998 Daytona 500 he dedicated the victory to Bonnett among others Earnhardt himself died in a racing accident during the final lap of the 2001 Daytona 500 About three weeks after the accident magazine photographers released photographs of Bonnett s autopsy as well as those of another driver who died a few days later Rodney Orr to the public which led to a lawsuit 5 When Brad Keselowski scored Phoenix Racing s first Sprint Cup win 15 years later in the 2009 Aaron s 499 at Talladega Superspeedway Finch dedicated the win to Bonnett During the 2013 season Finch designed the No 51 car s paint scheme in the Cup and Nationwide Series like Bonnett s 1994 Country Time Chevrolet that he drove shortly before his death In popular culture EditBonnett was portrayed by the actor Sean Bridgers in the TV movie 3 The Dale Earnhardt Story Motorsports career results EditNASCAR Edit key Bold Pole position awarded by qualifying time Italics Pole position earned by points standings or practice time Most laps led Winston Cup Series Edit NASCAR Winston Cup Series resultsYear Team No Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 NWCC Pts Ref1973 K amp K Insurance Racing 1 Dodge RSD DAY RCH CAR BRI ATL NWS DAR MAR TALDNQ NSV CLT DOV TWS RSD MCH DAY BRI ATL TAL NSV DAR RCH DOV NWS MAR CLT CAR NA 6 1974 Roberts Racing 77 Chevy RSD DAY RCH CAR BRI ATL DAR NWS MAR TAL45 NSV DOV CLT RSD MCH DAY BRI NSV ATL POC 87th 3 52 7 Bobby Allison Motorsports 1 Chevy TAL39 MCH DAR RCH DOV NWS MAR CLT CAR ONT1975 12 RSD DAY RCH CAR BRI ATL NWS DAR MAR TAL NSV DOV CLT RSD MCH DAY NSV14 POC TAL35 MCH DAR DOV NWS MAR CLT RCH CAR BRI ATL ONT NA 0 8 1976 Bonnett Racing RSD DAY5 CAR RCH BRI ATL8 NWS DAR30 MAR19 TAL39 NSV DOV CLT RSD29 MCH DAY33 TAL38 MCH6 BRI DAR24 RCH DOV MAR NWS28 CLT35 CAR ATL8 ONT 32nd 1130 9 Penske Racing 2 Mercury NSVQL POC1977 K amp K Insurance Racing 71 Dodge RSD17 DAY37 RCH7 CAR5 ATL12 NWS21 DAR33 BRI4 MAR12 TAL29 NSV DOV CLT7 RSD MCH 18th 2649 10 Jim Stacy Racing 5 Dodge DAY8 NSV21 POC TAL25 MCH BRI17 DAR RCH1 DOV17 MAR22 NWS3 CLT8 CAR28 ATL38 ONT1 1978 RSD4 DAY27 RCH9 CAR6 ATL33 BRI26 DAR32 NWS24 MAR2 DOV5 NSV5 RSD10 MCH36 12th 3129 11 Olds TAL39 CLT35 MCH9Osterlund Racing Chevy DAY23 NSV28 POC36 TAL8 BRI20 DAR34 RCH3 MAR4 NWS5 CLT30 CAR31 ATL34 ONT37Olds DOV291979 Jim Stacy Racing Chevy RSD34 26th 2223 12 Olds DAY32Ellington Racing CAR33 RCH ATL NWS BRIKennie Childers Racing 12 Olds DAR13Wood Brothers Racing 21 Mercury MAR25 TAL17 NSV DOV1 CLT25 TWS RSD28 MCH4 DAY1 NSV POC8 TAL34 MCH33 BRI DAR32 RCH DOV21 MAR18 CLT31 NWS CAR29 ATL1 ONT61980 RSD34 DAY3 RCH CAR6 ATL41 BRI DAR36 NWS MAR6 TAL27 NSV DOV18 CLT5 TWS RSD2 MCH4 DAY34 NSV POC1 TAL1 MCH2 BRI DAR5 RCH DOV6 NWS MAR19 CLT30 CAR25 ATL2 ONT2 19th 2865 13 1981 Ford RSD27 DAY33 RCH CAR4 ATL28 BRI NWS DAR29 MAR2 TAL32 NSV DOV13 CLT29 TWS RSD4 MCH9 DAY30 NSV POC34 TAL37 MCH28 BRI DAR1 RCH DOV1 MAR4 NWS CLT29 CAR35 ATL1 RSD33 22nd 2449 14 1982 DAY25 RCH7 ATL27 CAR19 DAR24 MAR3 TAL19 DOV19 CLT1 POC RSD5 MCH11 DAY32 NSV POC TAL16 MCH9 BRI DAR34 RCH5 DOV21 NWS CLT28 MAR22 CAR3 ATL11 RSD4 17th 2966 15 Rogers Racing 37 Buick BRI22 NWS10 NSV51983 RahMoc Enterprises 75 Chevy DAY22 RCH3 CAR12 ATL2 DAR7 NWS4 MAR16 TAL15 NSV13 DOV28 BRI4 CLT1 RSD13 POC7 MCH31 DAY28 NSV6 POC4 TAL35 MCH35 BRI10 DAR4 RCH8 DOV7 MAR6 NWS13 CLT26 CAR4 ATL1 RSD3 6th 3842 16 1984 Junior Johnson amp Associates 12 Chevy DAY4 RCH5 CAR28 ATL33 BRI11 NWS9 DAR10 MAR5 TAL23 NSV2 DOV15 CLT12 RSD2 POC14 MCH17 DAY9 NSV10 POC19 TAL19 MCH13 BRI23 DAR30 RCH7 DOV6 MAR5 CLT16 NWS4 CAR33 ATL21 RSD6 8th 3802 17 1985 DAY10 RCH23 CAR1 ATL3 BRI19 DAR6 NWS1 MAR5 TAL26 DOV8 CLT15 RSD27 POC5 MCH8 DAY12 POC2 TAL2 MCH11 BRI3 DAR4 RCH9 DOV5 MAR9 NWS10 CLT42 CAR15 ATL12 RSD3 4th 3902 18 1986 DAY32 RCH7 CAR9 ATL34 BRI30 DAR4 NWS11 MAR26 TAL40 DOV28 CLT13 RSD8 POC23 MCH25 DAY11 POC31 TAL GLN5 MCH34 BRI11 DAR24 RCH5 DOV2 MAR8 NWS12 CLT3 CAR1 ATL6 RSD9 13th 3369 19 1987 RahMoc Enterprises 75 Pontiac DAY12 CAR3 RCH22 ATL7 DAR6 NWS3 BRI11 MAR9 TAL7 CLT13 DOV9 POC8 RSD3 MCH17 DAY18 POC7 TAL32 GLN37 MCH9 BRI10 DAR32 RCH10 DOV3 MAR4 NWS11 CLT36 CAR RSD ATL 12th 3352 20 1988 DAY4 RCH1 CAR1 ATL22 DAR19 BRI11 NWS19 MAR30 TAL14 CLT36 DOV35 RSD10 POC11 MCH19 DAY18 POC TAL GLN38 MCH40 BRI14 DAR16 RCH9 DOV8 MAR19 CLT18 NWS28 CAR10 PHO21 ATL13 16th 3040 21 1989 Wood Brothers Racing 21 Ford DAY42 CAR14 ATL7 RCH21 DAR39 BRI12 NWS13 MAR10 TAL9 CLT7 DOV7 SON11 POC8 MCH24 DAY21 POC23 TAL10 GLN36 MCH15 BRI9 DAR15 RCH7 DOV26 MAR CLT NWS CAR6 PHO34 ATL9 20th 2995 22 1990 DAY11 RCH25 CAR36 ATL18 DAR30 BRI NWS MAR TAL CLT DOV SON POC MCH DAY POC TAL GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR PHO ATL 43rd 455 23 1993 Richard Childress Racing 31 Chevy DAY CAR RCH ATL DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL SON CLT DOV POC MCH DAY NHA POC TAL34 GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR PHO ATL42 67th 98 24 1994 Phoenix Racing 51 Chevy DAYWth CAR RCH ATL DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL SON CLT DOV POC MCH DAY NHA POC TAL IND GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR PHO ATL NA 25 Qualified for Bobby Allison Fatal accidentDaytona 500 Edit Year Team Manufacturer Start Finish1976 Bonnett Racing Chevrolet 13 51977 K amp K Insurance Racing Dodge 11 371978 Jim Stacy Racing Dodge 12 271979 Oldsmobile 20 321980 Wood Brothers Racing Mercury 3 31981 Ford 3 331982 14 251983 RahMoc Enterprises Chevrolet 4 221984 Junior Johnson amp Associates Chevrolet 7 41985 19 101986 12 321987 RahMoc Enterprises Pontiac 15 121988 14 41989 Wood Brothers Racing Ford 38 421990 31 111994 Phoenix Racing Chevrolet Wth Fatal accidentBusch Series Edit NASCAR Busch Series resultsYear Team No Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 NBSC Pts Ref1983 Butch Mock Motorsports 75 Pontiac DAY3 RCH CAR6 HCY MAR NWS SBO GPS LGY DOV BRI CLT2 SBO HCY ROU SBO ROU CRW ROU SBO HCY LGY IRP GPS BRI HCY DAR1 RCH NWS SBO MAR ROU CLT5 HCY MAR 29th 820 26 1984 89 Olds DAY22 RCH CAR HCY MAR DAR ROU NSV LGY MLW DOV CLT SBO HCY ROU SBO ROU HCY IRP LGY SBO BRI DAR RCH NWS CLT HCY CAR MAR 87th 97 27 1985 Darrell Waltrip Motorsports 17 Chevy DAY CAR HCY BRI MAR DAR SBO LGY DOV CLT2 SBO HCY ROU IRP SBO LGY HCY MLW BRI DAR RCH NWS ROU CLT HCY CAR MAR 66th 170 28 1987 RahMoc Enterprises 51 Pontiac DAY35 HCY MAR DAR BRI LGY SBO CLT DOV IRP ROU JFC OXF SBO HCY RAL LGY ROU BRI JFC DAR4 RCH DOV MAR CLT26 CAR MAR 45th 303 29 1988 DAY41 HCY CAR MAR DAR BRI LNG NZH SBO NSV CLT DOV ROU LAN LVL MYB OXF SBO HCY LNG IRP ROU BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR 71st 164 30 Bobby Allison Motorsports 12 Buick CLT13 CAR MAR1993 Dale Earnhardt Inc 3 Chevy DAY CAR RCH DAR BRI HCY ROU MAR NZH CLT DOV MYB GLN MLW TAL IRP MCH NHA BRI DAR RCH DOV ROU CLT MAR CAR HCY ATL35 106th 58 31 International Race of Champions Edit key Bold Pole position Most laps led International Race of Champions resultsYear Make Q1 Q2 Q3 1 2 3 4 Pos Pts Ref1978 79 Chevy MCH4 MCH RSD RSD7 ATL1 2nd NA 32 1979 80 MCH1 MCH RSD RSD7 ATL7 7th 20 33 1984 Chevy MCH1 CLE6 TAL11 MCH1 2nd 55 34 See also EditList of famous NASCAR drivers List of NASCAR fatal accidentsReferences Edit Neil Bonnett at the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America Sprint Cup Nextel Cup Winston Cup all time Victory Records 36 J D Stacy Race Fans Forever Retrieved 2020 11 01 From 1979 until 1997 and again in 2001 drivers who had the fastest times in second round qualifying discontinued after the 2000 season were entered in a random drawing at the end of the season from 1981 until 1996 it was held during the New York Awards Ceremony to determine which driver not in the Busch Clash would make the feature In 1998 the Budweiser Shootout entered those drivers instead in a 25 lap Sunday morning last chance race before the 25 lap Bud Shootout feature This practice was discontinued after the 2000 race and a drawing was used for the 2001 Shootout the last before NASCAR discontinued second round qualifying Lyons Andrew May 24 2001 Father of NASCAR crash victim Rodney Orr sues Web site over autopsy photos The Daytona Beach News Journal Archived from the original on September 30 2007 Neil Bonnett 1973 NASCAR Winston Cup Results Racing Reference Retrieved December 27 2016 Neil Bonnett 1974 NASCAR Winston Cup Results Racing Reference Retrieved December 27 2016 Neil Bonnett 1975 NASCAR Winston Cup Results Racing Reference Retrieved December 27 2016 Neil Bonnett 1976 NASCAR Winston Cup Results Racing Reference Retrieved December 27 2016 Neil Bonnett 1977 NASCAR Winston Cup Results Racing Reference Retrieved December 27 2016 Neil Bonnett 1978 NASCAR Winston Cup Results Racing Reference Retrieved December 27 2016 Neil Bonnett 1979 NASCAR Winston Cup Results Racing Reference Retrieved December 27 2016 Neil Bonnett 1980 NASCAR Winston Cup Results Racing Reference Retrieved December 27 2016 Neil Bonnett 1981 NASCAR Winston Cup Results Racing Reference Retrieved December 27 2016 Neil Bonnett 1982 NASCAR Winston Cup Results Racing Reference Retrieved December 27 2016 Neil Bonnett 1983 NASCAR Winston Cup Results Racing Reference Retrieved December 27 2016 Neil Bonnett 1984 NASCAR Winston Cup Results Racing Reference Retrieved December 27 2016 Neil Bonnett 1985 NASCAR Winston Cup Results Racing Reference Retrieved December 27 2016 Neil Bonnett 1986 NASCAR Winston Cup Results Racing Reference Retrieved December 27 2016 Neil Bonnett 1987 NASCAR Winston Cup Results Racing Reference Retrieved December 27 2016 Neil Bonnett 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Results Racing Reference Retrieved December 27 2016 Neil Bonnett 1989 NASCAR Winston Cup Results Racing Reference Retrieved December 27 2016 Neil Bonnett 1990 NASCAR Winston Cup Results Racing Reference Retrieved December 27 2016 Neil Bonnett 1993 NASCAR Winston Cup Results Racing Reference Retrieved December 27 2016 Neil Bonnett 1994 NASCAR Winston Cup Results Racing Reference Retrieved December 27 2016 Neil Bonnett 1983 NASCAR Budweiser Late Model Sportsman Series Results Racing Reference Retrieved December 27 2016 Neil Bonnett 1984 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series Results Racing Reference Retrieved December 27 2016 Neil Bonnett 1985 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series Results Racing Reference Retrieved December 27 2016 Neil Bonnett 1987 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series Results Racing Reference Retrieved December 27 2016 Neil Bonnett 1988 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series Results Racing Reference Retrieved December 27 2016 Neil Bonnett 1993 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series Results Racing Reference Retrieved December 27 2016 Neil Bonnett 1979 IROC Results Racing Reference Retrieved December 27 2016 Neil Bonnett 1980 IROC Results Racing Reference Retrieved December 27 2016 Neil Bonnett 1984 IROC Results Racing Reference Retrieved December 27 2016 External links EditNeil Bonnett at Find a Grave Neil Bonnett driver statistics at Racing Reference Neil Bonnett at the International Motorsports Hall of Fame Video of Bonnett s fatal wreck on YouTubePreceded byJ D McDuffie NASCAR Sprint Cup Series fatal accidents1994 Succeeded byRodney Orr Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Neil Bonnett amp oldid 1113087524, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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