Neil Bonnett is one of the ten modern-era nominees on the NASCAR Hall of Fame ballot. It is Bonnett’s seventh nomination.
Named one of NASCAR’s 75 greatest drivers during its 75th anniversary celebration in 2023, Bonnett died in a crash at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 11, 1994.
Bonnett was a member of the Alabama Gang. He got his start doing mechanic work on Bobby Allison’s cars in Bonnett’s hometown of Hueytown. Bobby Allison, Donnie Allison, and Red Farmer were the original members of the Alabama Gang, as they became known after they took their driving skills from Hueytown to NASCAR.
The original three members are all enshrined in the NASCAR Hall of Fame, as is Davey Allison, Bobby Allison’s son.
Bonnett raced in 18 NASCAR Cup Series seasons. He won 18 Cup Series races, including back-to-back victories in the World 600 in 1982 and 1983, and posted 83 Top-Five finishes.
Bonnett won at Talladega Superspeedway driving the No. 21 Purolator Mercury for the Wood Brothers Racing in 1980.
The Hall of Fame voting panel will meet on May 19 in Charlotte. Fan voting, which will count as one ballot toward the selection of next year’s class, will run from April 14 to May 17 on NASCAR.
