That dream became a reality for Davey on April 22, 1979.  His first car was a Chevy Nova and it was built from the ground up by Davey and the members of the "PeachFuzz Gang".  They set out to conquer the world.  Davey's very first win came on May 5th, 1979 at Birmingham International Raceway.

 

Records show that after his first six feature races at Birmingham International Raceway Davey had one win, three second place finishes, one third, and one fifth.  Davey's ARCA days were just around the corner.  He went on to win eight ARCA races in his career - four at Talladega, two at Atlanta, and one each on the short tracks at Macon and Indianapolis.

 

Davey won his first Winston Cup event in 1987.  He was Talladega's all-time leading winner with eight wins in ARCA, IROC, and Winston Cup.  He won nineteen Winston Cup races, and finished third in the Winston Cup points race in 1991 and 1992.  Davey Allison died as a result of a helicopter crash at Talladega Superspeedway on July 13, 1993.

 

I remember that day very well.  I was at work when I received a phone call from a friend telling me there had been an accident involving Davey and a friend and that it didn't look good.  She said Davey and his friend (which I found out was Red Farmer) were going to Talladega to watch David Bonnett practice his car.  My friend didn't know the extent of Davey's injuries.  I lost it right there at work.  I went into hysterics. 

 

I have been a Davey Allison fan ever since I attended my first Winston Cup race at Talladega in 1987 and being from Alabama myself it just seemed natural for me to pull for Davey.  I didn't pull for anyone else.  Just Davey.

And now this news was so devastating to me.  I had hoped this was some kind of cruel joke my friend was playing on me - she knew how much Davey

meant to me. 

 

I was so upset I had to leave work but first I had to compose myself enough to be able to drive.  Before I left work, I called my husband to see if he had heard anything about the accident and he confirmed the news  - IT WAS TRUE.  He'd hoped I hadn't found out while I was at work because he knew

how CRUSHED I would be.

 

All the way home, stories flooded the radio stations.  Then they played Davey's favorite song "Ships That Don't Come In" by Joe Diffie and I lost

it all over again.  I got home (somehow) and I followed every news story I could hoping to find out anything about Davey's condition.  I was grasping for anything in hopes Davey's precious life be spared.  On July 13th, 1993 my

worst nightmare came true ... I lost my hero. 

 

 

Ya know, you watch these guys week in and week out and they become part of your family.  Davey became part of mine and I was so devastated I could not eat, or sleep for nearly a week.  Every time I would hear his name or see his picture, the tears would flow all over again.  

 

 

I had to take down all my pictures because it hurt too bad to be able to look at them.  I finally came to terms with his death and the pictures have went back up and they will NEVER come down again !!!   I even named my only son after him. 

 

 

It took me forever to even be able to watch a race again.  I almost gave up Nascar for good. But I realized Davey wouldn't want me to give up the sport

I love. 

 

 

 I still think about WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN and the IF ONLYS and it still hurts .... even today.  He had such a bright future ahead of him, but God had a greater plan for Davey.  I just look forward to the day I can meet my heroes and tell them ALL how much they meant to me. 

 

 

Davey made me proud to be his fan.  That awesome smile of his ... it could light up an entire room. 

 

 

Thank you, Davey, for all the great memories you gave me as a fan.