NASCAR Cup Series

Remembering the late Clifford Allison

Published Aug. 13, 2014 11:45 a.m. ET

Tom Jensen

August 13 marks two sad anniversaries in NASCAR: the death of Tim Richmond in 1989 and the passing of Clifford Allison three years later.

Clifford was born in Hueytown, Alabama, on Oct. 20, 1964. He was the son of Bobby and Judy Allison, the brother of Davey Allison and the nephew of Donnie Allison.

By today's standards, Clifford got a late start in his driving career, competing in his first ARCA race when he was 23 years old.

After running just eight races in what was then known as the NASCAR Busch Series in 1990-91, Clifford competed in 14 of the first 19 events in '92, with a best finish of ninth at Dover, where he drove an Oldsmobile owned by Barry Owen.

Clifford died August 13, 1992, when he spun in Turn 4 at Michigan International Speedway and hit the outside wall driver's-side first. His older brother, Davey, would perish in a helicopter crash less than a year later.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Allison family on this day.