On this day in Alabama history: Racing’s Neil Bonnett killed in crash

February 11, 1994

Neil Bonnett’s life ended on Feb. 11, 1994, following a crash during a practice run at the Daytona International Speedway. He died just one hour after hitting a wall, suffering massive head injuries. Bonnett was readying for the Daytona 500, which he hadn’t originally planned to enter. Bonnett was in the middle of a limited comeback tour, after suffering a head injury almost three years before. The injury had left him with amnesia for several weeks. As a result, he’d only scheduled four races during 1994. Racing authorities tried to pin the crash on several different reasons. In the end, officials said that a shock mount had broken, which caused Bonnett to lose control of his Country Time Chevrolet on the track’s high-banked fourth turn. Bonnett, who was 47 years old, was buried in Pleasant Grove at Forest Grove Memorial Gardens. A street in his hometown – Allison-Bonnett Memorial Drive – was named in his memory.

Read more at Encyclopedia of Alabama.

Ensley native Neil Bonnett (1946-1994) was a member of the Alabama Gang, popular NASCAR drivers based out of Hueytown, Jefferson County, that included the Allison brothers. Bonnett won 18 NASCAR events before dying during a practice session at Daytona International Speedway. (From Encyclopedia of Alabama, courtesy of the Birmingham News)

The RahMoc Enterprises-owned #75 Chevy, driven by Neil Bonnett, at the 1983 Van Scoy 500. Bonnett finished 7th and led 6 laps. (us44mt, Wikipedia)

NASCAR driver Neil Bonnett, 1985. (Photograph by Ted Van Pelt, Wikipedia)

Alabama Gang members Neil Bonnett, Donnie Allison and Bobby Allison. The Allisons brought a lot of excitement to Talladega in the 1970s. (From Encyclopedia of Alabama, courtesy of the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame)

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