Neil Bonnett(1946-1994)
- Actor
A popular NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver and TV commentator/host,
Neil Bonnett was one of NASCAR racing's famed "Alabama Gang." During
his career, he logged 18 Winston Cup wins for car owners Jim Stacy,
Junior Johnson, Bob Rahilly & Butch Mock, and the famed Wood Brothers
(for whom he scored half of his wins). His last two wins came
back-to-back in 1988 (for RahMoc Racing) at Richmond Fairgrounds and
the North Carolina Motor Speedway in Rockingham.
Bonnett was sidelined during his second stint with the Wood Brothers in 1990 after a crash at Darlington, SC in the spring of that year left him with cracked ribs, a broken sternum, and amnesia. During a three-year recovery, he became a racing color analyst for CBS and TBS sports, and hosted the TNN show "Winners" which profiled various racing celebrities.
He was also asked by longtime friend Dale Earnhardt to help him test some of his Richard Childress Racing Chevrolets. During this time, Neal helped his son, David launch his own racing career. It was his friendship with Earnhardt and Childress that led to his racing comeback. After being cleared to race by NASCAR, Childress gave Bonnett a ride for the 1993 DieHard 500 at Talladega. Bonnett ran well in the race until a spectacular crash sidelined him for the afternoon. He raced once more in 1993 at the season ender in Atlanta, and went into the off-season prepared to run a limited 1994 schedule with car owner James Finch. But on February 11, 1994, during the opening practice for the Daytona 500, Bonnett's car blew a tire and crashed in turn four of the Daytona International Speedway, ending the life and career of one of NASCAR's most popular drivers.
Bonnett was sidelined during his second stint with the Wood Brothers in 1990 after a crash at Darlington, SC in the spring of that year left him with cracked ribs, a broken sternum, and amnesia. During a three-year recovery, he became a racing color analyst for CBS and TBS sports, and hosted the TNN show "Winners" which profiled various racing celebrities.
He was also asked by longtime friend Dale Earnhardt to help him test some of his Richard Childress Racing Chevrolets. During this time, Neal helped his son, David launch his own racing career. It was his friendship with Earnhardt and Childress that led to his racing comeback. After being cleared to race by NASCAR, Childress gave Bonnett a ride for the 1993 DieHard 500 at Talladega. Bonnett ran well in the race until a spectacular crash sidelined him for the afternoon. He raced once more in 1993 at the season ender in Atlanta, and went into the off-season prepared to run a limited 1994 schedule with car owner James Finch. But on February 11, 1994, during the opening practice for the Daytona 500, Bonnett's car blew a tire and crashed in turn four of the Daytona International Speedway, ending the life and career of one of NASCAR's most popular drivers.
