SAN BERNARDINO, California — NASCAR legend Bobby Allison, who will be the Grand Marshal for Orange Show Speedway's 'Grand Opening' celebration Saturday night (Sept. 5), is no stranger to the Inland area’s race tracks.
Allison, whose 84 Winston (Sprint) Cup victories put him third on NASCAR’s all-time win list, holds the record for most Cup race wins at Riverside International Raceway.
Allison had six wins on the 2.62-mile, 8-turn road stock car course, one of three road course configurations used at the track that was an international racing mecca from 1957 until 1988, when it was closed to make room for what is now the Moreno Valley Towngate Mall and adjacent housing and commercial developments.
His status as the winningest Cup driver at the track is something Allison still takes pride in. But making it even more remarkable is the fact Allison got those six wins in five different makes of cars.
The first win came in the Golden State 400 on June 20, 1971, in a Dodge. Two years later, on June 17, 1973, Allison won the Tuborg 400 in a Chevrolet. On Jan. 19, 1975, the one-time leader of the famed Alabama Gang won the Winston Western 500 in an AMC Matador. He drove a Ford to victory in the NAPA 400 on June 10, 1979, then won the Winston Western 500 twice in 1981, on Jan. 11 in a Chevrolet and on Nov. 22 in a Buick.
Riverside had three Cup races that year, the two 500s and the June 400. The track’s January race traditionally opened the Cup season, but the teams regarded it as an unnecessary interruption in their preparations for the Daytona 500. So when the season’s final race became available with the closing of Ontario Motor Speedway in 1980, Riverside president Les Richter agreed to trade the year’s first race for the last.
There was no January race after the 1981 season. Instead, Riverside hosted the season finale through 1987.
Allison, who put the finishing touch on his 1983 Winston Cup championship at Riverside, also won two rounds of the International Race of Champions at the track, giving him eight wins overall, and frequently raced at Orange Show Speedway against Ray Johnstone, Ivan Baldwin and the other stars of the era.
A profile on Allison that appeared in the program for Riverside’s final Cup race on June 12, 1988, is attached for your enjoyment and may be reprinted in whole or in part if so desired.
Allison, 72, will be on hand to sign autographs and chat with racers and fans at Orange Show Speedway Saturday, when the racing action on the ASA-sanctioned quarter-mile oval will be provided by the Lucas Oil SuperClean Modifieds, ASA Late Models, Pony Stocks, Factory Fours and Stock Cars USA.
Spectator gates will open at 4 p.m., with an on-track autograph session from 6 to 6:40 p.m. and the first race at 7 p.m.
Tickets are priced at $10 for general admission, $8 for seniors (60 and older), students 11 to 18 and military personnel with valid identification. Children 10 and under are admitted free. A Family Pack, which includes admission for four plus a hot dog and small soft drink for each person, is priced at $40.
Parking is $5, with entry through Gate 4 off Mill Street.
For information on sponsorship and promotional opportunities, please contact Best in the West Racing by telephone at 909-885-9000 or visit the new web site at www.BestInTheWestRacing.com.
For all other information, please contact Jim Short by telephone at 951-203-2649 or by e-mail at jimshort65@sbcglobal.net.
