ALLISON HONORED AS TOP DRIVER

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, January 11, 1993                   TAG: 9301110088
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: From Knight-Ridder/Tribune and staff reports
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short
ALLISON HONORED AS TOP DRIVER
Davey Allison, who overcame injuries and heartbreak for a splendid NASCAR Winston Cup Series season, will be honored as the National Motorsports Press Association's driver of the year today.
Allison, 30, was chosen in balloting by the association, which is holding its annual convention in Charlotte, N.C.
Davey, the son of driver Bobby Allison, is to be presented the Richard Petty Award in a ceremony this morning. The trophy is named for the retired NASCAR victory leader.
The younger Allison, who won the season-opening Daytona 500 in 1992, led the Winston Cup standings most of the season but fell to third place behind champion Alan Kulwicki and Bill Elliott when a crash took him out in the season finale, the Hooters 500 at Atlanta.
Allison won five regular-season races with the Robert Yates Racing team, led by crew chief Larry McReynolds. He also drove his Ford to The Winston all-star victory at Charlotte Motor Speedway. He had 15 top-five finishes and 17 in the top 10, earning $1,955,628.
Allison surmounted obstacles no other driver likely has faced.
Allison suffered injuries in crashes at Bristol, Tenn., in April, at Charlotte in May moments after taking the checkered flag in The Winston, and in an 11-flip wreck at Pocono (Pa.) in July.
In August, his younger brother, Clifford, was killed in a crash while practicing for a Grand National event at Michigan International Speedway. In April, Allison lost his grandfather, Edmond "Pop" Allison, who had encouraged and nurtured his career.
Keywords:
AUTO RACING

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB