A member of NASCAR’s famed “Alabama Gang,” Bonnett proved every bit up to the task of keeping pace with friends Bobby and Donnie Allison and Red Farmer.
He got his start in the sport working on Bobby Allison’s cars. His hard work would be rewarded with a chance to driver for the legendary Harry Hyde and Wood Brothers Racing teams.
Bonnett scored the first of his 18 Cup wins at Richmond (Va.) Raceway in 1977, competing in only an abbreviated season. In fact, part of what makes Bonnett’s statistics so impressive is that he only competed in five fulltime season in a 20- year driving career.
He claimed many high-profile victories, including back-to-back Coca-Cola 600s (1982-83), and wins at tracks such as Daytona, Talladega, Rockingham and North Wilkesboro.
In between his racing duties, Bonnett was a popular choice to represent his sport in primetime. He appeared in the 1983 movie Stroker Ace and the 1990 film, Days of Thunder. And he did race television race commentary for CBS, TBS and TNN.
Bonnett was killed in an incident during practice for the 1994 Daytona 500.
