NASCAR legend Donnie Allison to serve as honorary starter at The Rock

The Allison name and Rockingham are intertwined in NASCAR history.

That history will continue on Sunday as NASCAR legend and two-time Rockingham Speedway winner Donnie Allison will wave the green flag to start the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Good Sam Roadside Assistance 200 presented by Cheerwine at the track.

“Rockingham is a great track and it is definitely special to me,” said Allison, who collected his first career NASCAR win at the track in 1968. “It is a great day in racing for NASCAR to be returning to The Rock.”

In addition to his 1968 win, Allison earned his second trip to Rockingham’s victory lane in 1977. Allison is one of only four drivers with wins on both configurations of the track (the track was razed and rebuilt to its current specifications between the spring and fall races in 1969). The other three who can make that claim, David Pearson, Richard Petty and Bobby Allison, are in the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

For his career, Allison made 24 starts at the speedway, leading 786 laps, capturing three poles and 12 top-10 finishes.

In all, Allison combined with his brother Bobby (four) and nephew Davey (one) for seven victories on the one-mile oval.

“Sunday is an historic day for our track,” said Rockingham Speedway President Andy Hillenburg. “What better way to celebrate our legacy and our future than with a true great of our sport serving as starter for the rebirth?”

The 36-truck field is scheduled to take the green flag at 1 p.m. on Sunday, April 15.

The Rock PR