For the second year in a row, the stars of yesteryear will be present for the CARS Tour Throwback 276 at Hickory Motor Speedway.
The sanctioning body has revealed the list of legendary luminaries that will take part in a Q&A and autograph session before the Super Late Model and Late Model Stock doubleheader that features retro liveries.
Here’s the list of legends that will take part in the two-day event on August 3 and 4:
NASCAR Hall of Famer Bobby Allison, brother Donnie Allison, 1987 NASCAR Dash Champion Hut Stricklin, two-time Busch Series champion Randy Lajoie, former NASCAR star Robert Pressley, and recently inducted NASCAR Hall of Famer Ron Hornaday.
Fans will get to meet with these legends on race day during the on-track Fan Fest autograph session beginning at 6 p.m. In addition, both Super Late Models and Late Model Stock drivers will be stationed at their cars on the frontstretch to do the same.
Once the autograph session is complete, fans will be treated to stories from the past with the “Lookback with the Legends” session as the group reflects on the history of stock car racing with announcer Tony Stevens.
Here’s everything you need to know about the legends:
- Bobby Allison: 718 NASCAR Cup starts with 84 series wins, 43 Xfinity starts with 15 series wins. 1983 Winston Cup Champion. Three time (1978, 1982, 1988) Daytona 500 winner. 1980 IROC Series champion. Seven time Winston Cup Series Most Popular Driver award winner. 2011 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee and named one of NASCAR’s top 50 best all drivers of all time. Allison made 17 starts at Hickory Motor Speedway, winning twice (1972 Grand National East Hickory 276 and 1974
- Donnie Allison: 242 NASCAR Cup starts with 10 series wins, 20 Xfinity starts. 1967 Grand National Rookie of the Year. A member of the “Alabama Gang”, Allison possibly is most remembered for his involvement in a final-lap crash and a subsequent fist-fight with Cale Yarborough in the 1979 Daytona 500.
- Hut Stricklin: 328 NASCAR Cup starts, 54 Xfinity starts. 1987 NASCAR Dash Series Champion. Stricklin is considered the last member of the “Alabama Gang”. Donnie Allison is Stricklin’s father in law, and his son Taylor is a part time competitor on the CARS Super Late Model Tour over the past few seasons.
- Robert Pressley: 205 NASCAR Cup starts, 244 Xfinity Starts with 10 series wins, 69 NASCAR Trucks starts with 2 series wins. Former track champion at Greenville-Pickens Speedway and the now defunct New Asheville Speedway. Multi time Late Model winner at Hickory. Son of two time Hickory Motor Speedway track champion Bob Pressley.
- Randy Lajoie: 44 NASCAR Cup starts, 350 Xfinity Starts with 15 series wins, 1996 and 1997 Busch Series champion. 1985 Busch North Tour champion. Inducted to the New England Auto Racers Hall of Fame. Son, Corey LaJoie, currently competes in the NASCAR Cup series for Tri Star Motorsports.
- Ron Hornaday Jr.: 46 NASCAR Cup starts, 184 Xfinity Starts with 4 series wins, 360 NASCAR Truck Series starts with 51 series wins. Four time (1996, 1998, 2007, 2008) NASCAR Truck Series champion. Hornaday Jr’s 51 wins are the most all time in the Truck Series. Was voted 1997 and 2005 Truck Series Most Popular driver. Received the same award in the Xfinity Series in 2000. Was inducted to the NASCAR Hall of Fame as part of the 2018 class of inductees.
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Matt Weaver is the owner and founder of Short Track Scene. Weaver grew up in the sport, having raced himself before becoming a reporter in college at the University of South Alabama. He also has extensive experience covering NASCAR, IndyCar and Dirt Sprint Cars.