Neil Bonnett's Death - 25 Years Later (The Hueytown Hustler)

Today marks the 25th anniversary of the passing of Alabama Gang member Neil Bonnett, who was killed during practice for the 1994 Daytona 500 on February 11, 1994. Bonnett from Bessemer, AL, had traded in his pipe-fitter tools for a steering wheel and 200+ MPH worth of stock car. After making about 4 starts between 1974 and 1975, he ran part time in 1976, driving for himself for 13 out of 30 races. In 1977, he drove full time, first for 1970 Grand National owner's champion Nord Krauskopf, then J.D. Stacy, who bought out Krauskopf's team. Bonnett would score two victories, the first at Richmond in the Capital City 400, and then again in the season finale at Ontario in Ontario, California in the Los Angeles Times 500.

In 1978, he drove all the races for the Stacy organization, and was slated to drive all of 1979, when he lost his ride in the Stacy car. At the 3rd race of the year, he drove the #1 Hawaiian Tropic Chevy for Hoss Ellington, then at Darlington for Kennie Childers in the #12 Kencoal Mining Chevy, before landing the ride of the #21 Mercury of the legendary Wood Brothers, when David Pearson left after Darlington. Bonnett then scored three victories, at Dover, Daytona and Atlanta. In 1980, he won twice, at Pocono then a week later at Talladega. In 1981, he won 3 times, the first since '79, winning Darlington in the Southern 500, a week later at Dover and then at Atlanta in the Atlanta Journal 500. After scoring 1 victory in 1982, that being the World 600, Bonnett left the team to join RahMoc Enterprises.

Beginning in 1983, Bonnett won the 1983 World 600, scoring back-to-back victories in the sport's longest race. After running only 1 season with the team, he left to join legendary car owner Junior Johnson, with Warner Hodgdon, who technically owned the #75 he drove at RahMoc, owning the #12 Budweiser Chevrolet beginning in 1984. It wasn't until April 1985 at North Wilkesboro when Bonnett broke a near two year winless streak. He followed it up with a win in October in the Carolina 500 at Rockingham. In 1986, he only won once, in the same race he won the year prior. Following the 1986 season, both Bonnett and 3 time champion Darrell Waltrip left Johnson's organizaton. As Waltrip headed for Hendrick Motorsports, Bonnett went back to RahMoc, this time without the partnership of Warner Hodgdon. He went winless for 1987 but scored twice in 1988, at Richmond in the final Richmond Fairgrounds event, and then at Rockingham in the Goodwrench 500 for his 18th and final Cup victory. After the 1988 season, Bonnett left the RahMoc team once again, to return to the Wood Brothers for 1989 replacing Kyle Petty in the #21 Citgo Ford. In 1990, Bonnett was searching for his first win in 2 years when he was violently hit in a crash that primarily started when Ken Schrader and Ernie Irvan tangled. The crash left Bonnett unresponsive and was riddled with amnesia soon after. As a result, doctors declared Bonnett could not drive at the time.

But to keep himself busy, he would remain around the sport as a color commentator for TNN, TBS and CBS, beginning in 1991. That same year, Bonnett also began hosting his own show, called Winners, that profiled a certain driver and the climb towards success. In 1993, after testing for car owner Richard Childress, best friend Dale Earnhardt and Childress gave Bonnett the chance to make a comeback in the 1993 Diehard 500 at Talladega. That run unfortunately ended when the #31 Mom & Pops Chevy careened into the catchfence, eerily echoing memories of Bobby Allison's wreck from 1987. Bonnett was ok, and not only that, but switched from his racing suit to his commentator suit, and called the rest of the race for CBS with Ken Squier and Ned Jarrett.

During the 1993 season, Bonnett hinted at a part time Winston Cup effort in 1994, to which it was confirmed that he'd be driving for car owner James Finch and Phoenix Racing in the #51 Country Time Chevy, beginning in the Daytona 500. Unfortunately, on February 11, 1994, he was killed during practice for the event when he suddenly lost control of the #51 Lumina and headed for the Turn 3 wall. Bonnett was 47 years old.

RIP Neil Bonnett (July 30, 1946-February 11, 1994)