A member of the famed Alabama Gang, Neil Bonnett won 18 Winston Cup races and became a popular television commentator after a devastating 1990 crash at Darlington nearly ended his career. His easy humor and storytelling made him one of the sport's most beloved figures both in and out of the car.
Bonnett was attempting a comeback in 1994 when his car slammed into the Turn 4 wall during practice for the Daytona 500. He died at Halifax Medical Center. His death, coming during the same Speedweeks as Rodney Orr's fatal practice crash, deepened NASCAR's grief and its focus on driver safety.
At a Glance
- Born: July 30, 1946, Hueytown, Alabama
- Died: February 11, 1994, Daytona Beach, Florida
- Age: 47
- Cause of death: Head injuries from a practice crash at Daytona International Speedway
Final Resting Place
Forest Grove Memorial Gardens, Pleasant Grove, Alabama.
From the Book
This profile is adapted from Legends at Rest: NASCAR Legends by Howard Wear.
Portrait: from the Legends at Rest: NASCAR Legends book files.