Loy Allen Jr.

Loy Allen Jr. (born April 7, 1966) is an American former professional NASCAR Winston Cup, Busch, and ARCA series race car driver, turned real estate developer and Embry-Riddle-trained commercial pilot. On February 12, 1994, he became the youngest and first rookie in NASCAR Winston Cup history to win the Daytona 500 pole.

Racing career

Early racing days

1971–1993: Allen began racing go karts at the age of five in Raleigh, North Carolina. He continued to progress his way up through each racing circuit level. By the age of sixteen, he had won several World Karting Association Championships and had already graduated to racing dirt late model cars. He also earned his Commercial Pilot’s license from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, as his passion for aviation paralleled his passion for racing.

Winston Cup career

1993: Allen made his Winston Cup debut at Daytona International Speedway on July 3. He drove the No. 37 Naturally Fresh Ford, a former Robert Yates Race Car, starting in fortieth position, finishing in 29th. He went on to compete at Talladega Superspeedway on July 25, where he placed 26th in the No. 37 Naturally Fresh Ford. Following that race, he joined the TriStar Motorsports Team in October at Phoenix Raceway Slick 50 500. He drove the No. 68 Country Time Ford, finishing 26th.

1994: After winning eight poles in fifteen starts and a race at Atlanta Motor Speedway in the ARCA Series, Allen continued on driving for TriStar Motorsports Team in the No. 19 Hooters Ford. It was at the season-opening Daytona 500 that he became the second-youngest and first Rookie in Winston Cup history to win the Daytona 500 pole at the age of 27, behind a 26 year old Ricky Rudd in 1983. He would go on to finish 22nd in the race. In May, he finished seventh at the Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte. He went on to finish fifteenth in the Budweiser 500 at Dover International Speedway in June and finished seventeenth in the Miller 500 at Pocono Raceway. In July, at Daytona, he missed the pole by hundredths of a second, as the late Winston Cup race car driver, Dale Earnhardt claimed the top spot. Allen had no wins and no top-tens, had an average finish of 28.8 and finished 39th in the standings while having seven DNFs. However, he had three poles on the season at Daytona, Atlanta, and Michigan despite not qualifying for twelve races.

1995: Allen signed with Junior Johnson Motorsports Team in the Hooters No. 27 Ford. He finished 17th at Daytona and 18th at Darlington, but failed to qualify at Atlanta (where he was on pole the year before), and sat 34th in the Winston Cup points. He was replaced by Hut Stricklin at Bristol. He returned to TriStar Motorsports, attempting nine races and qualifying for seven. In their first race at Talladega, he qualified second, and finished in tenth, his career-high Winston Cup finish. That summer, he also attempted Indianapolis and Michigan for Sadler Brothers Racing, but missed both races.

1996: In the second race of the season at Rockingham Speedway, Allen suffered a neck injury that put him out of commission for several races. He recovered and returned to Pocono International Raceway in June finishing 23rd, followed by 21st at Talladega Superspeedway.

1997: Allen continued racing with the TriStar Motorsports Team. He finished 26th at Daytona International Speedway, and 43rd at Rockingham Speedway.

1999: After a two-year hiatus, Allen qualified for races at Michigan and Daytona.

Busch Series career

Allen made four appearances in the NASCAR Busch Series during his career, with one top-ten finish at Charlotte.

1995: At Charlotte Motor Speedway in May, Allen qualified 21st in the No. 19 Chevrolet. A multi-car crash on lap 27 led to time spent in the garage, resulting in a 43rd place finish.

1997: Allen started the inaugural race at California in the No. 48 UniFirst Ford Thunderbird, replacing Randy Porter. He started 42nd and finished 35th.

1998: Allen finished seventh place at Talladega Superspeedway in the No. 78 Church's Chicken Chevy—his career-high Busch Series finish.

Motorsports career results

NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings. * – Most laps led.)

Winston Cup Series

Daytona 500

Busch Series

ARCA Bondo/Mar-Hyde Series

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

See also

• List of Daytona 500 pole position winners
• List of people from Raleigh, North Carolina

External links

• driver statistics at Racing-Reference