LEBANON, Pa.: Bobby Allen walked from the front of the Shark Racing trailer toward the open door and sat down in a chair. He waved and asked, “How are you doing” with that trademark friendly grin across his face.
I stopped. Who wouldn’t? We talked for roughly 15-to-20 minutes, and it was typical Bobby Allen. He talked about the business of his team, showing me his list of questions concerning racing with High Limit and the World of Outlaws.
But there was more to it than that. He was engaging with a quick wit and a couple of funny anecdotes. There was no complaining or angst. It was pleasant and informative … again, typical of a visit with this Sprint Car icon.
I reflected on that meeting before the National Open program at Williams Grove Speedway when I heard the news that Allen passed on Sunday evening. It encompassed everything I knew about the man people in the dirt-track community called, “Scruffy.”
Allen was acutely aware of the business side of Sprint Car racing. The dollars and cents to make ends meet. He was also engaging, pleasant, and funny. And it didn’t matter how his car was running or the tenor of the season. Allen, regardless of the situation, never felt sorry for himself and was always looking ahead.
I’m not saying his accomplishments behind the wheel or how much he helped Logan Schuchart and Jacob Allen in their racing careers doesn’t matter. It’s just not what stuck out the most to me … something I will get to a little later.
For perspective on how good Allen was as a driver, let’s look at his accomplishments and the time period in which he achieved them. The 30 World of Outlaws victories might look a little pedestrian, but he didn’t run full time, and when Allen showed up, he had to compete against Steve Kinser, Sammy Swindell and-or Doug Wolfgang … the Big Three in the sport who are on most fans’ Mt. Rushmore.
That’s not taking into consideration Dave Blaney, Bobby Davis Jr., Danny Lasoski, Mark Kinser, Keith Kauffman, Lynn Paxton, Steve and Stevie Smith … the list of heavy hitters and Hall of Fame drivers was endless.
The most impressive part is how Allen reached such heights. He didn’t have big sponsors or a fat checkbook. The operation was pieced together, and Allen had to scrape and claw to get to the track some nights. And yet, he somehow found a way to make it work against the best in the business.
Then again, I think Allen thrived on being the underdog, at times. It allowed him to fly under the radar, even though he racked up wins in droves.
The 1990 Knoxville Nationals and 1975 National Open jump off the page. So does Allen’s 46 All Star Circuit of Champions victories and series title in 1980. His 111 wins between Lincoln and Williams Grove Speedway, the 25 victories at Hagerstown Speedway — still tops on the track’s all-time win list — and all of the higher-paying wins … there was no one Allen wouldn’t race against or feared.
Growing up, I was a huge Doug Wolfgang fan. The 1985 season was one of the best in history, and the Weikert-Wolfgang combination won everything. I figured 1986 would be much of the same, but some driver from Hanover had other ideas.
I remember the May World of Outlaws swing through the east. Wolfgang beat Allen in the May race before the series headed to Hagerstown. I was ready for another Wolfgang coronation, but Allen beat the best team in the country in a thriller.
Who was this guy?
That was Bobby Allen. But as much as Allen impressed me behind the wheel through my youth, college and adult years, it’s his good nature and how he developed Shark Racing for Logan Schuchart and Jacob Allen … that’s what stood out the most.
Maybe his demeanor toward fans and people, in general, was forged out of his dedication. Allen didn’t have money. There were many nights he slept in a car or truck. Sometimes even a ticket booth at a local racetrack. And yet, he never wavered from his goal of winning races … there was a hunger to succeed.
I think that made him appreciate everything he had and did. There wasn’t a big ego, and he wasn’t the type to big-time someone. Allen was grounded and had a strong affection for fans, fellow competitors, and the sport.
That spilled over to Shark Racing, which was formerly developed in 2008. Logan Schuchart, Allen’s grandson, was the first. Then came Jacob Allen, his son, and the two drivers cut their teeth in the same nature as Allen … a shoestring budget, stretching the dollar, and continuously building.
We’ve all heard of what I call “The Baloney Sandwich Tour.” It was nights sleeping in the trailer, showering at truck stops, and eating baloney sandwiches to make it through their first years with the Outlaws.
And look at Logan Schuchart and Jacob Allen now. One is a star with the World of Outlaws, and the other is a crew chief on a second car that is driven by Ashton Torgerson. Their careers have Bobby Allen written all over it … the appreciation, the work ethic, dedication, the wins … everything.
I said on my SprintCarUnlimited 90 at 9 Monday that I can’t imagine how Logan Schuchart, Jacob Allen and all of Bobby Allen’s family and friends feel. Here is what I do know, my interactions were all positive.
More important, Bobby Allen lived life to the fullest, and he squeezed every ounce of enjoyment out of it. He left a lasting impression on the people who knew him and the thousands who watched him race.
Bobby Allen is a Sprint Car legend, and he will be missed.