Bonnett Enshrined With Other Legends

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Neil Bonnett’s zest for racing carried him to 18 NASCAR Winston Cup victories and made him one of the sport’s most popular broadcasters.

Bonnett was one of four people inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame on Thursday, joining motorcycle and Formula One racer Mike Hailwood, sprint car champion and Indy 500 winner Jimmy Bryan and engine builder Fred Offenhauser. All four were honored posthumously.

Bonnett was a member of the famed Alabama Gang along with Bobby and Donnie Allison and Red Farmer.

“He was the most enthusiastic person at anything he was doing, whether it was short-track racing, big-track racing or later on when he went into race announcing,” said Bobby Allison, who served as presenter for Bonnett. “He worked at it so hard and he wanted to do it the best it could be done.”