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Bobby Allison, whose life in NASCAR included both grand triumphs and unspeakable heartbreak, died Saturday, NASCAR announced. He was 86.

Through NASCAR, Allison became a champion driver and a Hall of Famer. But the sport also robbed him of his two sons, who died in tragic accidents less than one year apart.

He was a member of the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s second class, which placed him among the top 10 legends in the sport’s history.

As the leader of the so-called “Alabama Gang” – a group of drivers from Hueytown, Alabama – Allison was part of a talented racing family. His sons, Davey and Clifford, both raced. So did his brother, Donnie.

Bobby, though, did most of the winning. He won three Daytona 500s, the 1983 Cup championship and 85 NASCAR Cup Series races, including a 1971 race at Bowman-Gray Stadium that was awarded to him in October. He ranks fourth on NASCAR’s all-time wins list.

Though he was already an established winner well into the late 1970s, Allison – and NASCAR – burst onto the national scene together in the 1979 Daytona 500.

On the final lap of the race, Cale Yarborough and Allison’s brother, Donnie, crashed while racing for the lead. Richard Petty won the race instead, and Yarborough began arguing with Donnie Allison.

Bobby stopped his car on the infield grass near the accident scene and promptly attacked Yarborough.