Neil Bonnett, Racing Driver

Neil Bonnett died tragically whilst attempting a practice run for the Daytona 500, at the Daytona International Speedway in Florida USA, on 11 February 1994.  He was 47 years old.  According to eye witnesses, his Chevrolet spun out of control due to a tyre failure, careered up a steep bank, before crashing, almost head on, into a retaining wall.  He suffered severe head injuries and was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital.

He had suffered life-threatening head injuries in a previous crash at the TranSouth 500 at the Darlington Speedway, South Carolina, in 1990, which left him with amnesia and dizziness.  As a result, he retired from racing and turned to a career in television as a race commentator and TV host, but the urge to race never left him.  In 1993 he was cleared to race again, but his comeback attempts were marred by difficulties, including another crash at the Diehard 500 at Telladaga Speedway in 1993, which sent his car airborne, crashing into the spectator fence.  He walked away from that race, unhurt and fit enough to call the rest of the race from the commentary box.

He had secured a ride and sponsorship for at least 6 races in what was to be his final season in 1994.

Neil Bonnett was a popular and aggressive driver.  During his heyday, prior to the 1990 crash, he won 18 WInston Cup races and appeared in the films Stoker Ace, with Burt Reynolds, and Days of Thunder.

This photograph shows Neil Bonnett with RESTORE Engine Restorer & Lubricant and RESTORE Radiator Sealer Conditioner.