LIZ ALLISON has been involved in racing for more than 20 years.
Liz was married to racing superstar Davey Allison. In his short NASCAR Winston Cup career, Davey Allison posted 19 wins, 66 top-five and 92 top-ten finishes. Best known as the driver of the Robert Yates Racing #28 Texaco-Havoline Ford, Davey was the eldest of four children born to NASCAR driver Bobby Allison and wife Judy. The family moved to Hueytown, Alabama and along with Bobby's brother Donnie Allison, family friend Red Farmer, and Neil Bonnett, they became known in racing circles as the Alabama Gang.
On Monday, July 12, 1993, Davey Allison boarded his newly acquired Hughes 369HS helicopter to fly to Talladega Superspeedway to watch family friend Neil Bonnett and his son David test a car for David's Busch Series debut. He picked up another family friend, legendary racer Red Farmer, en route to the track. Allison was attempting to land the helicopter inside a fenced-in area of the track infield when the craft nosed up suddenly, then crashed. Davey died the next morning, leaving behind his wife Liz, his two young children, daughter, Krista and son, Robbie, and thousands of adoring fans.
Since then, Liz has been a veteran of the speedway and covered the sport via radio and television. After spending more than twenty years in the sport, Liz is proud to say she still loves motorsports as much today as she did as a young driver's wife back in 1988.
Liz re-married physical therapist Ryan Hackett in May, 2000. Now living in Nashville, the Hacketts also have a six year old daughter, Bella.
In addition to being a recognized motorsports media personality, Liz is also a popular author. She has written everything from NASCAR-themed Harlequin romance novels to the best-selling "The Girl's Guide to NASCAR". Her latest book, "The Ultimate NASCAR Insider's Track Guide" was released in January.
She has maximized her personal connections with NASCAR insiders to determine what NASCAR fans really want to know when visiting the tracks, and gives practical answers to the most frequently asked questions, including: What to do in a medical emergency, and area hospitals with emergency care, -- Area attractions beyond the track, -- Where to find veterinary services for the furry four-legged members of your family, and much more! From dining, to shopping, to lodging, not to mention what to wear and pack (and what not to) this is a practical guide that no NASCAR fan should be without.
We caught up with Liz to find out the scoop on the Insider’s Track Guide, and learn more about one of motorsports’ favorite personalities.
Congratulations on your newest book, “The Ultimate NASCAR Insider’s Track Guide”. It is a thorough, comprehensive guide packed with insider tips from bathroom locations, to track specifications to nearby shopping, restaurants and hotel suggestions.
Thank you. This was the most difficult book I have worked on. I told my editor, I will never do another guide like that again! This was my eleventh book, and I really feel like I birthed an elephant!
It was important that the guide be comprehensive, but the biggest challenge was keeping up with the constantly changing information. It was a task to stay on top of all the changes, we finally had to draw a line and say “that’s it, we have to go print”.
You really brought a mother’s perspective to the book and give great insider tips.
I’m a mom first, so that’s always what is working in the back of my mind is what works for me. You know when Robbie and Krista were young, we didn’t have it made like the drivers’ wives do now. We didn’t have the million dollar motorcoaches back then. We were just doing the hardcore things hanging out in the back of the car and putting ear plugs in the kid’s ears.
I have a six year old now also that loves to go the track with my older children Robbie and Krista, my husband and myself. I know what works for me and I enjoy passing that information along. Kids love racing, it’s exciting. And families love going to the track together so it’s helpful to have all that useful information in one guidebook.
How long did it take you to put this guide together?
It took me almost two years to write this book! It only took six weeks to write the “Girls Guide to NASCAR”; the first book in this series, so you can see that it was quite an undertaking.
I write both fiction and non-fiction. Fiction is so easy because you just tell a story and go. With the “Girls Guide to NASCAR”, and the “Girls Guide to Winning a NASCAR Driver”, there’s so much of my personality that can come into the pages, but this Insider’s Track Guide was a completely different project.
You had so much in depth information, including specs and little-known historical tidbits, like Jimmy Carter selling tickets at Atlanta Motor Speedway many years ago.
I learned a lot about the tracks, I love the history of the tracks because I am such a history buff anyway. That was probably the most fun part of writing the book. I really love the old tracks like Darlington and even tracks that aren’t on the circuit anymore like Rockingham and North Wilkesboro. They are very special. That was the most fun for me, I enjoyed researching the history.
You wear so many hats, which do you prefer, writing TV or Radio.
It’s funny because it changes. When I started with television, I loved television. Then I started radio and I was still doing TV at the same time, I thought “Gee, I really like radio, this is a sweet gig”. Then I got really heavy into writing and I really loved that too. I can honestly say that I love all aspects of covering the sport because I love the sport so much. I am a race fan true and true. Whatever I’m doing, whether it’s TV, radio or writing, I’m doing what I love … it’s always all about NASCAR.
You are very involved with OUR KIDS charity, a special charity providing help and hope for children and their families struggling from sexual abuse.
Yes, OUR KIDS is a wonderful, special place. I know some people are questioning how it can be so special when they are dealing with families coping with the difficult task of child sexual abuse. The thing is that it’s real; we can’t act like sexual abuse doesn’t exist. OUR KIDs provides so much for these families including expert medical and crisis counseling. These are amazing people on call, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every single day of the year. It is amazing to see what they do. I just fell in love with their outreach and their ministry.
I started an event a few years ago called “Drive for our Kids”, a fundraising event at Nashville Superspeedway We raised over $200,000 The NASCAR world really embraced it, it was great to see so many drivers get involved. It’s been wonderful to see the community come together in that way. Anything that I am doing, you’ve got to know that racing is going to be a part of it! It’s been an exciting opportunity to give back. I have been blessed by being part of the organization; they have taught me a lot of lessons about giving back and life in general.
Do you think your children will get involved in racing?
Robby is 18 now. He did a little racing when he was 12. Like a true Allison he went out and crashed his first night and had to go to the hospital! He was in the emergency room with this halo around his head because they were unsure of his injuries at the time. It occurred to him at a tender young age of 12, that he really didn’t think this was at the root of what he wanted to do. Of course, as a Mom I kept thinking “Oh dear please don’t tell me that we’re going to be doing this for the next X number of years.” Of course I would have supported him had he chosen differently but I am happy that he came to that decision on his own.
Krista loves the sport. She is my 20 my year old and swears that she needs to be the driver in the family. I am happy that they understand and love the sport that their Daddy was such a part of. I can’t honestly say that I would be happy if my children wanted to drive a race car for a living, though. Robby is happy to be Robby and doesn’t feel the pressure or the need to follow in his Daddy’s footsteps or his Grandfather’s footsteps.
Krista is doing an internship this summer in the sport. She is a fashion major in college, but she is eager to get an insider’s perspective into the business side of motorsports.
There are so many different things you can do in motorsports besides drive a race car. There are a lot of opportunities for women today; you don’t have to be Danica Patrick.
There are so many women involved in the business of motorsports – look at Lesa France Kennedy. She is a prime example of someone obviously raised in the sport, and has seen every side of it except for being behind the wheel. She is respected for going out into a man’s sport and taking the bull by the horn and making it what you want it to be. I love her as a friend and also have tremendous respect for her as a business woman. She didn’t get there by being born with a silver spoon in her mouth. Her daddy made her work very hard to prove herself capable, and she earned her way to where she is today.
You mention Danica Patrick, but it’s frustrating that rather than serving as role model for other women and young girls eager to compete, she is exploited to appeal to the male fanbase.
“Being a mom of a six year old, I don’t want my six year old looking at Danica Patrick and her sponsors and think that is a good role model. My 20 year old, that’s different. The damage has been done so to speak, she has already formed her opinions and her attitudes on life. But, look at the ARCA numbers, the ratings are up 59% this year. That’s because of Danica.
You have one chance to make a first impression. That first impression is there. Can NASCAR overcome that? Can Danica ever change her image? I can’t speak for Danica, she seems happy in what she is doing. She has a lot of sponsorship dollars wrapped up that enables her to compete but you have to wonder one day when she is a Mom, will that change? Would she still be proud to be doing what she’s doing?
NASCAR has really tried to be a family sport, but they can only control what they can control. They love the pumped up media attention, but there is a price to pay. I’m not sure how it is going to play out.
You have also written a lot of romance novels, and you are headed down to Daytona 500 on Valentine’s Day Weekend. Is that your idea of a perfectly romantic weekend?
“You are talking to somebody who spent her honeymoon at the Darlington Raceway! Growing up, I never expected that I would marry a race car driver and spend my honeymoon at a racetrack and spend every Valentine’s in Daytona. My six year old daughter’s birthday is Valentines’ Day, so that’s all she knows!
There’s so much excitement. This is the official kick off for the season, what’s not to love about it? We all love going. My current husband had nothing to do with the sport initially, but he loves the sport now. Robbie and Krista still love it, it’s fun to go down there as a family.
The whole NASCAR family really is your family.
Especially with the Allisons – all the way across the board, everybody in the family has something to do with racing or have at some point.
It’s so much fun, it doesn’t matter if I am in Phoenix or Talladega or Daytona, when we walk into the garage, it’s like a homecoming! That’s what I am trying to instill in Robbie and Krista. They know that they are around people that love them and loved their dad and love this crazy sport.
Who will you be cheering for this season?
From a media side, I’m supposed to say “Well, I cheer for them all.”
But from a personal perspective, Mark Martin and Davey were the best of friends. Arlene and Mark are very dear friends of mine. Their son, Matt, and Robbie are the same age. So Mark Martin is very near and dear to my heart. I love him personally and what he represents. I will be rooting for him, not just in Daytona but for the entire season. I’d love to see him get the championship that he deserves!
What’s next for you?
I have two more books coming out this year, so I’m staying busy!
Listen to Liz Allison’s entire interview on Track Chic LIVE!
For more information and calendar for upcoming book releases,
please visit www.lizallison.com
COOL NEWS! We've got an APP for the The Ultimate NASCAR Insider's Track Guide.
App Description:
Everything you need to plan your race weekend—at any track on the circuit.
From dining and shopping to lodging and tips for getting driver autographs, this is the app that every NASCAR fan needs. The home screen features an outline of the track layout; click on a car to get to listings of restaurants, hotels, and area attractions. There is a how-to for ticket purchasing, tips on what you can [and can’t] bring in to the grandstands, instructions for using a garage area access pass, and much more.
The app also includes a section on what to do in case of an emergency, whether it’s you or your four-legged friend. All phone numbers will automatically dial when clicked for any establishment listed [iPhone only].
You can even e-mail friends to recommend it and buy other circuits right through the app. Each app includes an overview of the track experience, an area map link, and plenty of helpful advice that will make your weekend at the race a memorable experience.
Links to different speedways for the app:
Las Vegas
Fontana
Atlanta
Bristol
Special thanks to the Hachette Book Group
Images courtesy of lizallison.com
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