Original motorsports photos from historic archives by David Allio
2006 April 28 – Friday: John Force (1 FC) Ford Mustang NHRA Funny Car lights up the night at the start of a qualifying run for the NHRA Powerade Drag Racing Series 6th Annual O’Reilly NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Thunder Valley Dragway in Bristol, Tennessee.
Rights Managed original photography
06tv0274 | ©2006 David Allio
1976 October 16 – Saturday: Wayne Andrews (15) Mercury Cyclone races Harry Gant (77) Chevrolet Nova in the twice-rained-out NASCAR Winston Racing Series Late Model Sportsman National Championship 4th Annual World Service Life 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Rights Managed original photography
cms-101676-0099-b34 | ©1976 David Allio
1986 September 07 – Sunday: Jimmy Spencer (24) Chevrolet Cavalier makes a pit stop on his way to winning the NASCAR Winston Modified Tour Winston 300 at Thompson Speedway in Thompson, Connecticut.
Rights Managed original photography
tho-090786-0389-b14 | ©1986 David Allio
1976 November 14 – Sunday: Brad Teague (3) Chevrolet Chevelle driver awaits the start of the Inaugural Winston 500 NASCAR Winston Racing Series Late Model Sportsman 250-lap National Championship event at Kingsport International Speedway in Kingsport, Tennessee.
Rights Managed original photography
kis-111476-0110-c04 | ©1976 David Allio
1986 February 13 – Thursday: Jack Hewitt (1) Chevrolet Camaro races Johnny Johnson (99) Chevrolet Camaro in the NASCAR Winston Racing Series Late Model Dirt Inaugural Winston Invitational at Volusia County Speedway in Barberville, Florida.
Rights Managed original photography
vcsp-021386-0041-b21 | ©1986 David Allio
FloRacing presents Dirt-on-Dirt Exclusive
Historic images tell story of Allio’s winding journey
by Todd Turner, managing editor
When Todd Turner requested a few minutes for an interview regarding my personal milestone of original photographs from 1000 race tracks, I doubt he knew the result would be a very long feature story – much longer that he bargained for when the original inquiry was made. It is a narrative that Lin and I will cherish as it includes her diligence in scanning 300,000 images from film strips to digital format. Todd did a wonderful job sorting out the pages of notes and hours of quotes.
The Dirt-on-Dirt online feature story also includes a link to a gallery of work beginning with images from 1975. Thank you Todd for sharing the story and photographer Heath Lawson for providing the cover photo.
NOTE: Race track #1000 came at Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Motor Speedway on October 3, 2026. The event was the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series 38th Annual Pittsburgher.
1986 June 20 – Friday: Ernie Irvin (5) Pontiac TransAm races from the pole to the win in the NASCAR Winston Racing Series Late Model Dirt Winston 35 at Tri-County Motor Speedway in Hudson, North Carolina.
Rights Managed original photography
tcsp-062086-0242-b07 | ©1986 David Allio