Meet Liz Allison, Today’s FACE of Nashville
Find out how over the past 30 years Nashville's Liz Allison has transformed her grief over her husband's death and her passion for racing into her own extraordinary career in media and motorsports. You will be inspired reading this!
Leading lady of motorsports Liz Allison started on the sidelines, a young wife watching her husband Davey Allison win big-time NASCAR races. In his nine-year career, he had 92 top-10 finishes and 19 trips to victory lane, the sweetest of all at the Daytona 500. But on July 13, 1993, the racing world was shocked when he tragically died in a helicopter crash — as its pilot. Liz was left with a one-year-old, a three-year-old, and excruciating grief. In the nearly 30 years since, she has transformed her grief and passion for racing into her own extraordinary career in media and motorsports.
Liz has covered NASCAR as a pit road reporter and feature reporter; appeared on national television shows including The Today Show and Fox & Friends; served as announcer and host for the Nashville Super Speedway; published 13 books on the sport, and hosted the #1 NASCAR radio show in Nashville. Most recently, she’s moved into a new role as Director of Partnerships, Client Services, and Special Events for Big Machine Music City Grand Prix — coming to Nashville August 5-7, 2022!
We caught up with Liz to hear what she’s up to now and a few things she’s learned along the way. Meet our newest FACE of the South, Liz Allison.
How did you become interested in racing?
I did not know anything about racing before I met my late husband, Davey. He was already racing when I met him. It did not take long before I became a fan. The high energy and excitement of being at the track was intoxicating.
It’s been said that “the more you love, the more you grieve.” What did you learn about grief following your husband’s untimely and early death?
Grief is its own animal. It affects everyone differently. For me, I spent a lot of time trying to outrun it. And I can tell you — if I could have, I would have. I didn’t want to suffer. But grief doesn’t work that way, at least not for me. I finally had to look it in the face and feel the pain.
Time heals, but you never forget.
What’s it like to be a woman in motorsports? You’ve been known to say that you’re both “all girl” and a “racer at heart.”
Many people still look at racing as a male sport, but I’m such a girly girl, and I’ve been in this business for over 25 years! So many women do work in motorsports now. There was a time when women weren’t even allowed in the pits — it’s hilarious to think this was the case. Things started changing in the late ’70s. Now you see women at all levels in motorsports.
What are some highlights we can look forward to at the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix?
The Big Machine Music City Grand Prix is a weekend of motorsports and music in a festival-like atmosphere. It’s high energy, incredibly exciting, and so unique in that we are turning the streets of Nashville into a race course.
The biggest highlights include IndyCars racing over the Korean War Veterans Memorial Bridge at speeds of 200 miles per hour and, of course, the concerts —Tim McGraw, Brantley Gilbert, Carly Pearce, Midland, and Deana Carter (my fave) are all a part of the incredible lineup of artists we have this year.
How long have you been on the team to bring this racing event to Nashville? What has been the most exciting part of your job, and what has been the most challenging?
I joined the team in January of 2021. I met Matt Crews, CEO of our event, in 1993 while we both were involved in NASCAR. Our paths continued to cross with different projects. When the opportunity presented itself to join him on this project, I jumped at the chance.
The most exciting part of my job is creating experiences for our guests. I want everyone who enters the gates of our event to have an above-and-beyond experience. I put my race-fan hat on every time I start developing a plan for one of our hospitality experiences. The hardest part of my job is managing my own expectations. Real-ville is that some people won’t be happy no matter what you do. I take it to heart if someone is not happy.
As women often are, you’re a self-proclaimed perfectionist. We hear you “schedule a crash and burn” after getting through a big event like the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix. What does that look like for you?
My “crash and burn” after a big event can be slow and graceful or fast and ugly. It’s inevitable — you have to come down after weeks of adrenaline and very little sleep. I tell the college interns that work for me to “prepare yourself for the event flu.” If you’ve done your job, you’re probably going to crash on the other side. Now I know it’s coming, I don’t let it scare me.
I do look forward to getting back into good habits — eating right, exercising, and getting enough sleep. Right after the Grand Prix this year, I’m going to the beach and doing nothing! I haven’t had a vacation in a year.
What’s the best life advice you would offer?
Love what you do!
What are three things you can’t live without? (Apart from faith, family, and friends …)
Right now, with all the stress, my number one is Meiomi Pinot Noir! Number two is my laptop, and number three is my dogs, Boomer and Summer. Summer is the sweetest girl — a golden doodle who follows me around everywhere. Boomer is a teeny little guy — a Bichon poodle — who’s the mayor of our neighborhood. Maybe I should have said they were number one? Nah, I’ve gotta say it’s my Pinot Noir. Just for right now.
Good luck with the event, Liz, and thanks for helping bring it to Nashville!
All photography was provided by Liz Allison.
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Read more interviews with our inspirational FACES in our archives!
Liza Graves
As CEO of StyleBlueprint, Liza also regularly writes for SB. Most of her writing is now found in the recipe archives as cooking is her stress relief!