Racing around the globe was nothing new for Allan Grice during the late-1980s and a trip to contest NASCAR’s biggest race added to his illustrious brief international career at this point.
After being a dogged privateer in the 1986 European Touring Car Championship alongside ace spanner man Les Small, Grice forged a reputation as a quick, yet uncompromising driver and won a fan in multiple British champion Win Percy.
Grice also won plenty of respect in Australia for his underdog ETCC program, with one such person being Bob Jane.
It was through this relationship, Grice received the opportunity to race at the Coca-Cola 600 courtesy of Jane in an Oldsmobile sponsored by Fosters.
Actually, Grice’s entry was one of two Fosters-backed Oldsmobiles as the second was driven by motorcycle racing convert Graeme Crosby.
Crosby fell short of qualifying for the the race, but Grice placed 36th after recording a 32.745s at 166.282mph.
Grice’s effort finished on lap 151 following differential failure, but his NASCAR adventure wasn’t over.
Grice returned in 1989 for a second attempt on the race in a Pontiac again featuring support from Fosters.
Qualifying in 32nd after setting a 32.134s at 168.046mph, Grice went onto score 34th after an engine problem.
A final return was made in 1991 when Grice was invited to race by the RahMoc Engineering, but this last trip proved a disaster.
Grice was testing the Oldsmobile at Charlotte when he adjusted his seat and lost the steering wheel, writing the chassis off at Turn 3.
This ended his NASCAR career and Grice very rarely ventured overseas after also enjoying a relationship with Nissan during 1988 thanks to Percy.