The first two drivers I want to discuss are Davey Allison and Alan Kulwicki.
Davey Allison came from the Alabama Gang. He took the NASCAR world by storm in 1987 when he won at Talladega in his rookie season. Ironically, that race was shortened after his father, Bobby Allison took a wicked ride at 230 mph flying into the fence at the trioval. Thankfully, no one was hurt, but it's the reason that there are restrictor plates at Daytona and Talladega today. But he made history at Dover when he became the first rookie to become a two time winner, which stood until 1999 when Tony Stewart won 3 races in his rookie season. He was a very well liked southern boy, and in 1992, went through probably the biggest roller coaster of a season anyone could have. He started off by winning the Daytona 500. At Pocono in July, he spun on the Long Pond straightaway and barrelrolled multiple times over the guard rail and landed in the infield, badly hurt. He never missed a race, and at the final race at Atlanta in November, walked in with the points lead, with 5 other guys having a legitimate chance at the title (and this was way before the Chase for the Cup) All he had to do was finish 5th, which, despite receiving some damage early on from behind, he did, until Ernie Irvan (ironically, he would drive Davey's car a little less than a year later) spun in front of him and collected him. Davey's steering was broken, and in the interview after he got out of the Infield care center, despite the situation, he handled himself with total class and optomism. Unfortunately, on July 11, 1993, he would lose his life after losing control of his helicopter at Talladega Superspeedway.
Alan Kulwicki can be summed up in one word: underdog. He was Rookie of the Year in 1985, and won his first race at Phoenix in 1988. That race, he turned what would be famously known as the Polish victory lap, where he turned his car around and went around the track the wrong way, with the driver side in full view of the fans to wave to them. In 1990, Alan Kulwicki declined all offers to drive for other people, including Junior Johnson, and instead, started up his own team. Everyone thought that Kulwicki was committing career suicide, but in 1992, Kulwicki had two wins, and had picked up sponsorship from Hooter's. With 6 races to go, Kulwicki crashed at Dover, all but dashing his hopes for the championship, 278 points behind Davey Allison. However, he made up the difference heading to Atlanta, and was only a few points behind Davey Allison. After Davey Allison was knocked out in a crash, he and Bill Elliott, the other championship contender, fiercely contested the lead lap after lap. The championship would be decided between the two by whoever led the most laps. After a spash and go with 20 laps to go, Alan Kulwicki let Bill Elliott go to win the race, while Kulwicki finished second. Bill Elliott had led 102 laps and won the race, but Alan Kulwicki finished second, leading 103 laps, and giving him the 1992 Winston Cup championship, in the(ironically titled) Hooter's 500. Again, he performed the Polish victory lap, and would aptly name the Ford Thunderbird he drove that day the Underbird, epitomizing his struggle in the NASCAR Winston Cup series, and becoming the last owner/driver to win the title. Unfortunately, he would die in a plane crash just short of Bristol Motor Speedway on April 1, 1993.
In the 1993 Hooters 500, Rusty Wallace and Dale Earnhardt battled for the championship. Rusty Wallace would dominate the race, but Dale Earnhardt would win the title after finishing 10th. Both Rusty Wallace and Dale Earnhardt after the race was over, performed Polish victory laps side by side, Rusty carrying the flag of Davey Allison, and Dale Earnhardt carrying the flag of Alan Kulwicki, a very fitting tribute to two great racers who would have changed the face of NASCAR today.
