I don't know about the first synthetic oils, that statement from Allison may well have been true. A friend whose cousin worked ( maybe still works) for an Xfinity team has told me they use a synthetic oil because of the lower pumping loss, higher temperature without breaking down, and better heat transfer especially for valve springs. Now keep in mind were talking about 30 years difference, and a lot has changed.
Bobby Allison.told us, once." We don't call it cheating, son! Just that at the moment they know a little bit more than we do."