Junior Johnson, the NASCAR legend who was never called by his actual name, Robert Glenn Johnson Jr., died Friday at the age of 88. Johnson found out that when he went behind the faster car his speed was increasing because of the faster cars slipstream. Dillon was instrumental in convincing his grandfather, team owner Richard Childress, to bring Busch into the fold at RCR. As luck would have it, he ended up at the wrong place at the wrong time early one morning. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Johnson family. Big enough to knock the motor plum back at my feet in the car. We're deeply saddened that we've lost a true #NASCAR legend. He was an inaugural NASCAR Hall of Famer, a nod to an extraordinary career as both a driver and team owner. Junior Johnson, who retired as an owner in 1995, steered stock-car racing into its big future. Black-ish - Wikipedia In the 1970s and 1980s, he became a NASCAR racing team owner, winning the NASCAR championship with Cale Yarborough and Darrell Waltrip. In an infamous 1965 piece for Esquire magazine headlined, The Last American Hero Is Junior Johnson. Johnson had two sisters and three brothers growing up, plus another brother who died in infancy. Junior Johnson died on Dec. 20, 2019. NASCAR announced the death of Johnson, the winner of 50 races as a driver and 132 as an owner. Junior Johnson Kyle Busch, a two-time winner 10 races into the NASCAR Cup Series season, said communication is good between his team and that of teammate Austin Dillon at Richard Childress Racing. The moonshiner turned racer was a pioneer of the sport and one of its first big stars. Larson was ninth coming out of the Coca Cola 600 in 2022 but rose all the way to second by the penultimate regular-season race. Anyone can read what you share. Charles Williams, retired editor of the Wilkes Journal-Patriot, called Johnson a true angel who loved her family, her church, her community and the many friends she made over the years in racing.. CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Junior Johnson walks out the front door of the beautiful home in the exclusive Quail Hollow neighborhood to which he and his family moved this spring. Although many drivers do obey our hypothesis, Kyle Larson is one of a number who dont. Pole-sitter Kyle Busch is scheduled to lead the field to the green flag at 12:10 p.m. After winning championships in minor categories, he captured his first NASCAR Grand National race at Hickory, N.C., in 1955. I thought Austin did an awesome job with what we had at Martinsville, running 12th there, that was good. (Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images). Winds W at 10 to 20 mph. The driver neither has an Instagram account nor a Twitter account. Pedrosa almost crying before first home MotoGP race since 2018, No change to Formula E Hankook tyre for 2024 despite criticisms, No change to Formula E Hankook tyre for 2024 despite criticisms In several interviews over the years, Johnson said he discovered drafting by reportedly being able to see air moving between his car and the one in front of him, and how the air flow would help pull his car closer, being able to push the car ahead of him and bringing along his own car as well faster and quicker, and also leading to allow Johnsons car to slingshot around and ahead, oftentimes leading to a win. Bobby Isaac drove for Johnson in 1966. Somebody told me this a long time ago, Busch said. Johnson's technique was quickly adopted by other drivers, and his practice of "drafting" has become a common tactic in NASCAR races. [citation needed] Griffith, an American actor and producer from South Carolina, is currently adapting a screenplay based largely on the book, Junior Johnson, Brave In Life, written by Tom Higgins and Steve Waid (Big West Racing, 2006). Only 21 points separate sixth through 12th place. We had a good rivalry with the North Wilkesboro school, she said in the interview. President Ronald Reagan, an auto racing fan, pardoned Johnson for his felony conviction in 1986. It was a perfect time for the emergence of Johnson, who honed his driving skills in wild pre-dawn rides down country roads, with federal revenue agents in futile pursuit, delivering jars of the untaxed whiskey his father produced. Low 52F. The Early Years via New York Times Junior was born in Ronda, North Carolina in 1931 to a long line of Confederates and bootleggers of Scottish descent. Being a driver, Johnson also had a strong muscular body that could control the car. Winds light and variable. He is credited as the first to use the drafting technique in stock car racing. Sunshine and some clouds. If a man needed to change, that was the place to change., Why NASCAR Phenom Hailie Deegan Is Jumping Into A Ford, How NASCAR Can Spice Up Its Schedule Without Moving One Single Thing, DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 1985: Veteran NASCAR driver and car owner Junior Johnson works on [+] an engine in the speedway garage prior to the running of the 1985 Daytona 500 stock car race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. Similarly, he became the winner of another 5 NASCAR Grand National races (adding a victory from the pole position at the Hickory 250 in the year 1959. Please notice the title: Quail Hollow is not a country club. pic.twitter.com/EvNI4EGLBy, Xfinity Racing (@XfinityRacing) December 20, 2019, Sad to hear the passing of Junior Johnson. Six key themes to follow in the 2022 NASCAR Cup season, How NASCAR had to learn a harsh lesson ahead of Next Gen arrival, How NASCAR had to learn a harsh lesson ahead of Next Gen arrival He was just as aggressive on the track. Web1 of 2 Flossie Johnson graces the cover of her dessert cookbook Save the Fork.The former wife of the late Junior Johnson, known far and wide as the First Lady of Maybe Junior looks hungry. Canon In all, his drivers won 132 races, which is fifth to Petty Enterprises, Hendrick Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing and Roush Fenway Racing on the all time list. Cloudy with occasional showers. Although a lifelong Democrat, Johnson was pardoned by Reagan. Photo courtesy of Getty Images Two top-10 and one 11th-place finish moved Elliott from 19th to the top spot by the fifth race. One of the former racing garages at her Ingle Hollow home, which she converted into a meeting hall, was filled twice a year when Flossie hosted a Christmas party and birthday party. WebRobert Glenn Junior Johnson, one of NASCARs earliest star drivers and a legendary figure in the auto racing garage, has died at age 88, according to a tweet from NASCAR. Low 41F. Busch will start on the pole and Dillon in the last starting spot in Sundays Cup Series race at Dover Motor Speedway after qualifying was cancelled Saturday. Johnson, a native of North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, entered hospice care earlier this week with declining health before his passing. But some do. Revenue agents even found four hundred gallons of moonshine from his house. He was such a romantic figure as a driver in the 1950s and 1960s that he fueled national interest in NASCAR, which was then largely just a Southern sport. But there might be a few burros. He appears on behalf of Midnight Moon, the successful and legal moonshine that bears his name. Beneath the desk at which he sits is a bearskin rug. Partly cloudy. Robert, the 2010 UARA Rookie of the Year, planned to run a 2830 race schedule in 2011, which includes the entire K&N East Series schedule and some races in the UARA and Whelen All-American Series.[7]. Local news emailed straight to your inbox, free. Furthermore, the writer Tom Wolfe wrote an article about Johnson in the mid-1960s which was then out in March 1965 in Esquire. He was an inaugural inductee of the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, N.C. Richard Petty, one of Johnsons most celebrated rivals, was once quoted by The Tampa Tribune as calling him the toughest, most stubborn driver he knew. Yes! the late author Tom Wolfe went to North Carolina to describe Johnson and all the fuss around him. The Last American Hero is gone and so leaves a huge dent in NASCAR racing. All men die, but legends live forever. Coming to the social media part, the NASCAR driver is not active on any of the social media platforms. Junior Johnson is one of the last of those sports stars who is not just an ace at the game itself, but a hero a whole people or class of people can identify with, Mr. Wolfe wrote. WebJohnson is survived by his wife, Lisa, his daughter Meredith and son Robert Glenn Johnson III. ET Monday. Actor: Cars 3. He walks his dogs, two Chesapeake Bay retrievers and a Rhodesian Ridgeback. History of Junior Johnson in Timeline - Popular Timelines The movie was critically acclaimed and featured the Jim Croce hit song "I Got A Name". The 'shine is a legal version of his locally famous family recipe and is available in eight varieties that range from 70100 proof. In Johnsons 1st whole season, he was the winner of the 5 races and completed 6th in the NASCAR Grand National points standings in the year 1955. NASCAR Hall of Famer Junior Johnson dies, aged 88 - Motorsport Partly cloudy early with increasing clouds overnight. Between his on-track accomplishments and his introduction of Winston to the sport, few have contributed to the success of NASCAR as Junior has. Robert Glenn Junior Johnson, the moonshine runner turned NASCAR driver described as The Last American Hero by author Tom Wolfe in a 1965 article for Esquire, died Friday. Stage 2 ends at Lap 250. People point, ask for autographs and wonder what he s doing in Charlotte. She had the grandmother effect on many who worked there. That contributed to his finishing the season in 13th place. A few clouds. Junior Johnson (Also mother of race car driver, Junior Johnson.) Junior was one of the first superstars in NASCAR and was one the first innovators within the sport. Some drivers dont move more than one or two places after that. NASCAR announced that the Dover Cup race has been postponed to Monday because of rain. * Most laps led.). From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. NASCAR Legend, Bootlegger, And "Last American Hero His ranking fell from a high of second to eighth at regular seasons end. NASCAR inducts sixth class into the Hall of Fame, Why Ferrari's not getting carried away by Baku last F1 stint promise, Why Ferrari's not getting carried away by Baku last F1 stint promise WebJasmine Johnson Actor Dwayne Johnson, aka The Rock holds his daughter Jasmine Johnson during an unveiling ceremony honoring Johnson. He retired as the winningest driver never to have a championship. Robert Glenn Johnson Jr. (June 28, 1931 December 20, 2019), better known as Junior Johnson, was an American NASCAR driver. It s with his horse about 20 miles south. Or, as he put it numerous times, in a supervisory capacity.. Showers ending by midday. Ford chief: NASCAR Next Gen car "a very big step forward", Remembering Junior Johnson: The 1960 Daytona 500 in his own words, Dover Xfinity qualifying cancelled due to rain; Kligerman on pole, Dover Xfinity qualifying cancelled due to rain; Kligerman on pole Marlin won a Winston Cup race three years later, and 10 overall. A native of North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, Johnson whose origins Three blown up motors in a row will hurt that. (Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images), an engine in the speedway garage prior to the running of the 1985 Daytona 500 stock car race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. He was an innovator as well, pioneering the technique of drafting staying on the tail of a faster car and being dragged along in its aerodynamic draft until an opening arose when he captured the 1960 Daytona 500 in a relatively underpowered Chevrolet. Although he s traveled the world he s never lived far from his Wilkes County roots. Johnson, daughter of Julius McNeil Clark and Cordie Eller Williams Clark, talked about her life in an interview, recorded on video, in 2007. Times of sun and clouds. sir. We have lost one of NASCARs true pioneers, innovators, competitors and an incredible mechanical and business mind. Johnson is survived by his wife Lisa, daughter Meredith and son Robert Glenn. We want them to go forward and not backward. His father, a lifelong bootlegger, spent nearly twenty of his sixty-three years in prison, as their house was frequently raided by revenue agents. And even that somehow does not even come close to doing Junior Johnson justice. Bear dies and car is totaled. "Junior was also the catalyst behind RJ Reynolds Tobacco Companys 33 year sponsorship of NASCARs premier series that was clearly a game changing moment in the sport's history. Johnson won 13 times in 1965 and then retired as a driver at age 35 a year later. Built cars to outrun the law. If you got caught, you knew you was going to jail.. He is survived by his wife Lisa, daughter Meredith and son Robert Glenn III. Taken on March 20, 2012. pic.twitter.com/Q4hGgOxr3d, Wood Brothers Racing (@woodbrothers21) December 20, 2019. RIP the true soul of NASCAR. He told Wolfe of being in prison, I dont want to pull any more time, but I wouldnt take anything in the world for the experience I had in prison. WebJohnson is survived by wife Lisa, daughter Meredith and son Robert Glenn Johnson III. of Fame legend Junior Johnson dies at Bobby Isaac drove for Johnson in 1966. As Busch said, something stupid can always happen. The top graph shows Elliotts rank each week. The bear watched from the courtroom floor, the fine was rescinded and he and Junior have been together 55 years. Bear meets Pontiac. pic.twitter.com/Gxnih3rnSY, Trey Keesee (@TreyKeesee) December 20, 2019, What an honor it was to meet #JuniorJohnson @NASCARHall a few years ago. WebJunior Johnson's widow, Lisa, shares memories of her beloved husband and what the sport and the NASCAR Hall of Fame meant to him. Similarly, the size of his chest was 43 inches, his waist size was 31 inches, and his biceps size was 14 inches. (Racing Legends have them as married in 1958). 708 views. But NASCAR never would have traveled as far as it did without the irrepressible Junior Johnson, now gone, but immortal. (Junior, The King, The Intimidator and Big Bill France. The famous NASCAR driver passed away on 20th December 2019, in Charlotte, North Caroline, United States when he was just eighty-eight years old. Ed Hardin: Flossie Johnson was bigger than life in Wilkes County He enjoyed an incredible career and won 50 races as a driver, including the 1960 Daytona 500. Dover Xfinity qualifying cancelled due to rain; Kligerman on pole, NASCAR 2023 Dover schedule, entry list, and how to watch, NASCAR 2023 Dover schedule, entry list, and how to watch Rank doesnt have the same meaning once the playoffs start. So, Johnson used to exercise every day and also had a good diet. Normally, a driver says, `Its too much trouble to give to get back in the car. He's survived by his wife, Lisa, son Robert Johnson III, and daughter Meredith. Junior kept four or five pair. We sold out of the 20,000 copies Flossies Favorites by July 1992. A wild new thing., Mr. Wolfes profile inspired the 1973 Hollywood movie The Last American Hero, with Jeff Bridges portraying a character based on Johnson. https://t.co/ULiNjttjeW, Bobby Labonte (@Bobby_Labonte) December 20, 2019, Rest In Peace, Junior Johnson. Since he left, NASCAR has seen a remarkable surge, then a decline in interest. I had a lot of good days there, Junior says of the farm. Never got caught again.. Funeral arrangements are incomplete. I don t even have a shovel, Junior says. Im burned, and Im hurting pretty bad, Johnson told me over the engines that day. He was 88. Brock Beard (@LASTCARonBROCK) December 20, 2019, What a legend indeed and an all-around phenomenal guy. 11 that became so associated with him as an owner, primarily from 1974 through his final season leading his team in 1994. "He had a stellar driving career, scoring 50 wins at NASCARs highest level and then seamlessly transitioned to a powerhouse car owner notching six championships and 123-time wins for numerous fellow NASCAR Hall of Famers. He was nicknamed "The Last American Hero," and his autobiography is of the same name. He produced a line of fried pork skins and country ham. Kyle Busch will lead the field to the green flag after qualifying was canceled Saturday by rain. She said her mother went to town once every two weeks to buy a few things, but mostly we raised everything ourselves. The family attended Fishing Creek Arbor Baptist Church. And I got so dad blamed mad that I appealed the thing. The track was not quite as exciting as it was running from the revenuers. The race is scheduled to begin at 12 p.m. His way was then immediately followed by other drivers, and his practice of drafting has turned out to be a common technique in NASCAR races. If you want to knock the hell out of somebody, I think thats your privilege.. R.I.P. I got more fans because I went to prison, Johnson told Sports Illustrated in 2011. So he and his wife, Lisa, and their son Robert and daughter Meredith moved to Charlotte. 0 comments. its been a tough year for the guys from the early days. Wolfes piece was later included in the 1999 anthology The Best American Sports Writing of the Century, cementing Johnsons place on the Mount Rushmore of NASCAR, in my view. When he left the hospital in March his weight had fallen from 230 pounds to 160. Junior Johnson has a net worth of between $1 to $3 million. Its not a redneck sport like it used to be, he told The Tampa Tribune in 2005. Johnson was living in Charlotte, North Carolina till his last day on the earth in the year 2019. (Photo by Robert Alexander/Getty Images), Mike Tyson Wants WWE Match With Logan Paul, Talks UFC-WWE And Launch Of Tyson Pro, Several Lengthy Playoff Runs Raised The Bar Very High For Tampa Bay Lightning, Chicago White Sox Are Plunging Toward Their Worst-Case Scenario, Ten Teams That Should Consider Signing Former World Series MVP Madison Bumgarner, With Induction Weekend Coming, Baseball Hall Of Fames Official Tour Operator Opens Doors For Travelers, The Sixers Options At Center Against The Celtics Until Joel Embiid Returns, Jorge Mendes Reportedly Guarantees $77 Million Offer For FC Barcelona Star Ansu Fati, Lionel Messi Return Off As FC Barcelona Fail To Convince La Liga With Viability Plan: Reports. His marital relationship with Lisa Day in 1992 blessed them with 2 kids, a daughter Meredith Suzanne who was born in 1995, and a son Robert Glenn Johnson III who was born in 1993. In the year 1963, Johnson had a 2-lap lead in the World 600 at Charlotte before an observer threw a bottle onto the track which led to a crash. He was an actor, known for Cars 3 (2017), The Last American Hero Johnson was then able to stay close behind the other car until the final lap of the test run, when he used the "slipstream" effect to slingshot past it. Junior Johnson [citation needed]. But he still had a soft spot for the NASCAR of yesteryear. Please join us in remembering and celebrating Robert Glenn Johnson Jr.. His rank reflected that, oscillating throughout the season. He was one of seven children of Robert and Lora Belle Johnson. Winds WSW at 15 to 25 mph. By the time he reached Daytona, Elliott had built up enough of a points lead that even DNF-ing the final race of the regular season didnt knock him out of first place. pic.twitter.com/M8fbwthL2U, Kurt Busch (@KurtBusch) December 21, 2019. There is a 1% chance of rain for the start of the race. But if you really want to understand NASCAR for fantasy leagues, betting, or your own enjoyment graphs are your best friends. It was also because of his primarily part-time status that Johnson never competed in enough races in any single season to come close to win a Grand National championship as a driver with his highest finish in any season being sixth (in both 1955 and 1961). I just got off the phone with his wife, Lisa, and our prayers are with her, his children, Robert and Meredith, and the entire family. What things can we look for and try to do. Legend Of Legends: Junior Johnson Arrested At While we will miss Junior mightily, his legacy and memory will forever be remembered, preserved, celebrated and cherished at the NASCAR Hall of Fame and in the hearts and minds of race fans around the world. Some are measured by what they do in their respective profession; others by what they do for their respective profession. View more / View less Facts of Junior Johnson, (Meredith Suzanne and Robert Glenn Johnson III). However, he had to sell in the year 2012 because of his illness and poor health. Junior Johnson, The Last American Hero In 1991, hed hired a winless, 34-year-old journeyman from Tennessee named Sterling Marlin to drive one of his Ford Thunderbirds, and in his sixth race for Johnson, Marlin got into a fiery wreck at a race at Bristol, Tenn., suffering second-degree burns on his shoulder, hands and inner thighs. A mix of clouds and sun. In May 2007, Johnson teamed with Piedmont Distillers to introduce the company's second moonshine product, called Midnight Moon. Our thoughts are with your family, friends, and the numerous lives you touched. Highs in the upper 60s and lows in the upper 40s. Junior still gets up before 6 a.m. He and his crew chief Ray Fox were in practice for the race, trying to find a way to increase their speed, which was twenty-two miles per hour (35 km/h) slower than the other top cars in the same race. Dr. Diandra: Fact-checking Kyle Buschs statement about late-season rank changes, Kyle Busch: Team communication working well at RCR, Friday 5: Changes lead Cup drivers to moonlight in other forms of racing, Dale Earnhardt Jr. latest added to NASCARs list of 75 Greatest Drivers, Dr. Diandra: Dont dismiss Trackhouse Racing or anyone else after only 10 races, Alex Bowman fractures vertebra in sprint car crash; out 3-4 weeks, NASCAR Power Rankings: Kyle Busch moves into top spot. In 1986, Johnson received a full presidential pardon from President Ronald Reagan for his 1956 federal conviction for moonshining. WebJunior couldn t allow his showplace of a 150-acre farm off The Junior Johnson Highway in Yadkin County to turn shabby. "We have lost one of NASCARs true pioneers, innovators, competitors and an incredible mechanical and business mind. ), 1965: Junior Johnson poses with his Ford during his final full season as a driver on the NASCAR Cup [+] circuit. Thats what youve got to have as a young driver.. Johnson had reportedly been in declining health and had entered hospice care earlier this week, according to NASCAR.com. The facility was also used for wedding receptions and other events.. Remembering Alan Kulwicki: NASCAR's tragic maverick champion, Remembering Junior Johnson: The 1960 Daytona 500 in his own words Junior Johnson, Good-Old-Boy Auto Racing Star, Is Dead at 88 She will always have a place in my heart," he said. WebHis marriage to Lisa Day (b.1965) in 1992 resulted in two children: daughter Meredith Suzanne (b.1995) and son Robert Glenn Johnson III (b.1993), both of whom attended Success! Daniel E. Slotnik contributed reporting. Web5/23/00 Former stock driver/moonshine runner Junior Johnson, who is going into the North Carolina Stock Car Hall of Fame, has left his colorful life behind and lives a quiet life with Its a sad day in the racing world. Heroes get remembered, but legends never die. Obviously, we have our ups and downs, and I would say that we have struggled at times for sure, Martinsville being the worst. In May 2007, Johnson teamed with Piedmont Distillers of Madison, North Carolina, to introduce the company's second moonshine product, called "Midnight Moon Moonshine". After his driving days were over, Johnson became a highly successful team owner and won frequently with cars driven by Yarborough. But rankings can fluctuate wildly in the first few weeks of the season because point totals are so low. WebWife of Robert G. Johnson; daughter of Emmitt and Cella (Rash) Money. Wilkes Countys Flossie Clark Johnson, 90, frequently referred to as the First Lady of NASCAR, died Thursday morning. NASCAR 2023 Dover schedule, entry list, and how to watch, Remembering Alan Kulwicki: NASCAR's tragic maverick champion, Remembering Alan Kulwicki: NASCAR's tragic maverick champion High 63F. I told em if they was gonna fine me I wanted them to pay for my car. His first win at a "superspeedway" came at the Daytona 500 in 1960. Junior Johnson Racing will be located in Hamptonville, North Carolina. Mostly clear. pic.twitter.com/3SPVYp86kh, Charlotte Motor Speedway (@CLTMotorSpdwy) December 20, 2019, really saddened by the news of the passing of NASCAR pioneer Junior Johnson. According to Griffith, this filmunlike The Last American Hero, which was about a fictionalized version of Johnson named Junior "Jackson"will remain true to the real life of Junior Johnson. And I liked that part, because you need to let off some steam. Junior Johnson All rights reserved. He then went on to become one of the most successful team owners in NASCAR history, winning132 premier series races and six championships. We don t settle on any one place because they have different kinds of food, got all kinds of restaurants, you can just about get anything that you want. Because of it, Junior Johnson had only small injuries. His death, at an assisted living facility, was confirmed by his wife, Lisa, who said he had Alzheimers disease. It is with great sadness that we share the passing of Junior Johnson on behalf of the Johnson family. FORECAST: Weather Underground Mostly cloudy with a high of 59 degrees and no chance of rain at the start of the race. Winds light and variable. Highs in the mid 60s and lows in the low 40s. When it came to dirt tracks, even the great Ned Jarrett admitted there were few MOONSHINE WITH JUNIOR JOHNSON STOCK CAR LEGEND Even when I left (Junior Johnson & Associates), I was always treated like I was still up there. Robert Glenn Junior Johnson, the moonshine runner turned NASCAR driver described as The Last American Hero by author Tom Wolfe in a 1965 article for Esquire, died Friday. Johnsons father, Robert Glenn Johnson Sr. served as a bootlegger in his whole life. Johnson Elliott finished 10th at the Daytona 500 and 26th at Fontana, putting him in 19th place after two races. Clear bars indicate a DNF. Johnson wrote three cookbooks. You couldnt ask for anybody any better, Marlin told me. A superstar driver, then multi-championship team owner, he brought RJR/Winston to Nascar, vaulting the sport to national prominence. After Charlotte, Busch was disqualified at Pocono and crashed at Michigan. But that doesnt mean that we dont go to work and try and figure it out and make it better for both of us.. This is how big Junior Johnson was: He was in the first class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2010, along with series founder Bill France; his son, Bill Jr., and seven-time champions Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt Sr. Just those five. Moreover, Johnson was considered one of the best short-track racers in the sport by this time. Junior Johnson dies at 88 Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Johnson has even done the voice acting in the animated movie Cars 3, as Junior Midnight Moon. In 1959, Johnson won five more NASCAR Grand National races (including a win from the pole position at the 1959 Hickory 250); by this time he was regarded as one of the best short-track racers in the sport. In the year 1966, Junior Johnson retired as a driver. From his early days running moonshine through the end of his life, Junior wholly embodied the NASCAR spirit. I think a lot of that is going to come into play this weekend and next weekend, so I am optimistic and hopeful that we will have some really strong runs at Dover and Kansas. They got so many good restaurants here in Charlotte, Junior says. RIP, Darrell Waltrip (@AllWaltrip) December 20, 2019, Robert Glenn Johnson, Jr.The Last American Hero.What a Legend.Rest easy Junior. Thank you Junior Johnson for everything you've done for this sport.