NASCAR legend, Hall of Fame member Junior Johnson dies at 88

Kelly Crandall | RACER

Robert Glenn Johnson Jr., better known as Junior Johnson, has died at the age of 88.

A member of the 2010 inaugural NASCAR Hall of Fame class, Johnson was lovingly considered a racing hero and legend. Throughout his career – 313 races – in NASCAR’s top division, Johnson won 50 races, tied for 12th-most all time. Johnson also won the Daytona 500 as both a driver (1960) and twice as a team owner (’69, ’77).

“Junior Johnson truly was the ‘Last American Hero,’” said NASCAR Chairman and CEO Jim France. “From his early days running moonshine through the end of his life, Junior wholly embodied the NASCAR spirit. He was an inaugural NASCAR Hall of Famer, a nod to an extraordinary career as both a driver and team owner. Between his on-track accomplishments and his introduction of Winston to the sport, few have contributed to the success of NASCAR as Junior has.

"The entire NASCAR family is saddened by the loss of a true giant of our sport, and we offer our deepest condolences to Junior’s family and friends during this difficult time.”

A native of North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, the roots of Johnson’s career were indeed born in the woods as a bootlegger. The legend goes that Johnson was so good at hauling moonshine he was never caught – in the act. In 1956 he was convicted of moonshining when authorities staked out the Johnson family still. President Ronald Reagan pardoned Johnson in December of ‘86.

Johnson made his NASCAR national series debut at Darlington Raceway in 1953 and then ran four more races the following year. While Johnson never won a championship, nor did he ever run a full season, his 50 career wins are the most of any driver without a title.

By the 1955 season, Johnson was a NASCAR winner, scoring his first victory at Hickory Speedway. Johnson’s final start came at the age of 35 in the ’66 race at Rockingham, where he finished fifth.

Darrell Waltrip, Cale Yarborough, Bill Elliott, and Terry Labonte all drove for Johnson. From 1976-’78 Yarborough and Johnson became the first team to win three straight NASCAR championships, a feat later matched and surpassed by Jimmie Johnson and Hendrick Motorsports.

Waltrip also won three championships driving for Johnson (1981, ’82, and ’85). Johnson’s final win in NASCAR came where he made his first start, Darlington, with Elliott winning the 1994 Southern 500.

Johnson has 132 wins as a car owner and six championships.

Johnson’s legacy goes beyond his presence in the garage. He connected R.J. Reynolds with NASCAR, which led to the birth of the sport’s first entitlement sponsor, the Winston Cup Series.

In recent years, Johnson had been legally selling moonshine, Midnight Moon, inspired by the Johnson family moonshine recipe.

Johnson was named one of NASCAR’s greatest drivers in 1998.

The following is a statement from NASCAR Hall of Fame Executive Director Winston Kelley on Johnson’s death today:

“It is with great sadness that we share the passing of Junior Johnson on behalf of the Johnson family. First and foremost, everyone at the NASCAR Hall of Fame offers our most sincere condolences to Lisa, Robert, Meredith and the entire family. There are not sufficient words to adequately describe the impact that Junior Johnson had on NASCAR and the motorsports world. People are measured in many ways. Some are measured by what they do in their respective profession; others by what they do for their respective profession. In Junior’s case, what he did both in NASCAR and for NASCAR are equally incalculable. That is among the many reasons that Junior was one of the five inaugural inductees into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2010.

"He had a stellar driving career, scoring 50 wins at NASCAR’s highest level and then seamlessly transitioned to a powerhouse car owner, notching six championships and 123 wins for numerous fellow NASCAR Hall of Famers. He was also an innovator behind the wheel, discovering the impact of the draft at Daytona International Speedway and in more ways than anyone can count — and in many ways others never knew — as an owner, mechanic and engine builder.

"Junior was also the catalyst behind RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company’s 33-year sponsorship of NASCAR’s premier series that was clearly a game changing moment in the sport’s history. In addition, hundreds of people came through Ingle Hollow, NC, in what became known as “Junior Johnson University” — many of whom continuing on to Hall of Fame and otherwise stellar careers. He continued to be an ambassador for NASCAR throughout his life and was a huge part of the development of the NASCAR Hall of Fame and numerous activities since we opened in 2010. Quite literally, Junior impacted every aspect of NASCAR in a manner that only an elite few have done.

"We have lost one of NASCAR’s true pioneers, innovators, competitors and an incredible mechanical and business mind. And personally, I have lost one of my dearest friends.

“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. Please join us in remembering and celebrating Robert Glenn Johnson Jr. “

The NASCAR world mourns the passing of Hall of Famer Junior Johnson, who has died at the age of 88: https://t.co/QBv0RjnB47 pic.twitter.com/MqcKrT8MA0 — NASCAR (@NASCAR) December 20, 2019

When I was a kid growing up in Owensboro, Ky I dreamed of meeting Jr Johnson, my dream came true, meet him, he became my boss and made me a champion, I loved that man, God Bless Jr and his family,

You were the greatest! RIP — Darrell Waltrip (@AllWaltrip) December 20, 2019

Robert Glenn Johnson, Jr.

The Last American Hero.

What a Legend.

Rest easy Junior. https://t.co/NdSokBy8G0 — Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) December 20, 2019

No one outside the France family has been more instrumental to the growth of Nascar than #JuniorJohnson, who has passed at age 88. A superstar driver, then multi-championship team owner, he brought RJR/Winston to Nascar, vaulting the sport to national prominence. — Mike Joy (@mikejoy500) December 20, 2019

really saddened by the news of the passing of NASCAR pioneer Junior Johnson. it’s been a tough year for the guys from the early days. 😪 pic.twitter.com/Q4hGgOxr3d — Wood Brothers Racing (@woodbrothers21) December 20, 2019

No-one can ever be compared to Junior Johnson...nobody!

Among the most identifiable names in Motorsports, most fascinating characters in all forms of entertainment, among the most abundant lives ever lived...

There will never be a Life or Story quite like that of Junior Johnson🏁 — Ricky Craven (@RickyCraven32) December 20, 2019

My dad and Junior Johnson were friends. I wasn’t around him a lot, but I was around him enough to know that he was a force of nature, in the most quiet way possible. He had a way of doing things that left an indelible mark on the world around him. He left a truly legendary legacy https://t.co/4p3gSyFNpB — Marcus Smith (@MarcusSMI) December 20, 2019

So many of us now, and so many yet to come will never truly understand what all Junior Johnson has done for the sport we all love....but we can all vow to do what we can to share the stories, and do our best to honor the legacy of “The Last American Hero”



RIP Junior Johnson 🙏🏼 https://t.co/nbkxFeXdGq — Daniel Hemric (@DanielHemric) December 20, 2019

Junior Johnson was a giant in our sport. We awarded him the 2011 Achievement in Motorsport Tribute Award. Godspeed Junior! https://t.co/ANeTi0enpg — NC Motorsports Ass'n (@ncmotorsports) December 20, 2019