NASCAR Hall of Famer Junior Johnson, immortalized as “The Last American Hero” by author Tom Wolfe, died Friday. He was 88.
Johnson’s death was announced by NASCAR, which said he had been in declining health. Johnson entered hospice care this week, ESPN reported.
Robert Glenn “Junior” Johnson originally ran moonshine through the North Carolina foothills but found his calling running races on the stock car circuit. He won 50 races as a driver -- the most of any driver without a series championship -- and added 132 victories and six championships as a team owner, NASCAR said. He won the Great American Race as a car owner in 1969 and 1977.
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
“From his early days running moonshine through the end of his life, Junior wholly embodied the NASCAR spirit,” NASCAR Chairman Jim France said in a statement. "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 (sponsor) 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.”
RT hotrodmagazine: Rest In Peace. The “Last American Hero” Junior Johnson has gone on his last moonshine run. He will be missed. pic.twitter.com/KGDEW0XNJx
— JP Emerson ™ Journalist/Author (@The_JPEmerson) December 21, 2019
Johnson was an inaugural member of the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2010, along with Bill France Sr., Bill France Jr., Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Richard Petty.
Johnson debuted in NASCAR’s top division in 1953 at the Southern 500. He finished 38th in the 59-car field at Darlington Raceway, but showed his grit when his Oldsmobile hit the guardrail, NASCAR reported. Johnson emerged from his wrecked car unharmed, then opened the hood of the vehicle and put out an engine fire with his shirt.
New post (Junior Johnson, winner of 50 NASCAR races, dies at 88 - The Washington Post) has been published on Nascar Fans - https://t.co/BiCEVmiqYx - ... pic.twitter.com/GpE2Sdr83u
— NASCAR Fan Game (@NASCARFanGame) December 21, 2019
Johnson won his first NASCAR race at Hickory Speedway on May 7, 1955, and then won four more times that year, according to NASCAR.
He won the Daytona 500 in 1960 and finished his career as an active driver in 1965, winning 13 races in 36 starts.
ICYMI - NASCAR icon Junior Johnson has died at age 88. @jmarusak and I tried to do Junior right in this obituary, although yesterday I sure wished (again) that @theobserver racing writer legend Tom Higgins had still been alive to write it. https://t.co/0Kf34bTbua
— Scott Fowler (@scott_fowler) December 21, 2019
In 1965, Wolfe wrote an essay for Esquire titled, “The Last American Hero is Junior Johnson. Yes!”
“I didn’t think that he would write the story that he wrote, but I thought it was an awesome story,” Johnson said in a film for NASCAR Productions. “Things change, people change, but you don’t want to ever forget how you were brought up. You’ll remember it as long as you live. That article did that.”
© 2019 Cox Media Group