Junior Johnson Passes On

Fordors said:
I see you have deleted your mention that “it was all over the news some time ago”, but a number of Google searches show nothing even remotely like a meth arrest. Sorry, but I think this deserves a retraction, not simply a deletion.
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Not everything is within the realm of Google.
I should have left the man to rest in peace. I didn't (I was wrong) and for that reason retracted my comment to allow a few their time to grieve in their own way.
 
He was an important historical figure in NASCAR. I was a fan of his in some ways, not so much in other ways, but I'll always acknowledge that he was probably the most culturally significant NASCAR driver of my lifetime. Many good thoughts go out to his family and friends.
 
I have a son who lives in Mooresville and he sent up a couple of bottles of legal "Junior's best". He said try it but I never have. Still sealed on the shelf along with a small bottle of "Bubba's" hot sauce. I think of it as a nice collectable for whatever. Did see the 63 Chevrolet in the NASCAR museum at Charlotte some time ago. No point in even bothering with NASCAR anymore when you know who the winner is going to be every week !
 
I met him at Goodwood. Nice guy, he signed my programme.

Also met Smokey Yunick and Ak Miller at the same meet.

Mart.
 
Junior served 11 months of a two year sentence for unpaid taxes on illegal whiskey in 1956. He was caught at his daddy’s still. Junior said “they never caught me a haulin”. He told me the fastest car he ever drove wasn’t a race car but a liquor car. He said it’s a lot different when you’re racing for some money and a trophy versus running for your life ..Glad I got to meet him.
 

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Ken/Alabama said:
Junior served 11 months of a two year sentence for unpaid taxes on illegal whiskey in 1956. He was caught at his daddy’s still. Junior said “they never caught me a haulin”. He told me the fastest car he ever drove wasn’t a race car but a liquor car. He said it’s a lot different when you’re racing for some money and a trophy versus running for your life ..Glad I got to meet him.
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417160

He served only 11 months of that sentence before being released, and later received a presidential pardon for his crime, from Ronald Reagan in 1986.
 
petehoovie said:
417160

He served only 11 months of that sentence before being released, and later received a presidential pardon for his crime, from Ronald Reagan in 1986.
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What about all the other guys that were convicted of the exact same crime? Why weren't they pardoned as well ??!
 
If you want to hear the real story about Junior Johnson's career, read the Hot Rod magazine article about running shine. Google Willy Clay Call, and the HRM story will pop up. Running shine was a way of life in the South. Junior never got caught running, he was arrested when the revenuers busted his Father's still. One of the '40 coupes Jr. raced is in the N Wilkesboro NC heritage museum.
 
The HRM article is Moonshine Runners & The Cars they Drove. This a photo of Junior and his good friend Willie Clay Call who Jr. drove for.
 
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I met him several times mostly at tracks as a fan, last time was probably at Bristol or Martinsville. But most memorable was in the early 90s when Bill Elliott was driving for him. I stopped by his shop in Ingle Hollow. When I got there, Junior was out in the pasture with some cattle. I talked with Mike Beam, he gave me a couple of used tires from the #11 car. Junior came into the office before I left, got a few photos. He seemed very down to earth.
 
I'm pretty sure that Jr. was pardoned (years after his release) from Federal Prison,
was because he turned his life around in such of profound way, head and shoulders
above what most would have accomplished.
He proved he was worthy of a FULL Pardon from the President. ;)







.
 
Lanny said:
I'm pretty sure that Jr. was pardoned (years after his release) from Federal Prison,
was because he turned his life around in such of profound way, head and shoulders
above what most would have accomplished.
He proved he was worthy of a FULL Pardon from the President. ;)







.
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And you know “ALL” the others that served time for the same offense did not turn their lives around, so please give details of how you know this. I’m sure you also know that during the “Jr Johnson era” of NASCAR as a team owner there were many “kickbacks” allowing those with the most $$$ to have huge advantages over other competitors. I know this not from hearsay but from personal experience.
Cheers
 
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