| Robert Glen Johnson, Jr. AKA "Junior Johnson" | | | | short-track drivers in the sport. |
| was one of the early superstars of NASCAR in | | | | His first win at a superspeedway came at the |
| the '50s and '60s and a legendary moonshiner. He | | | | Daytona 500 in 1960. Junior continued racing until |
| was born in the community of Ingle Hollow, near | | | | 1966. During that time he collected 50 wins, 11 of |
| Wilkesboro, NC in 1931 and grew up helping his | | | | which were at major speedways. His driving |
| daddy run "shine in the bootleg capital of America, | | | | earned him the title of greatest NASCAR driver |
| Wilkes County, NC. He grew up on a farm and | | | | of all time by Sports Illustrated magazine (1998). |
| spent much of his time outwitting and outrunning | | | | After retiring, Junior still had racing in his blood. He |
| the police, thus developing exceptional driving skills. | | | | became the highly successful owner of his own |
| Despite many close calls, he was never caught | | | | NASCAR racing team in the "70s and '80s and |
| during any of his deliveries. | | | | won six championships with drivers like Cale |
| In 1955, Junior decided to trade his | | | | Yarborough, Darrell Waltrip and Bill Elliott. |
| moonshine-delivering career for one as a NASCAR | | | | On December 26, 1986, President Ronald Reagan |
| driver. He found that the driving skills he had | | | | granted Junior Johnson a presidential pardon for |
| developed came in quite handy on the track. His | | | | his moonshining conviction. This restored his right |
| first full season, he won five races and finished | | | | to vote and hold a passport and Junior called it |
| sixth in the Grand National points standings. In | | | | "one of the greatest things in my life". Finally, in |
| 1956, federal agents caught up with Junior while | | | | 1995, Junior sold his racing team to spend more |
| he was working at his father's still and he was | | | | time on his 300-acre beef farm and with his |
| arrested and convicted of moonshining. He served | | | | family. Now he produces a line of fried pork skins |
| 11 months of a two-year sentence then hopped | | | | and country ham. At age 76, he hasn't slowed |
| right back into his racecar. With his whiskey | | | | down much. He has a 12-year-old daughter and a |
| driving skills, Junior soon held records all over the | | | | 14-year-old son who help keep him busy. |
| area and was considered one of the best | | | | |