Sunday, December 22, 2019

"The Last American Hero" Junior Johnson, NC moonshine runner who went on to a NASCAR Hall of Fame career, has died



Robert Glenn “Junior” Johnson, a moonshine runner turned NASCAR driver described as “The Last American Hero” by author Tom Wolfe in a 1965 article for Esquire, died Friday. He was 88.

NASCAR announced the death of Johnson, the winner of 50 races as a driver and 132 as an owner. He was a member of the inaugural class inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2010.

More @ WLOS

12 comments:

  1. A short story: Back in the 90's, I worked as a camp cook for outfitters in Wyoming. We once had a group from Hickory for a 1 week pack/fishing trip. Long story short......they had with them, Junior Johnson 'shine. Them boys were all hard drinkers!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. :) They sell his legal stuff in the ABC stores here.

      Delete
  2. Here is the movie about Junior Johnson "The Last American Hero" 1973 starring Jeff Bridges.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jYrVdd3xzU

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was a pretty good movie with some great "actual footage" spliced into it. I know the movie is supposed to be "fiction" based on the life of Jr., but he thing that always go me about the movie was the cars and trucks were about ten years later than the ones that would have been used in Junior's time.

      Delete
    2. the cars and trucks were about ten years later than the ones that would have been used in Junior's time.

      Seems stupid to me as why in the world......?

      Delete
  3. One of my favorite TV shows is "Moonshiners" on Discovery Channel. They are hard working foljs who appreciate Liberty. They use blend, drive the speed limit, clandestine techniques instead of fast cars. But it was good that Reagan pardoned Jr Johnson. Evidently it was an UNLAWFUL Federal offense since the Federal Government has NO delegated power over alcohol--or tobacco, or firearms (BATF)pertaining to the People.
    --Ron W

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes then there is the sad tale of Popcorn.Bunch of hits here:

      https://freenorthcarolina.blogspot.com/search?q=popcorn

      Delete
  4. Thanks for posting the movie. I wasn't aware of it, though it came out when I was 22.
    --Ron W

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was29 and had just gone to work for DAO, Saigon.

      https://freenorthcarolina.blogspot.com/search?q=defense+attache+office

      Delete