NASCAR Legend Junior Johnson Dead At 88

CHARLOTTE, NC. (THECOUNT) — NASCAR is mourning the passing of racing icon Junior Johnson, according to Friday reports. He was 88.

The NASCAR Hall of Fame confirmed Johnson had died after entering hospice earlier this week.

Johnson was known for racing stock cars. His career, including 50 NASCAR top-division wins, was the most of any driver without a championship. He added another 132 victories and six championships as a team owner, according to WXII.

Johnson’s style came from his roots, the same ones shared by NASCAR. Years of hauling moonshine at breakneck speeds through the North Carolina foothills gave him a reputation as one of the hardest competitors in the sport.

Johnson was entered in the NASCAR Hall of Fame in its first class in 2010. He was joined by Bill France Sr. and Jr., Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty as the inaugural inductees.

“Junior Johnson truly was the ‘Last American Hero,'” NASCAR Chairman and CEO Jim France said in a statement. “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.”

Geo quick facts: Charlotte is a major city and commercial hub in North Carolina. Its modern city center (Uptown) is home to the Levine Museum of the New South, which explores post–Civil War history in the South, and hands-on science displays at Discovery Place. Uptown is also known for the NASCAR Hall of Fame, which celebrates the sport of auto racing through interactive exhibits and films – wikipedia.