By Sarah Handy, Staff Writer
Robert Glenn Johnson Jr. known as “Junior” to most, a member of the inaugural class inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2010, who also won 50 NASCAR Cup Series races as a driver and 132 races as an owner has died at the age of 88.
Johnson’s health had been declining and he entered a hospice earlier this week.
Johnson a Wilkesboro, North Carolina native spent 14 years in the NASCAR Cup Series where he amassed 50 wins, including the 1960 Daytona 500.
Johnson stepped away after the 1966 American 500 at Rockingham and was eventually named as one of NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers in 1998.
In addition, Johnson was a six-time Owner’s Champion with drivers Cale Yarborough and Darrell Waltrip.
Johnson worked with many other drivers including Bill Elliott, Sterling Marlin, and Terry Labonte to name a few. Johnson’s last win as an owner came with Bill Elliott in the 1994 Southern 500.
“Junior Johnson truly was the ‘Last American Hero.’ 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.” said NASCAR Chairman and CEO Jim France. “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.”
Johnson is survived by his wife Lisa, his daughter Meredith and his son Robert Glenn Johnson III.