In loving memory of John Delphus McDuffie
December 5, 1938 – August 11, 1991
While working last week on an article about Tim Richmond, it occurred to me that we would soon commemorate the death of another driver; one whose life and career were probably polar opposites of the glamour and wealth that comprised Tim's life. Because this man was perhaps as poor as Tim was rich, monetarily speaking, his story is quite different. He never made much of a dent in the record books, and his only claim to fame was a love of racing and the fact that he was one heck of a nice guy. So for those that have never heard his name, or those that feel like taking a trip down Memory Lane, please read on and I'll introduce you to J. D. McDuffie, whose name is forever entwined in many memories with the race at Watkins Glen in 1991.
John Delphus (J. D.) McDuffie was born on December 5, 1938, in Sanford North Carolina, where he and his wife Ima Jean later made their home and raised Jeff and Linda, their two children. (If anyone were counting, that would make J. D. only a few months younger than your tour guide)
On July 7, 1963, J. D. went racing for the first time on the Grand National circuit (Winston would not arrive on the scene for another nine years) at Myrtle Beach Speedway, then known as Rambi Raceway. He started in the 14th position and finished 12th. Because Floyd Powell already had the #70 that J.D. had always raced on smaller circuits, his 1961 Ford ran with only a large “X” on the door, but he would later reclaim his favorite number.
