Turning for Home: Today's Junior Johnson

Just found an Outside The Lines column on ESPN.com about Junior Johnson. I think it may be a couple of years old by now, but I'm just now finding and reading it. Its remarkably well written. The writer does a great job of comparing the Junior of day - a doting parent and loving husband, a man who is looking forward vs. backward - and the young Junior of Wilkes County decades ago.

Its a must-read - albeit a long one.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/eticket/story?page=110906/JuniorJohnson

Chase, Thank you for this link. A wonderful well written article. I really enjoyed it. In 2009 I got to chat with Junior and the late Jim Hunter and I never laughed so long and hard in my life. Great memories......

I have never seen this before today! Awesome article for sure. I have so many vivid memories of Junior and most are as colorful as the article paints him. In 1964 the local Ford dealer, Pulliam Ford, had Junior and his 1964 Ford in the showroom for the day. Back then, fans would trickle in and out so most of the time Junior was just sitting there with the salesmen. I went over to the Ford and leaned over looking at the front bumper and grill and one of the salesmen asked me what I was looking for and I said "the spots where that Petty Plymouth sucked the paint off then he passed this Ford". Junior heard me said "I never got close enough to that Plymouth for him to suck the paint off". We all got a good laugh out of that except the owner of Pulliam Ford who overheard me.

One of those really long articles that you wish was longer still.

I understand Robert quit racing to focus on his education. Wonder if he ever plans to be back?