Excuse me if I have a tear in my eye, but I just read a post on the RaceRap board by Benny Parson's son, Kevin, telling of the auction this week of all of 87 year old Junie Donlavey's racing equipment, souvenirs, collectibles, etc. in Richmond by Motley Auctions. Kevin spotted for his father when Benny drove for Junie. I cut my teeth watching Sonny Hutchins in a Junie Donlavey Ford modified #90 on Friday nights at Southside Speedway in Richmond. Junie's wife, Phyllis passed away this year and I guess this is the official end of a magnificient racing career. When I go home to visit my sister in Richmond, Old Midlothian Turnpike will look pretty empty without the Swansboro Motor Company shops of Junie. So glad I was at Dover to see his Cup win with Jody Ridley. Starting out with modifieds in 1949, Junie fielded a car in the first Southern 500 for Bob Apperson on Labor Day 1950, just one of his 863 Cup starts as a car owner. Junie's driver roster is a who's who ofstock car racing history. Many a youngster got his start wheeling the #90. Joe Weatherly drove his first Cup event for - you guessed it - Junie in the 1952 Southern 500. One of those 3 women in the 1977 Firecracker 400 was in Junie's car - Christine Becker. Bill Dennis was the first to win 3 consecutive events at Daytona, claiming consecutive Permatex 300 LMS events for Junie. The list goes on and on. Enjoy your retirement Junie. A nicer man never walked the garage. No more beautiful #90 Fords & Mercs.
http://www.motleys.com/index.php?subp=1&sct=1663&pg=ap&pid=23271
Link to Auction Site
http://www.nascar.com/2007/news/headlines/cup/01/18/where.is.jdonlavey/index.html
Link to a 2007 NASCAR Article on Junie
Pride of NASCAR Junie Donlavey Video Link
http://www.nascar.com/video/cup/2009/07/04/cup.day2.pride.donlavey.nascar/index.html"> http://www.nascar.com/video/cup/2009/07/04/cup.day2.pride.donlavey.nascar/index .html
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"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"
updated by @dave-fulton: 01/08/17 08:09:00PM
