Programming Note: UNC-TV Junior Johnson Series Begins This Thurs., May 17 @ 10:00 pm

University of North Carolina Public television will air three consecutive Thursday night interviews with Junior Johnson on its NC Now: Biographical Conversations Series. Segment 1 airs at 10:00pm May 17 this Thursday evening. Segments #2 and #3 will air on May 24th and May 31st.

Junior Johnson to be featured on UNC-TV

May 7, 2012

Wilkesboro NASCAR driver Junior Johnson will be featured on UNC-TVs Biographical Conversations in May.

The first person documentary series with Junior Johnson will be broadcast on consecutive Thursdays at 10:00 p.m., May 17, 24 and 31.

Johnson was born in Wilkes County in 1931 and broke into racing at the age of 18. He scored 50 checkered flags as a driver, including victories at Daytona, Charlotte, and Atlanta. In 1966 Johnson left the drivers seat and became a team owner. He managed some of NASCARs greatest drivers over three decades, and won three Winston Cup championships. He left NASCAR in 1995, returning to his farm to raise two children with his wife, Lisa.

Since then Johnson has launched a legal moonshine business, and a new NASCAR teamwith his son Robert behind the wheel.

Each episode will feature different events throughout Johnsons life:

* May 17: A Wilkes County childhood. Stashing moonshine. Outrunning the law. And the dawn of a NASCAR career.

* May 24: An American hero drives a number-3 Chevy. Glory on the racetrack. Away from the drivers seat. And a new team owner.

*May 31: Winning big with Yarbrough and Waltrip. Leaving NASCAR. A new family. And a return to the track.

Ya got a VCR??

Thanks for posting, Dave! Every now and then, UNC-TV really hits one outta the park... should be a good-un!

ttt

Round 1 Tonight - Thurs. May 17

Segement II highlights:

According to Junior.....Bill France, Sr.: Once the RJR-NASCAR deal (that Junior brokered) had been hammered out, Big Bill nixed the idea, or even the possibility, of RJR sponsoring an individual car (Junior's original intent).

Bobby Allison: "he made a big mistake, and he knows it, leaving us (1972).....we'd a won a lot more championships if he'd stayed.....Jr. Johnson

Fireball: "He was my friend, and that car he was driving (at Charlotte) was a special-built to be as light as possible, including a fabricated gas tank".........Jr. Johnson

"If my car held up, I won the race.......that's pretty much how it was" Jr. Johnson

"Iwantedto test tires for Goodyear. I needed to know how far they'd to and how long they'd last"....Jr. Johnson

"The Last American Herowas the best racing movie they ever made......." Jr. Johnson

Junior emphasized over and over in very strong words that in his opinion the car builder was responsible for Fireball Roberts' death because of the non-substantial gas tank used to save weight. He credited Fireballs' death in the lightweight Ford with causing NASCAR to implement and enforce stricter weight standards of cars.

He also detailed how he got custody of LeeRoy Yarbrough from Florida authorities and placed him in three different treatment centers in North Carolina with no improvement before returning him to Florida. Junior said he continued to call LeeRoy every day until his death because LeeRoy had done so much for him to make his operation a winner.