NASCAR legend, Richmond native Donlavey dies at 90

RICHMOND, VA (WWBT) -

Legendary NASCAR owner and Richmond native Junie Donlavey has died at age 90 according to family members.

Donlavey suffered fromAlzheimer's disease and passed away Monday night in Richmond.

Donlavey got his start as an owner in 1950 at Martinsville. He fielded NASCAR teams all the way into the 2000s.

Donlavey's famous #90 car fielded rookie of the year drivers three times (1970, 1980, 1985).

Donlavey's family told NBC12 that Junie thought it would only be appropriate if he passed away at age 90, the same number famously featured on his stock cars.

Very sorry to hear this tonight. My thoughts are with his friends and family.

A well respected man and owner. May he rest in peace. My condolences to his family and friends.

Two years ago after reading an article by Tom Higgins about Junie, I arranged to have a copy of Junie's win at Dover in 1981 and his win in the 1987 Twin 125 at Daytona sent up to him. I can only hope that he got as much joy out of watching those races as I got by getting them together for him. One of my all time favorite personalities in Nascar. A lot of people got their shot thanks to him- the list of drivers he had is legendary. May he rest in peace.

I was very Honored back in 1999 to spend some time with Junie, A great person and May He Rest In Peace.

Sad news. Thoughts and prayers for family and friends.

thank you Jay for that link....an exciting finish for sure.....

RIP Junie Gods Speed

RIR to host service Monday celebrating Donlaveys life

posted 7 hours ago June 12th, 2014. Updated 10 hours ago

Richmond International Raceway will host a celebration of the life of Wesley Christian Junie Donlavey Jr., the longtime NASCAR car owner who died Monday at age 90.

The celebration will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, June 16, in the Old Dominion Building on the tracks campus at 600 E. Laburnum Ave., a track official confirmed.

A graveside service for Mr. Donlavey will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday in Washington Memorial Park, 6217 Memorial Drive in Sandston in eastern Henrico County.

Mr. Donlavey, a Richmond native, fielded cars in NASCARs top-tier Cup series and in other series for more than half a century. Operating from his shop in South Richmond, he and his crew prepared rides for 60 drivers in the Cup series.

He was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in Talladega, Ala., in 2007.

Randy Hallman

http://www.timesdispatch.com/obituaries/rir-to-host-service-monday-celebrating-donlavey-s-life/article_e08d30cc-1730-5a83-beae-62d3d4301d54.html

RIP Junie
Dennis Garrett
Richmond,Va. USA

Thanks Dennis for posting this, May Junie Rest In Peace

Virginias Donlavey a NASCAR Hero

6/10/2014

Virginias roots in NASCAR run deep and one Virginian in particular, W.C. Junie Donlaveys past extends back to NASCARs beginnings. A car owner from 1949 through 2005, the Richmond native who passed away Monday night, embodied the spirit of racing.

Much of his notoriety came from the conduit he developed, giving young drivers a chance to compete at the top level in motorsports. In his more than 60 years of ownership, Donlavey placed 150 drivers in the seat of a stock car 60 of those in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. And while the Virginia native had only one Sprint Cup Series win as a team owner (Dover International Speedway in 1981), the various yet-to-be discovered drivers he hired early in their careers including Buck and Buddy Baker, Benny Parsons, Cale Yarborough, Joe Weatherly, Ricky Rudd, Ken Schrader, Ernie Irvan, Bobby Isaac and Rick Mast went on to claim a total of 50 wins, 323 top-fives, 653 top-10s and 61 poles.

While attending a press conference at Richmond International Raceway in 2002, Donlavey reflected on his time in the industry, but found it difficult to pick his favorite experience from over the years. Ive had so many good times, and met so many nice people. When you have reached so many different people in your lifetime, and had a personal experience with them, you cant pick one or say this one is the best.

A Navy veteran, Donlavey tried his hand behind the wheel in the late 1940s, but quickly turned to owning and building race cars in his Richmond, Virginia shop. And he attributed the success of his team to the people in the Richmond area who pitched in over the years and kept his team going.

Virginia and NASCAR lost a legend of our sport with the passing of Junie Donlavey, said Richmond International Raceway President Dennis Bickmeier. I had the honor of meeting Junie a couple of years ago when he joined us for a press conference with our partner Federated Auto Parts. He was one of the nicest people Ive ever met.

Ive heard so many stories about Junie since I moved to Richmond, continued Bickmeier. He made an impact on many lives here in Richmond and in the NASCAR industry and will be missed.

Over the years, the motorsports industry recognized Donlaveys efforts and dedication to the sport and awarded him many honors, including the 1997 STP Richard Petty Achievement Award, the 1999 Ford Motor Company Spirit of Ford Award, 1999 Stock Car Hall of Fame inductee, the 2001 H. Clay Earles Award from Martinsville Speedway, as well as the 2002 Smokey Yunick Award, recognizing lifetime achievement in auto racing. The award, named for the legendary car owner and mechanic, annually recognizes an individual whose lifelong efforts have had a major impact on the motorsports industry.

Also in 2002, the Eastern Motorsports Press Association (EMPA) formed the Junie Donlavey Spirit Award, which is presented each year to individuals who best represent independent spirit of the sport and perform numerous tasks behind the scenes to make the sport better. Donlavey was named the first recipient of the award that same year.

In 2007, Donlavey added the title of International Motorsports Hall of Fame Member to his list of accomplishments, when he was inducted into the Talladega, Alabama museum alongside Jack Ingram, Wayne Rainey, fellow Virginian Ray Hendrick, Warren Johnson and Bruton Smith.

Life has really been fast, I can tell you, but its been pleasant, said Donlavey following the International Motorsports Hall of Fame induction ceremony. I didnt regret a minute of it even though we ran against heavy-backed teams. We still had fun!

And when asked about his love of the sport, Donlavey, who recently celebrated his 90th birthday, added, The only reason why I got into it, the only reason why Ive stayed in it is because its fun. To waste just one day of your life on doing something that you didnt want to do is terrible because you can never get it back.

A NASCAR hero, a Virginia hero and friend to all, Donlavey left his mark on the sport and will never be forgotten. Junie was there at the very beginning of NASCAR, said Virginia announcing great and RIR historian, Joe Kelly. Hes seen em all, known em all. Theres no better man than Junie Donlavey.

http://www.rir.com/Articles/2014/05/Donlavey-a-NASCAR-Hero.aspx

Dennis Garrett
Richmond,Va. USA

I'll never forget Ricky Rudd telling NASCAR's Carl Hill at Richmond sign-in that it would be easier for Junie to give Carl the Richmond telephone directory than list all the friends and helpers who needed pit passes. R.I.P. Junie.

Dave,

Welcome back!!

Friday night, June 27, 2014 at Southside Speedway, Chesterfield County, Va. will be have an "Junie Donlavey Race Night".

It will have Junie Donlavey's family and friends including radio race talk hosts Joe & Ruth Kelly and Maryanna & Bob Wilcox of "Let' Talk Racing With Joe & Ruth Kelly".

Dennis Garrett

Richmond,Va. USA

Growing up in Richmond and cutting my racing teeth on NASCAR asphalt modified racing at Southside Speedway in the mid-60s, you've often heard me tell on these pages of the four New England Modified racers - Ed Flemke, Red Foote, Rene Charland and Denny Zimmerman (the kid of the bunch and Flemke's protege), known collectively as "The Eastern Bandits" - who came south in the early 60s and made Richmond their base as they cleaned house in modified races at Southside, South Boston, Manassas, Marlboro and even Bowman-Gray Stadium until Flemke shared the secrets of their lightweight chassis.

A year ago (February 21, 2013), Zimmerman - the 1971 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year - made a post on the site dogfightmag.com in the Vintage Modified section recalling the help given to other racers back in the early 60s by Junie Donlavey. I think the short post about Junie Donlavey in his pre-Cup days by a renowned racer is very insightful and appropriate at this time of his passing for those who never saw the weekly short track side of Junie:

Feb. 21, 2013

First of all....Junie Donlavey....what a gentleman...a good friend....a great ambassador for auto racing. Junie ran a shop (called Swansboro Motor Company) in Richmond that put garbage trucks together for Truxmore, didn't build em just assembled them. His shop would take a brand new truck chassis and a brand new garbage canister/compacter (or whatever they are called) and put em together and out would roll a brand new garbage truck.

That was his day job (which he delegated to a very capable crew), his real interest was racing. In later years (after the Eastern Bandit days) Junie got involved in Grand National Cars and many of the drivers he hired went on to great careers. Back to the Bandit days tho....We would arrive at his shop in Richmond Friday morning after running New Egypt NJ the night before. Friday night was always Southside Speedway. Usually there was stuff to do on our cars and Junie would open a bay for us to work on our cars. Forgot to tell you his shop was (as I remember) about 8 bays, 6 for the garbage trucks and 2 for his race cars. If we needed help he would even lend some of his working staff to help us. Then if time permitted we would check in to the motel get some sleep and then off to Southside Speedway. After the races back to the motel, then Saturday morning, back to Junies shop to work on our race cars and get ready for Manassas VA Saturday night (South Boston if they had a big money purse) but usually Manassas.

Junie and his employees were always most gracious and willing to help even when (in the beginning) when we were whipping them. They got a pretty good deal too because Eddie Flemke was helping them (schooling them) make their cars handle better and before long it was no longer easy pickings. I think Eddie single handed improved the competition every where we went.

This was a time period that mostly Sonny Hutchins drove for Junie. The Eastern Bandits were (4 of us) Eddie Flemke, Rene Charland, Red Foote in the J2 and me the kid. Red Foote moved to Richmond after the J2 for some reason quit traveling. Red could have driven for just about anyone down there he wanted to but he drove for Junie sometimes and also the #8 out of Norfolk.

That's it for now but I can't thank Junie enough for what he did for us and racing in general.

Denny Zimmerman. (1971 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year and former "Eastern Bandit")