Junie Donlavey - King of the Rent - A - Racers - Not Just in Cup
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Thanks, Dennis. I actually lived in an apartment on German School Road for 9 months in 1972.
Forum Activity for @dave-fulton
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Junie Donlavey - King of the Rent - A - Racers - Not Just in Cup
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Dennis, the recent article on the Junie Tribute night at Southside Speedway mentioned Junie was now living in a retirement village. Is that the German School Rd address?
"A busload of friends from his retirement community traveled to the Southside tribute to applaud their gray-haired buddy."
Junie Donlavey - King of the Rent - A - Racers - Not Just in Cup
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Most of us know that if you look at the list of NASCAR car owner Junie Donlavey drivers in his Cup cars over the years, many would fall into the category of the "Rent-A-Racer" - either the driver or the promoter paid the Richmond, Virginia car owner to furnish a car for a particular event.
BUT, did you know that Junie has also beenthe "go-to" owner of choice for promoters needing a car for the local hero to drive in the short-lived NASCAR Grand National East Series during its two year existence - 1972-1973?
During the two season span of the NASCAR Grand National East Series, Donlavey cars posted 7 Top-5 finishes, including 2 wins - all in the #90 - all entries being paid by the promoter so a local "star" with ticket selling capability could race.
In 1972, Buddy Baker won at Columbia, SC and Max Berrier won at Winston-Salem in the Donlavey #90. Cale Yarborough was 2nd at Hickory in Junie's #90 that season, also.
In 1973, Cale posted two 2nd-place finishes at Fayetteville, NC's Cumberland County track and Harry Gant had a 3rd and a 5th at Hickory, all in Junie Donlavey's #90.
Junie did whatever it took to survive. Not only in Cup, but in the Grand National East. Junie was also Big Bill France's "go-to" guy when Bill wanted a stock car at LeMans or an "International Star" like a Jackie Oliver to spice up his Grand National stock car series. When we think of teams with multiple entries in races, we think of Petty, Holman-Moody, etc. But, Junie also had his share of multiple entries back in the day, often his own driver in the #90 and another in a second rent-a-ride in the same event. We won't ever see a #90 Junie Donlavey win again, but win in NASCAR he did - too many times to count in the NASCAR Modified Division with Runt Harris and Sonny Hutchins, 1 time in Winston Cup with Jody Ridley and twice in the long forgotten NASCAR Grand National East with Buddy Baker and Max Berrier.
Hats off to Junie Donlavey, the King of the Rent-a-Racers and his operation on a shoestring!
updated by @dave-fulton: 12/05/16 04:02:07PM
Dec 12, 1971 - The King ropes 'em in College Station
Stock Car Racing History
Looking at the 1971 schedule, the one event Richard Petty skipped was the November 7th Georgia 500 at Macon, Georgia's Middle Georgia Raceway, an event that included 11 "Pony Cars" (Camaros, Mustangs, Javelins, Cougars, Firenbirds) among the 32 starters.That race was won byBobby Allison in a Holman-Moody Ford.
Dec 12, 1971 - The King ropes 'em in College Station
Stock Car Racing History
I found two things in the accompanying newspaper article extremely interesting:
1) Richard saying that running 46 races that year was "no big deal" (a thought that would choke today's racers).
2) The rain delayed race date causing Richard to postpone a trip to visit the troops in Vietnam by one week.
Oh... and Happy Birthday to Ms. Notenoughcountry!
"Secret" NASCAR Announcer and Driver Interview Instructions Found & Made Public
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Max, Funny you should mention sweet tea. Growing up in Richmond, I remember Dad pouring many spoonfuls in a glass of iced tea. As soon as it was stirred, it all settled to the bottom. First thing I was taught in NC was that the sugar went in the pitcher BEFORE the hot water. A well learned lesson. I can't imagine a plate of bbq without pitchers and pitchers of sweet tea.
"Secret" NASCAR Announcer and Driver Interview Instructions Found & Made Public
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I born and raised in the city. I walked to all 3 of my schools growing up. The one farthest away was 1/2-mile. I had the mumps in kindergarten and missed our trip to a farm. When I got married and moved next door to my in-laws on the farm, I experienced not only a language barrier, but complete culture shock. First I had to help my father-in-law dig a septic tank. Didn't know what that was. They had a wash house, a smoke house, a pack house, a corn crib, and tobacco barns, many pecan trees and grape vines. There was tobacco, winter wheat, corn, soybeans and three large gardens, as well as hogs. The only John Deere hat I had ever seen was worn by my friend Frank's father in Richmond. He owned a John Deere dealership in the middle of the city. In addition to learning what hosepipes, zincs and younguns were, I learned about cropping tobacco, suckering tobacco, and taking out tobacco... all new phrases to me. I went through hog killing time and grinding sausage and smoking hams. There was a John Deere tractor and an International Harvester tractor. Did I mention that my father-in-law did all this on the side. He was a finished carpenter by trade and built some of the lovliest homes in Wilson County, NC. When my work day at the Wrangler Jeans operation was over, I was ready to relax. When my father-in-law's regular work day was over, he started farming. He chewed tobacco and was buried in his bib overalls with a carpenter's rule in the rule pocket and a chaw of tobacco in his side pocket. I definitely received my Master's Degree in Southern education from my late father-in-law, drawl and all.
"Secret" NASCAR Announcer and Driver Interview Instructions Found & Made Public
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After I married my country gal wife in Wilson, NC, she had to 'splain to me what a hosepipe (garden hose) and zinc (kitchen sink) were! I figured out "younguns" by myself.
"Secret" NASCAR Announcer and Driver Interview Instructions Found & Made Public
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Tim, after I had lived for many years in NC, Texas and South Carolina, my dear old mom in Richmond, with her Virginia broque, once asked me if I couldn't talk like normal people again.