I recently went home to attend a Tribute to Junie Donlavey night at Southside Speedway. Junie is a NASCAR legend and was owner of the number ninety race team for over fifty years. His car only won one points race and one Gatorade dual, but winning wasn’t what Junie is known for. Junie provided the opportunity to more than sixty-five drivers to race at the elite level in NASCAR. He was always willing to give a driver his first or last ride. Many of those that drove for Junie have become famous in their own right such as Ken Shrader, Ernie Irvan, Ricky Rudd, Rick Mast, Dick Trickle, Mike Wallace, Hut Stricklin, Benny Parsons, and Robby Gordon. Jodie Ridley was the only driver to give Junie a win and that happened in 1987 at the Mason-Dixon 500 in Dover, Delaware. Three drivers earned the Rookie of the Year award while piloting one of Junie’s cars.

I met Junie when he surprised me at my Eagle Scout Court of Honor. My Scoutmaster invited him and Junie missed a race to come. Junie stated that my accomplishment was more important than a race because he had been to races before and would go to them again. That’s what Junie does – he is always thinking of other people. After meeting Junie, he allowed me to volunteer at his race shop. It was there that I got to work on race cars doing everything from fabricating parts to helping decal the car. Junie often told me stories of his racing days and advised me on my career goals to be a motorsports engineer.

Junie is a pseudo grandfather to me. He’s not only been to my Eagle ceremony, but he attended high school band concerts, and took me to lunch. Junie is a personal mentor. He quietly goes about his days, helping others, and never expecting anything in return. He’s kind and polite. He’s friendly. He’s successful. And, he’s a friend.

I wouldn’t have missed going to the tribute to such a great person ! He definitely deserved it!