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Tag: Junie Donlavey

  • Junie Donlavey – Car Owner for the Common Man

    Junie Donlavey – Car Owner for the Common Man

    While the rest of the NASCAR world is celebrating the sport’s most popular driver’s fourth win in 10 years, another stock car icon has passed away. It’s true that today’s youth doesn’t understand the history of the sport, but that’s not unusual. Many don’t understand the history and geography of our nation either.

    Junie Donlavey fielded cars for a lot of years, last in 2002. The list of those who drove his cars reads like a Who’s Who of motorsports. The list starts with legend Sonny Hutchins and continues on through Daytona 500 champ Lee Roy Yarbrough, Bill Dennis, former Sprint Cup champ Bobby Isaac, Harry Gant, Indy 500 champ Johnny Rutherford, NASCAR Hall of Fame member Buck Baker, Kenny Schrader, Buddy Baker, and even Hermie Sadler of TV fame. That’s quite a resume.

    Donlavey competed in NASCAR’s premier series for 45 years and was always underfunded. He worked with an all volunteer crew until 1986 when he was 62 years old. He finally realized that he was unable to continue at age 78, in 2002. He tried again to make the Daytona 500 field two years later but was unsuccessful. His comment was honest, and stated like only Donlavey could do. Never having a big ego, Junie was just glad to be a part of the show.

    “You have to have $8 million to compete here and we are far from that. We go home knowing we held our head high,” he said.”

    Donlavey only had a car to win one race in what is now known as the Sprint Cup Series. It was a race at Dover International Speedway in 1981. Jody Ridley was the driver and the celebration after the win was legendary for Ridley in the No. 90 Ford. Not to be forgotten are the many victories in what would become the Nationwide Series. Bill Dennis was part of that, but lack of money always kept Donlavey in the series in the “also ran” category. His cars had many top-five and top-10 finishes, but only once did he reach victory lane in NASCAR’s top series. Yes, he had limited sponsorship from Richmond’s Truxmore Industries trash truck business and later on, when Schrader was driving, with Schwan’s Red Baron Pizza. After that he had a car with the sponsorship of a West Virginia candidate for governor and other minor sponsorships.

    Never was there a greater gentleman. Back in 2001 while walking through the pits at North Carolina Speedway, I stopped with my colleague Ed Turner and snapped a picture of Donlavey while he was talking with a group of fans. He stopped and thanked me. I was shocked. Later on, I had the chance to talk with him and found that this gentle soul was a true hero of the sport. I will miss him.

    Only the Wood Brothers and Jack Roush can hold up to Donlavey’s record of being loyal to a manufacturer. Junie fielded Fords his entire career. That’s exemplary considering the lack of loyalty we see these days. For Junie, it was always being there and fighting for the win rather than gaining an advantage and dominating the field.

    He gave many drivers the ride which would propel rookies to recognition and former reigning stars to regain their status, and he did it with the aplomb of a Virginia gentleman. I’ll always miss seeing that No. 90 on the track. If there was ever a hero for the common man, it was Junie Donlavey.

  • Countdown to Daytona: 90

    Countdown to Daytona: 90

    As 2011 wraps up and Tony Stewart enjoys his third Sprint Cup title, many teams are already looking to Daytona and the 2012 season, hoping they’ll be the team seated at the champions’ table next year. We’ll count you down to next year’s Daytona 500 (its only 90 days away!) with some numberology for each number as the Super Bowl of NASCAR draws closer.

    [media-credit name=”NASCARMedia/Motorsports Images & Archives” align=”alignright” width=”300″][/media-credit]A car no. 90 was entered in NASCAR’s first-ever race by none other than future two-time champion Tim Flock. Flock finished fifth in that race at Charlotte Speedway (not the same as the current track). He would use the number 90 just eight more times before changing to 91; then his famous number 300. However, the name most associated with car no. 90 is Junie Donlavey.

    A longtime resident of Richmond, Donlavey fielded his first car in 1950 with Runt Harris. Donlavey would dabble in the sport over the next 15 years, but began his long association with the number in 1965 with driver Sonny Hutchins.

    Donlavey’s sole win as an owner came in the 1981 Mason-Dixon 500, when driver Jody Ridley outran Bobby Allison over the last 20 laps to earn both his and Donlavey’s only victory. The victory didn’t come without controversy, however, as Allison’s car owner, Harry Rainer filed a protest, claiming that “No question we were a lap ahead of Ridley”. Although NASCAR admitted to a scoring communication difficulty, they upheld Ridley’s victory after 20 minutes.

    “This has got to be a bigger thrill for Junie than me”, said Ridley. “I’m a rookie in the Grand Nationals. I just can’t believe it. This is the biggest thrill of my life.” Ridley raced for Donlavey through the 1982 season before driving for Robert Mcentrye and Rahmoc. His final Cup race came in 1986.

    Donlavey was well known for giving young drivers a start in racing. Notably, Ken Schrader drove for Donlavey for a three year stint, garnering Rookie of the Year honors in 1985 and nearly winning the 1987 Firecracker 400, losing the lead with two laps to go. Coincidentally, the loss came to Allison, who changed tires during a late caution and stole the victory.

    [media-credit name=”NASCARMedia/Motorsports Images & Archives” align=”alignright” width=”104″][/media-credit]Ricky Rudd, Ernie Irvan, and Mike Wallace all drove for Donlavey in the early parts of their career. Notable drivers who made their debut for Donlavey include Joe Weatherly, Harry Gant, Robby Gordon and current TNT analyst Wally Dallenbach Jr.

    In a recent interview I conducted, Dallenbach said he had “Nothing but great memories” in his time with Donlavey. “I drove for him in my rookie deal into NASCAR, and Junie and the whole team were fantastic. I learned a lot and they were great people. Junie has given a lot of guys opportunities; opportunities they wouldn’t have gotten otherwise. For what he had to work with, he did a great job. Junie never really had what you could call a major sponsor. “Orkin Pest Control and Ford Motorsports Sportswear were the only major primary sponsors Dallenbach had for his rookie season.

    Donlavey was also notable for giving older drivers a shot behind the wheel. Benny Parsons, Lennie Pond, Buddy Baker, Dick Trickle, and Charlie Glotzbach all drove Donlavey livery towards the end of their careers.

    Donlavey’s last start as a car owner came in the 2002 UAW-GM Quality 500 where Jason Hedlesky, current spotter for Carl Edwards drove a Lucas Oil backed machine; dropping out early due to handling issues.

    His former crew chief and current owner Tommy Baldwin Jr., told a USA Today reporter at the time “It’s kind of a shame that he’s gotten to this point where he can’t run successfully week in and week out,” But Junie never really cared about that.” Donlavey seemed to agree, saying that “I have met so many nice people that, if I had to trade the people I met for money, there wouldn’t be enough money around.”

    Dallenbach also agreed, saying “Junie liked [having] the team in Virginia, with friends and family working on the car. In his time, you could do that, but I don’t think Junie wanted to become a big-time Cup team. I think he had the opportunity to do that, but that would have required moving the operation to Charlotte”.

    That was indeed the case, as Sara Lee reportedly pulled their sponsorship after the 2001 season when Donlavey refused to move his team to North Carolina.

    Since then, the no. 90 has been used sparingly, most recently with Scott Riggs driving for Raymond Key at Phoenix in 2010. In total, car no. 90 has obtained two poles, one victory, 64 top five, and 231 top-ten finishes in the course of 918 starts.