News flashes erupted Friday to announce the death of NASCAR legend and North Carolina native Junior Johnson.
A key figure in NASCAR history, Johnson was born in Ronda, NC, in Wilkes County, a tiny town even today.
He grew up in a tradition of moonshining and spent a year in jail himself for possession.
He was never caught as a driver though.
Johnson became an absolutely superb driver, running on unpaved back roads at night, often with no lights, outrunning police and revenuers who would often tip their hats to him the next day out of respect.