Who was the last NASCAR driver to serve jail time for running moonshine?
It was Junior Johnson. Arrested in 1956 for operating an illegal moonshine still, the future NASCAR Hall of Famer served 11 months in federal prison in 1957. Though the conviction was for distilling rather than hauling liquor, Johnson is widely regarded as the last NASCAR driver to be jailed over moonshining—an episode that has come to symbolize the sport’s bootlegging roots. He later received a presidential pardon from Ronald Reagan in 1986.
Why Junior Johnson’s case still resonates
Junior Johnson’s story bridges NASCAR’s folk-hero past and its modern, mainstream stature. Before becoming a 50-time Cup Series race winner and a championship team owner, Johnson grew up in North Carolina’s Yadkin Valley, where moonshining was a family trade. His imprisonment for a still operation was a coda to the sport’s bootlegger era, and his subsequent success—capped by a presidential pardon—cemented his image as the archetypal racer forged by backroad ingenuity.
Key dates in Johnson’s bootlegging and racing story
The following timeline highlights the moments that connect Johnson’s moonshining past to his racing legacy.
- 1931: Born Robert Glenn “Junior” Johnson in Ronda, North Carolina.
- 1956: Arrested and later convicted for operating an illegal moonshine still.
- 1957: Serves 11 months in federal prison related to the moonshine conviction.
- 1960: Wins the Daytona 500 as a driver.
- 1960s–1970s: Transitions to team ownership, eventually fielding championship-winning cars.
- 1986: Receives a presidential pardon from Ronald Reagan for the 1956 conviction.
- 2010: Inducted into the inaugural class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
- 2019: Dies at age 88, remembered as “The Last American Hero.”
Taken together, these milestones show how Johnson’s life traced the arc from backwoods stills to NASCAR’s brightest stages, reinforcing his status as the sport’s most emblematic moonshine-era figure.
Moonshine and NASCAR’s early DNA
Stock car racing’s early development was entwined with the Appalachian moonshine trade. Drivers who learned car control while outrunning revenue agents brought those skills to dirt ovals after World War II. As NASCAR formalized and commercialized the sport, the bootlegging link faded—but not before legends like Junior Johnson made the leap from outlaw roads to sanctioned speedways.
Common misconceptions about the “last moonshine” claim
These points clarify what Johnson’s case does—and doesn’t—mean in NASCAR history.
- Johnson’s prison time stemmed from operating a still, not being caught transporting liquor, though he was a noted moonshine runner earlier in life.
- Many early racers had ties to bootlegging culture, but few served time during the NASCAR era; Johnson is the last major NASCAR driver known to have done so for moonshining.
- The 1986 presidential pardon underscored how the public and policymakers had come to view historic moonshine offenses in a different light.
Understanding these nuances helps separate lore from fact while preserving the essential truth: Johnson’s case represents the final, high-profile legal chapter linking NASCAR drivers to moonshining.
Summary
Junior Johnson was the last NASCAR driver to serve jail time for moonshining, serving 11 months in 1957 after a 1956 conviction for operating an illegal still. A Daytona 500 winner, pioneering team owner, Hall of Famer, and the recipient of a 1986 presidential pardon, Johnson remains the enduring symbol of NASCAR’s bootlegger origins.
Who is the most famous moonshine runner?
Here’s a look at some of the most famous moonshiners of the Prohibition-era Smokies.
- Marvin “Popcorn” Sutton. Born in 1946, Marvin “Popcorn” Sutton was a third-generation moonshiner from Maggie Valley, North Carolina.
- Al Capone.
- Robert Glenn Johnson Sr.
- Robert Glen “Junior” Johnson.
- Amos Owens.
- Charles Folias.
- Buck O’Hairen.
Who was the most feared NASCAR driver of all time?
Number one Dale Nhard Senior the Intimidator. He wasn’t just a driver he was a force of nature dale didn’t just race he dominated his His aggressive style and win at all costs. Mentality.
Which NASCAR drivers ran moonshine?
NASCAR’s origins are deeply tied to the illegal moonshine runners of the Prohibition era, particularly in the American South. These drivers modified cars to haul large loads of illegal whiskey and evade law enforcement, leading to “souped-up” vehicles and skilled driving that evolved into organized stock car racing. Legendary figures like Junior Johnson, a skilled moonshiner and driver, transitioned their expertise from the backroads to organized NASCAR tracks, becoming pioneers of the sport.
From Moonshine Runs to the Racetrack
- Motivations: Many poor, rural individuals saw moonshining as a path to money, adventure, and a different kind of success, escaping harsh conditions.
- Car Modifications: Moonshiners invested heavily in their cars, creating fast, durable vehicles capable of carrying heavy loads of alcohol and outrunning police. Modifications included:
- Engine upgrades: To increase speed and power.
- Reinforced suspension: To handle the weight of the liquor.
- Aerodynamic tweaks: Removing windshield wipers and taping around headlights for speed.
- Defensive measures: Steel plates to protect radiators from gunfire and oil/nails dropped to stop pursuers.
- Origin of Racing: Moonshine runners, skilled in evading authorities on winding backroads, began holding races for fun and competition. These “outlaw” races eventually evolved into a recognized sport.
Pioneering Figures
- Junior Johnson: Opens in new tabPerhaps the most famous example, Johnson was a legendary moonshiner and driver who used his driving and mechanical skills on the road and later became a successful NASCAR team owner.
- Lloyd Seay: Opens in new tabA skilled Georgia moonshiner and driver whose racing prowess on a 1939 “Silver Bullet” Ford was a precursor to NASCAR.
The Birth of NASCAR
- Bill France Sr.: The founder of NASCAR recognized the talent and skill of these moonshine drivers.
- Formation: In 1947, France organized a meeting at the Streamline Hotel in Daytona, Florida, uniting the fragmented stock car racing associations and forming the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR).
- Legacy: The early success and popularity of NASCAR stemmed directly from the talent and experience of its moonshiner founders, who brought their speed, skill, and cars from the illegal liquor trade to the racetrack.
What happened to Junior Johnson?
Death. Johnson died at a hospice care facility in Charlotte on December 20, 2019, at age 88.
