Legends descend on Darlington Raceway

Junior Johnson might find it a little hard to fit into today’s NASCAR.
With NASCAR’s stringent enforcement of its rules these days, Johnson — one of the sport’s notorious cheaters in the 1950s and ’60s — would probably rack up his share of fines and penalties.
Last week, seven members of Joe Gibbs Racing’s Nationwide teams were suspended for infractions at Michigan International Speedway.
“You can’t get around anything anymore,” said Johnson, who will appear at this weekend’s Darlington Historic Racing Festival.
Johnson always was one to go against the grain, all the way back to when he was running moonshine for his father as a teenager.
As a car owner, Johnson pushed the envelope. Some of his creations included running a 500 cubic-inch motor to make it seem like it was a 358 cubic-inch motor.
Another one of Johnson’s tricks was moving the exhaust of his driver LeeRoy Yarborough’s car from the side to the back so drivers who tried to draft got overheated from exhaust and carbon monoxide.
“You never wanted to leave anything on the table,” Johnson said. “If you don’t try to fudge something, then you would leave it on the table.”
Johnson is never shy about his ways of getting around things,  adding, “I knew I was wrong a lot of the times before I left home.”
In Johnson’s mind, though, he had to do anything to stay competitive.
It’s hard to argue with the results. Johnson won 50 races as a driver and had even more success as an owner. Johnson’s drivers won 139 races and six titles, including three in a row by Sardis native Cale Yarborough.
“You weren’t wrong per se ... you just found a better way of doing things,” the 77-year-old said.
Johnson will do a question-and-answer session with Darrell Waltrip at Darlington on Saturday. Other legends scheduled to appear at the festival include Bobby Allison, Buddy Baker, David Pearson and Ned Jarrett.
Johnson says the event is great for the track, which held a race on Labor Day weekend from 1950-2003.
The last four years, Darlington’s race date has been run on Mother’s Day weekend.
“It is a great idea,” Johnson said. “I attended the Goodwood Festival in England and that was a successful deal.
“People need to know what has come through the past and the history of this sport.”
The festival in England features all types of motorsports and attracts more than 150,000 people each year.
Darlington president Chris Browning is hoping to draw 3,000-5,000 visitors each day.
“This is our first time with this and we’re learning, but we feel this can be successful,” he said.
More than 100 vintage cars from 22 states will be turning laps at the event. Most of the former NASCAR drivers’ former cars will be showcased as well as four cars from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The event will also feature a Kids Zone and children 12-and-under will be admitted free.
“We have something for everybody,” Browning said. “I think it’s really going to be pretty cool. A lot of people have been asking for this, and this is the next best thing to a race.”

SCHEDULE
Saturday and Sunday
9 a.m. — Spectator gates open
10 a.m. — On-track sessions begin
Noon — Legends on-track session begins
1 p.m. — On-track session II begins
LEGENDS SCHEDULE
(Located in Cup garage next to Goodyear building)
Saturday
10:30-11:30 a.m. — Q&A with Darrell Waltrip and Junior Johnson
11:30 a.m.-noon — Autograph session with Darrell Waltrip, Junior Johnson and Charlie Glotzbach
1:30-2:30 p.m. —  Q&A with Bud Moore and Cotton Owens
2:30-3 p.m. — Autograph session with Bud Moore, Cotton Owens, David Pearson and Waddell Wilson
3-4 p.m. — Q&A with Ray Fox, Ned Jarrett and Rex White
4-4:30 p.m. — Autograph session with Ray Fox, Ned Jarrett, Rex White, Raymond Parks and Charlie Glotzbach
Sunday
10:30-11:30 a.m. —  Q&A with David Pearson and Leonard Wood
11:30 a.m.-noon — Autograph session with David Pearson, Leonard Wood and Reb Wickershamm
1:30-2:30 p.m. — Q&A with Cotton Owens, Buddy Baker and Marvin Panch
2:30-3:00 p.m. — Autograph session with Cotton Owens, Buddy Baker and Marvin Panch
3-4 p.m. — Q&A with Bobby Allison and Bud Moore
4-4:30 p.m. — Autograph session with Bobby Allison, Bud Moore and Jim Vandiver