"The Last American Hero is Junior Johnson, Yes!”

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Get a glimpse inside the mind of Tom Wolfe, the writer of the legendary article "The Last American Hero is Junior Johnson. Yes!” that ran in the March 1965 issue of Esquire Magazine. Wolfe died May 14, 2018, at age 88.
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Пікірлер: 135

  • @samuelbrown9363
    @samuelbrown93633 жыл бұрын

    I met him twice and got his autograph once, but my fondest memory will always be the thank you he gave me when I helped him get a stuck snack from a vending machine at the Mt. Pocono Airport ❤🤙

  • @XnaughtylusX
    @XnaughtylusX4 ай бұрын

    im from sweden and im a huge nascar fan since i was a kid. im 40 now. nascar have never been a huge sport in sweden but i fell for it and love it. i would do anything to meet earnhardt sr and jr and junior johnson and many more. sadly. many of them are long gone. thank you Junior Johnson for everything you did for nascar. may you rest in peace

  • @mikewitcombe6507
    @mikewitcombe65074 жыл бұрын

    Back in highschool, around 1974 or 1975, a movie came out called The Last American Hero. It was all based on Juniors moon shine days and racing. Rest in peace brother. 🇺🇸👍🇺🇸🙏🇺🇸

  • @robertculbreth694

    @robertculbreth694

    3 жыл бұрын

    Can watch it for free on KZread.

  • @user-bn5wf3ts4l

    @user-bn5wf3ts4l

    Жыл бұрын

    Unfortunately the movie was nothing like the real life story of Junior Johnson.

  • @samulrich9011
    @samulrich9011 Жыл бұрын

    Thank you for making this. What a concept, and what a beautiful execution.

  • @zachpeterson4519
    @zachpeterson45194 жыл бұрын

    Rest in peace Junior Johnson.

  • @anthonyf.3009

    @anthonyf.3009

    4 жыл бұрын

    o7

  • @juniorjohnson5961

    @juniorjohnson5961

    Жыл бұрын

    Alive & Well & living in the heart of the people 🏎️

  • @davy1458
    @davy14584 жыл бұрын

    He will always be my number one hero and enormously influential in my interest and obsession with the automotive hobby. I'd give anything to sit with him and listen to him talk about the old days and the cars he built and raced. To me that would be more valuable than riches or gold.

  • @mikeskidmore6754

    @mikeskidmore6754

    4 жыл бұрын

    There are some good JR Johnson Interviews on Jooow Tooob

  • @francfurian8215
    @francfurian82152 жыл бұрын

    Terrific story, I loved it. Cheers😊

  • @davidhale5791
    @davidhale57913 жыл бұрын

    I remember watching Junior Johnson race and I love to see him race

  • @a456987
    @a4569874 жыл бұрын

    They were both 88 years old when they passed away 😢

  • @sunshinecoolwater3960
    @sunshinecoolwater39604 жыл бұрын

    RIP Junior Johnson - A NASCAR legend

  • @amberpuga7322
    @amberpuga73223 жыл бұрын

    Tom Wolfe's piece of The Last American Hero is one of the finest works of writing that I have ever read.

  • @jimrussell583
    @jimrussell5834 жыл бұрын

    A couple of days ago spent a regular weekly time with Fred Lorenzen, who although in a nursing home with concussive syndrome, still remembers most of his racing days, fellow drivers, and driving Jr's infamous Banana car that always brings a mischievous giant smile. RIP Jr.

  • @oscarjimenezsr.716
    @oscarjimenezsr.7164 жыл бұрын

    You helped Nascar with Winston being the Cup Series Sponsor

  • @barry1705
    @barry1705 Жыл бұрын

    People use the word Icon a lot . Its a word that best describes Jr. He engineered parts from scratch. Building control arms for cars running 170 mph in the early sixties. He was a very intelligent businessman. 6 championships, as a car owner. Three as a driver. He introduced many new drivers to big money sponsors. He brought RJ Reynolds to Sponsor the whole grand national championship series. My Family is from that part of the North Carolina. In that part of the country, not A lot of good paying jobs. Junior showed the rest of the country, hard work and dedication can make you a winner In life. As they say these days Put some love on his name. ❤

  • @jamiesmith143
    @jamiesmith1434 жыл бұрын

    Great piece! Tom and Junior are having a Big time in haven right now.

  • @waynewilson8775
    @waynewilson87753 жыл бұрын

    Junior and Fireball were always at the top on my favorite list. I loved the way they raced and did not have to worry about restrictor plates that kept everyone bunched up.

  • @user-bn5wf3ts4l

    @user-bn5wf3ts4l

    Жыл бұрын

    Unfortunately the crash that caused Fireball Roberts death was because Fireball and Junior got together on the track, that started the chain of events that caused Fireballs death.

  • @mwhitelaw8569
    @mwhitelaw85694 жыл бұрын

    I've watched this video so many times It never gets old They will both be missed

  • @whatincarnation95
    @whatincarnation956 жыл бұрын

    RIP Tom Wolfe. We lost Maynard and now Tom. Godspeed, guys. Godspeed.

  • @marycornett3165

    @marycornett3165

    4 жыл бұрын

    And now Junior

  • @25FIREBALL
    @25FIREBALL4 жыл бұрын

    i read the article --I was in a race car before the end of the 65 season--56 years later I still am --RIP junior-- Lenny FIREBALL Garson

  • @robertculbreth694
    @robertculbreth6943 жыл бұрын

    Ain't no heroes in NASCAR anymore. Just glamor boys.

  • @Dad-979
    @Dad-9792 жыл бұрын

    What an amazing video. RIP JJ

  • @junkyarddog2125
    @junkyarddog21254 жыл бұрын

    Rest easy junior Johnson

  • @MichiganMan1985
    @MichiganMan19854 жыл бұрын

    Super well done piece! RIP Junior, RIP Tom.

  • @bryanbourrie8738
    @bryanbourrie87383 жыл бұрын

    Two "class act gentlemen" that the world is in serious need of today

  • @ryandeweese363
    @ryandeweese3633 жыл бұрын

    Truly Awesome!! I Pray their roots passion and Grit will Continue on to the Next Generation!! I haven't heard of Mr. Wolfe until today, but have seen The Last American Hero... The fight Jr. Johnson had in that movie, the will, and determination he had was remarkable!!

  • @bigro2153
    @bigro21534 жыл бұрын

    That was so cool when the two of them met up for the first time, in a long time, it seemed like

  • @stephencowley8585
    @stephencowley85852 жыл бұрын

    Greatful for the time we had with you and the memories we have of you!

  • @georgemercer3013
    @georgemercer30134 жыл бұрын

    JUNIOR WAS EVERY DAY A LIKE....WHAT A MAN....WILL BE MISSED MUCH...RIP...

  • @es7614
    @es76144 жыл бұрын

    Phenomenal. Racer and Writer alike. And video storytelling that does them both justice.

  • @wv171
    @wv1715 жыл бұрын

    Jr. was the man when it come to stock cars. I like stories of what he pulled on nascar. That would make a great book stories of what the all the teams pulled over on Nascar. Not cheating if you don't get caught. Good one lead weights in tire rims to pass weight limit. then gain 400+ pds once take them heavy rims & tires off car on 1st pit stop.

  • @kevinlewis7882
    @kevinlewis78824 жыл бұрын

    Great video

  • @7viewerlogic670
    @7viewerlogic6704 жыл бұрын

    Great video!

  • @barbarajohnson1772
    @barbarajohnson17724 жыл бұрын

    RIP Great history of such a historic man

  • @papadragon695
    @papadragon6952 жыл бұрын

    RIP Junior Johnson

  • @user-ge3uy4us3z
    @user-ge3uy4us3z4 жыл бұрын

    Your one of the best jr.. R.I.P. brother prayers my friend. Let's keep shine running going . 😉😉😉😉

  • @logansmith9231
    @logansmith92314 жыл бұрын

    Missing and remembering you both; Jr. Johnson and Tom Wolfe; great lives lived, men. Christ's blessings.

  • @armyretired28
    @armyretired283 жыл бұрын

    RIP Junior! Sad to see a great track "North Wilkesboro"speedway and driver/owner pass away into the sunset....

  • @sammylacks4937
    @sammylacks4937 Жыл бұрын

    Junior did more single handedly to promote the sport and helped so many with parts not to mention drivers for him.

  • @julianwalker1546
    @julianwalker1546 Жыл бұрын

    Superb!

  • @dalegroves1918
    @dalegroves19184 жыл бұрын

    We were blessed with their presence, that was then. May you shine brighter in heaven than on earth.

  • @joshuafarmer3467
    @joshuafarmer34673 жыл бұрын

    RIP Junior and Tom, great short movie.

  • @zachdenton4612
    @zachdenton46124 жыл бұрын

    Rest easy junior you did so much for our sport we will be forever greatful

  • @ITxManster
    @ITxManster4 жыл бұрын

    Sad days losing legends like JR. God speed you will be missed.

  • @Spacejunk63
    @Spacejunk634 жыл бұрын

    Rest in Peace Junior, you were one of the founding Fathers of what NASCAR is today.

  • @dukeup98
    @dukeup984 жыл бұрын

    Junior and North wilkesboro two of the best thangs that there was for western Nc, I grew up at that track watching nascar and Modfieds,then went to a few party’s at juniors growing up RIP Big Man

  • @joefeldpausch
    @joefeldpausch4 жыл бұрын

    Watching this again reinvigorates my desire to be a better writer and a better race car driver. I don’t even drive a race car. But I sure love me some stock car racing. RIP, Junior😢

  • @jesseortega8598
    @jesseortega85982 жыл бұрын

    This was an amazing story! I saw the movie two weeks ago! I'm currently Building a Model of his 86 Monte Carlo Budweiser KFC car!

  • @DupontandLowesWarrior
    @DupontandLowesWarrior4 жыл бұрын

    1931-2019

  • @travishagan8951
    @travishagan89513 жыл бұрын

    My three loves collide NASCAR, the 60s, and Gonzo journalism

  • @billieleighmusic8153
    @billieleighmusic81534 жыл бұрын

    I’m from the same hometown, rip Junior Johnson !

  • @Blue-rw9kj
    @Blue-rw9kj4 жыл бұрын

    Got to shake your hand way back, Junior Johnson, RIP.

  • @junior3815
    @junior38155 жыл бұрын

    YES! Junior Johnson

  • @stephenbraddy8894
    @stephenbraddy88943 жыл бұрын

    I recently watched "The Last American Hero" and now I am here.

  • @jerryshepherd1645
    @jerryshepherd16454 жыл бұрын

    Great driver great engine and race car builder just a dam good man God is with him

  • @John-uv7zp
    @John-uv7zp4 жыл бұрын

    And this is how we make the moonshine.......

  • @dewightkey6975
    @dewightkey69752 жыл бұрын

    He was Absolutely one of the best he mint business what ever he did raceing or whiskey

  • @dewightkey6975
    @dewightkey69752 жыл бұрын

    That was great

  • @achmadfilzasavikri7998
    @achmadfilzasavikri79982 жыл бұрын

    Rest in ride mr Johnson

  • @jamesolsen1150
    @jamesolsen11504 жыл бұрын

    God bless you Junior

  • @unkagrev1158
    @unkagrev11584 жыл бұрын

    THE MAN , the MYTH , the LEGEND JR . JOHNSON ..... American HERO

  • @animefan0077
    @animefan00774 жыл бұрын

    You will be Missed Junior Johnson

  • @lukekaas362
    @lukekaas3626 жыл бұрын

    We will miss u 😭

  • @Lamarhuffstutler
    @Lamarhuffstutler4 жыл бұрын

    RIP Junior

  • @SugaPuddin89
    @SugaPuddin89 Жыл бұрын

    I like how the old town footage is of Mount Airy and Cornelia, Georgia and not anywhere actually in North Carolina. lol

  • @deathlarsen7502
    @deathlarsen75024 жыл бұрын

    GREAT little documentary. Tom Wolfe is arguably a more legendary writer than Hemingway. (both are in the pantheon)

  • @davidhale5791
    @davidhale57913 жыл бұрын

    I remember watching Junior Johnson race he was a good man I like watching him race

  • @superbird4351
    @superbird43514 жыл бұрын

    Junior and Tom with the racing gods now. I’m sure they are looking down and smiling.

  • @dougauzene8389
    @dougauzene83894 жыл бұрын

    Have Fun, Junior & Tom...

  • @RajahCaruth
    @RajahCaruth4 жыл бұрын

    Rest in power😓

  • @juniorjohnson5961
    @juniorjohnson5961 Жыл бұрын

    I loved it 🏎️

  • @Enzo87325
    @Enzo873253 жыл бұрын

    Amazing filmography

  • @Eli2Sh0rt
    @Eli2Sh0rt4 жыл бұрын

    RIP

  • @dylninfiv6275
    @dylninfiv62754 жыл бұрын

    Rest in peace to both of them.. (Johnson and Wolfe)

  • @Patmanx1
    @Patmanx14 жыл бұрын

    10:53 I know that hill! used to walk up it with my dad when it was still grass. was hard to do at 7yrs but when they paved it, it sure did help the climb. But by then I was 10 I think.

  • @tfderpin
    @tfderpin2 жыл бұрын

    Legends

  • @25FIREBALL
    @25FIREBALL4 жыл бұрын

    this got me into racing

  • @warrenreid9292
    @warrenreid92922 жыл бұрын

    Was a cool movie,loosely based on this legend.

  • @michaelhill3139
    @michaelhill31394 жыл бұрын

    Rest In Peace

  • @todd_gilliland335
    @todd_gilliland3356 жыл бұрын

    RIP Tom Wolfe, May you have fun with Dale, Jd, James, Alan, Davey, Clifford, Fireball, Ayrton and Dan in the sky.

  • @Golfcash

    @Golfcash

    5 жыл бұрын

    @@headbrown5629 wolfe was from the south to....being 1 year apart in age he discovered how much they actually had in common with johnson...sons of the new south making thier way upward in society.....

  • @JediLivesMatter2

    @JediLivesMatter2

    4 жыл бұрын

    Yeah RIP JJ but Earnhardt will still dominate heaven like he did here while he raced this earth

  • @petesmitt
    @petesmitt3 жыл бұрын

    Both Johnson and Wolfe died aged 88..

  • @turbotoommyguns1971
    @turbotoommyguns19713 жыл бұрын

    True Legend

  • @dani6293
    @dani6293 Жыл бұрын

    We Miss You Junior Johnson Rest In Peace Hun ♥

  • @TheFokker03
    @TheFokker034 жыл бұрын

    two names mean stock cars & Nascar to me.,Richard Petty & Junior Johnson.no one else.

  • @shaunclifton5281

    @shaunclifton5281

    4 жыл бұрын

    Same here ! Amen. So sad NASCAR went from Paradise to pure shit decades ago. How sad.

  • @davidstinson5095

    @davidstinson5095

    4 жыл бұрын

    Yeah I got to meet them both and bud Moore and Bobby allison and ned Jarrett and maurice petty and the great David Pearson I very blessed to meet the best !

  • @williamcorbin6453
    @williamcorbin64534 жыл бұрын

    man to be measured by,probably gave away as much as he had

  • @josephmcnally1231
    @josephmcnally12314 жыл бұрын

    Junior Johnson was a great race car driver and wolf was a great reporter too bad there isn't more reporters today reporting real news instead of fake news whether it's instead in sports Politics the presidency whatever good journalists are a Dying Breed May wolf rest in peace and Junior Ann Earnhardt man also Alan kulwicki

  • @slabbusterrtr7690
    @slabbusterrtr76903 жыл бұрын

    Who would wanna go back and watch JJ running at north wilksboro ??

  • @blunt7315
    @blunt73154 жыл бұрын

    Rip j. Johnson you will be missed

  • @demoderbydude7775
    @demoderbydude77754 жыл бұрын

    Rip Junior Johnson

  • @cadynliedke6095
    @cadynliedke60954 жыл бұрын

    Rip junior Johnson

  • @davidhopkins6707
    @davidhopkins6707 Жыл бұрын

    Here after the revival at north wilkesboro speedway

  • @bardamu72
    @bardamu725 жыл бұрын

    JUNIOR JOHNSON la classe ,

  • @stansmad
    @stansmad2 жыл бұрын

    With the money Jr. Johnson brought to Nascar from Winston, the France family owes him a statue at their headquarters ! This created the huge success it became. Sadly it has gone downhill the last 15 years or so. They got greedy and ignored their loyal fans by building and racing on the cookie cutter tracks. Just look in the grandstands nowadays. 🤔

  • @robbyrobinson4500
    @robbyrobinson45003 жыл бұрын

    You will NEVER see real men like these old nascar drivers agaiN. Just a bunch of kids driving cars that damn near anyone can jump in and make a few laps. 20 yrs from now we will be watching nascar drivers race on their video games and nascar will be gone.

  • @robbyrobinson4500

    @robbyrobinson4500

    3 жыл бұрын

    No personality in nascar, and nascar is at fault for not letting their drivers go at it a little. Way to much money in it

  • @FANJG24
    @FANJG244 жыл бұрын

    Junior Johnson is my 2nd cousin 3X removed. I barely missed inheriting the fortune

  • @davidscarfone69

    @davidscarfone69

    4 жыл бұрын

    FANJG24 dumbest comment ever

  • @FANJG24

    @FANJG24

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@davidscarfone69 It's a joke.

  • @bryanmiller6110
    @bryanmiller61103 жыл бұрын

    Junior is the blood of stock car racing.

  • @jessicawells5145
    @jessicawells51455 жыл бұрын

    Anyone know what year it was published?

  • @mgnta1

    @mgnta1

    4 жыл бұрын

    1965

  • @dockey6942
    @dockey6942 Жыл бұрын

    Dam you u tub you got to start over again

  • @oldtimer86
    @oldtimer862 ай бұрын

    Richard Petty is.

  • @JayDee-eu7hr
    @JayDee-eu7hr4 жыл бұрын

    Isn’t this supposed to be a story on junior Jonson? Not the guy that wrote the story about him ??

  • @zabaleta66

    @zabaleta66

    3 жыл бұрын

    I took it to be about the article, and consequently the subject of the said article, and the writer of the article.

  • @Sublimethoughtswithnathan
    @Sublimethoughtswithnathan2 жыл бұрын

    Induct Smokey

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