J. D. McDuffie facts for kids
Quick facts for kids J. D. McDuffie |
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McDuffie in 1991
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| Born | John Delphus McDuffie Jr. December 5, 1938 Upper Little River Township, North Carolina, U.S. |
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| Died | August 11, 1991 (aged 52) Watkins Glen, New York, U.S. |
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| Cause of death | Basilar skull fracture | ||||||
| NASCAR Cup Series career | |||||||
| 653 races run over 27 years | |||||||
| Best finish | 9th (1971) | ||||||
| First race | 1963 Speedorama 200 (Myrtle Beach) | ||||||
| Last race | 1991 Budweiser at The Glen (Watkins Glen) | ||||||
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John Delphus McDuffie Jr. (born December 5, 1938 – died August 11, 1991) was an American stock car racing driver. He competed in NASCAR's top series, the Winston Cup Series, from 1963 to 1991. He earned 106 top-10 finishes during his career. McDuffie holds the record for the most starts in NASCAR's top level without a win, with 653 races. Sadly, he passed away in a racing accident at Watkins Glen International in 1991.
Racing Journey
J. D. McDuffie first saw a race at Bowman Gray Stadium when he was ten years old. He was inspired by famous racers like Curtis Turner and Glen Wood. This experience made him want to become a race car driver himself.
He started his racing career on dirt tracks. He chose the number 70 for his car because it was easy to paint and remember. McDuffie won several smaller races in the Carolinas. He even won a championship at a small dirt track near Rockingham, North Carolina.
McDuffie made his NASCAR Grand National debut in 1963. This series is now known as the NASCAR Cup Series. His first race was at the Racing Association of Myrtle Beach, Inc. Speedway. He drove an old 1961 Ford that used to belong to Curtis Turner.
Even though he was great on dirt tracks, McDuffie didn't have the same success in NASCAR's top series. His best NASCAR finish was third place at the Albany-Saratoga Speedway in 1971. In 1978, he won his only pole position in the Winston Cup, at the Delaware 500. A pole position means starting the race from the very front.
McDuffie usually raced with a small budget. But in 1982, he got a chance to drive a second car for Junior Johnson's team. This was to help protect Darrell Waltrip who was trying to win the championship that year.
During a qualifying race for the 1988 Daytona 500, McDuffie was in an accident. He suffered second- and third-degree burns. This happened because his fireproof gloves were stolen before the race, and he raced without them. Today, NASCAR rules do not allow drivers to race without proper safety gear.
The day before his final race, McDuffie won a celebrity race. It took place in Owego, New York, at the Shangri-La Speedway. This track was close to Watkins Glen.
McDuffie still holds the record for the most starts in NASCAR's top series without winning a race. He started 653 races, which ranks him 22nd all-time. In 2016, a racing team called Front Row Motorsports and driver Landon Cassill honored McDuffie. They used a special paint design on their car that looked like McDuffie's old car.
Safety Changes After His Death
J. D. McDuffie was involved in a serious accident on August 11, 1991. It happened during the 1991 Budweiser at The Glen race at Watkins Glen International. On the fifth lap, his car had a mechanical problem. The left front wheel spindle broke off his car. This made him lose his brakes and steering.
His car then crashed into the outside wall and tire barrier. The impact was so strong that his car bounced into the air and landed upside-down. Another driver, Jimmy Means, also crashed in the same spot. Means was able to slow down and only had minor injuries. He quickly got out of his car to check on McDuffie.
Race officials and medical teams rushed to the scene. The race was stopped for nearly two hours. Sadly, NASCAR later announced that McDuffie had passed away instantly from serious head injuries.
McDuffie's death led to important safety changes in motorsports. Just six weeks before, another driver, Tommy Kendall, had a bad crash in the same area of the track. After these accidents, Watkins Glen International made changes. They added a new section of track called a "bus stop chicane" before the dangerous corner. They also added a gravel trap, which is now a paved runoff area, to help slow down cars that go off track.
At the time, experts were already working on new safety devices for drivers' heads and necks. J. D. McDuffie's death, along with other accidents, helped push for more research and funding for these devices. This led to the development of the HANS device. This device helps protect a driver's head and neck during a crash.
After more racing accidents in the late 1990s and early 2000s, including the death of Dale Earnhardt, Sr., the HANS device became mandatory. Today, most racing organizations around the world, including NASCAR, require drivers to use head and neck restraints. This helps make racing much safer for everyone.
McDuffie's wife, Ima Jean, tried to sue Watkins Glen. She claimed the wall he hit was unsafe. However, the judge decided that McDuffie knew the track well. The judge also ruled that the accident was caused by a mechanical failure in his car.
Family Life
J. D. McDuffie lived in Sanford, North Carolina. The people in his hometown supported him throughout his racing career. He married Ima Jean Wood in 1959. They had two children, Jeff and Linda. All of them survived him.
McDuffie is buried at Buffalo Cemetery in Sanford, North Carolina. His wife, Ima Jean, passed away in 2021 at the age of 83.
See also
