Bunkie Blackburn
Encyclopedia
James Ronald "Bunkie" Blackburn (April 22, 1936 – February 28, 2006) was a NASCAR
racecar driver.
racetrack.
He later competed at historic Nashville Speedway USA against many future legendary drivers.
In 1967 he was part of a three driver crew that set a world speed record of 174 mph in a Smokey Yunkick Z-28 Camaro at the Bonneville Salt Flats in a USAC/FIA event.
(then Late Model) race from the pole.
He had 14-Top 10 and 4-Top 5 finishes in Grand National (now NEXTEL Cup
). He drove Cup racecars from the late 1950s to the early 1970s for Smokey Yunick and Petty Enterprises
.
He almost won the 1961 Dixie 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway
in relief for Junior Johnson
. He took Johnson's car to the lead with 5 laps to go after Fireball Roberts
ran out of gas. Bunkie also ran out of gas on the final lap to hand the victory to David Pearson.
He retired after a racing injury.
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
racecar driver.
Career
Blackburn's father owned and operated the Fayetteville, North CarolinaFayetteville, North Carolina
Fayetteville is a city located in Cumberland County, North Carolina, United States. It is the county seat of Cumberland County, and is best known as the home of Fort Bragg, a U.S. Army post located northwest of the city....
racetrack.
He later competed at historic Nashville Speedway USA against many future legendary drivers.
In 1967 he was part of a three driver crew that set a world speed record of 174 mph in a Smokey Yunkick Z-28 Camaro at the Bonneville Salt Flats in a USAC/FIA event.
NASCAR career
Bunkie won the 1968 Daytona 300 Busch SeriesBusch Series
The NASCAR Nationwide Series is a stock car racing series owned and operated by the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing. It is promoted as NASCAR's "minor league" circuit, and is a proving ground for drivers who wish to step up to the organization's "big leagues"; the Sprint Cup circuit...
(then Late Model) race from the pole.
He had 14-Top 10 and 4-Top 5 finishes in Grand National (now NEXTEL Cup
NEXTEL Cup
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is the top racing series of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing . The series was originally known as the Strictly Stock Series and Grand National Series . While leasing its naming rights to R. J...
). He drove Cup racecars from the late 1950s to the early 1970s for Smokey Yunick and Petty Enterprises
Petty Enterprises
Petty Enterprises was a NASCAR racing team based in Randleman, North Carolina, USA. The team was owned by Richard Petty, his son Kyle Petty, and Boston Ventures. At the time of its folding the team operated the #43 and #45 Dodge Chargers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Petty Enterprises ran from...
.
He almost won the 1961 Dixie 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway
Atlanta Motor Speedway
Atlanta Motor Speedway is a track just outside Hampton, Georgia, twenty miles south of Atlanta. It is a quad-oval track with a seating capacity of over 125,000. It opened in 1960 as a standard oval. In 1994, 46 condominiums were built over the northeastern side of the track...
in relief for Junior Johnson
Junior Johnson
Robert Glenn Johnson, Jr. , better known as Junior Johnson, is a retired moonshiner in the rural South who became one of the early superstars of NASCAR in the 1950s and 1960s. He won 50 NASCAR races in his career before retiring in 1966...
. He took Johnson's car to the lead with 5 laps to go after Fireball Roberts
Fireball Roberts
Edward Glenn Roberts, Jr. , nicknamed "Fireball", was one of the pioneering race car drivers of NASCAR.-Background:...
ran out of gas. Bunkie also ran out of gas on the final lap to hand the victory to David Pearson.
He retired after a racing injury.