Robert Glen Johnson, Jr. (born June 28, 1931) was one of the most successful NASCAR drivers in history and later an even more successful team owner.
In his career he claimed 50 victories as a driver, with his first big win at the Daytona 500 in 1960. It was in practicing for that race that he discovered the concept of "drafting," running close behind another car and taking advantage of its slipstream to gain additional speed. Using that technique he won the race, despite the fact that his car was slower than others in the field. In all, he won 11 major speedway races before retiring in 1966.
As a team owner, he worked with some of the legendary drivers in NASCAR history, including Bobby Allison, Cale Yarborough, Darrell Waltrip, Terry Labonte, Geoffrey Bodine , and Bill Elliott. In all, his drivers won 139 races, a record second only to Petty Enterprises, and won six Nextel Cup Championships -- three with Yarborough (1976-1978) and Waltrip (1981-82, 1985).
He was inducted as a member of the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1990. His first marriage, while faithful for over 30 years, did not bear any children, and ended in divorce in 1992. His marriage to current wife Lisa in 1994 has resulted in two children, daughter Meredith Susanne, and son Robert Glen Johnson III.
