J.D. McDuffie was NASCAR's beloved independent, making 653 Winston Cup starts over 28 years in his own underfunded No. 70 without ever winning. Fans adored him precisely because he raced on heart and duct tape, competing against factory-backed giants week after week.
At Watkins Glen in 1991, McDuffie lost his brakes and crashed into the tire barrier at full speed, dying at 52. In response, the track installed the 'Inner Loop' chicane, forever changing the circuit's layout.
At a Glance
- Born: December 5, 1938, Sanford, North Carolina
- Died: August 11, 1991, Watkins Glen, New York
- Age: 52
- Cause of death: Injuries from a crash in the 1991 Budweiser at The Glen
Final Resting Place
Buffalo Cemetery, Sanford, North Carolina.
From the Book
This profile is adapted from Legends at Rest: NASCAR Legends by Howard Wear.