Junior Johnson Moonshine NASCAR

Junior Johnson Moonshine NASCAR

MADISON, N.C. -- -- NASCAR legend Junior Johnson'll host the inaugural Carolina 'ShineFest in Madison, N.C. Saturday, Nov. 21-Sunday, Nov. 22 it was announced today. Johnson, recently selected to the inaugural class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame, will appear during both days of the event.

The Carolina 'ShineFest will entertain, teach and honor important parts of North Carolina's historical and cultural past. The event will focus on North Carolina's rich Moonshine history while allowing event attendees to get a glimpse of the history that led to the creation of stock car racing.

During the Prohibition era, 1920-'33, making illegal white liquor (moonshine) was prevalent throughout the country, but nowhere was it more a part of the cultural fabric than in North Carolina. Although Federal Prohibition was repealed in 1933, many states continued prohibition for many years and some areas of the country continue to prohibit the sale and consumption today.

Most North Carolina moonshiners were craftsmen who took pride in the quality of the spirits they produced; the quality of the product created by Johnson and his father was legendary. When Prohibition ended, many moonshiners and bootleggers, including the Johnsons, continued to practice their trade without paying taxes making moonshine illegal once again. North Carolina has long been well-known as the "Moonshine Capital of the World."

"The Carolina 'ShineFest is a great idea, and I'm surprised it took so long for it to happen," Johnson said. "Moonshine has been a part of this part of the country for a long time. We've gone from running from the law to selling a legal product that's a great drink; I think your Midnight Moon is the best Moonshine ever. It's about time we told the story of moonshining to the individuals who live around here. I'm proud to host this moonshine festival; it'll be a great event with something for everyone to enjoy."

All proceeds from Carolina 'ShineFest will profit the Southern Culture Society, a non-profit organization located in Winston-Salem, N.C. whose mission is to celebrate, promote and educate people on the cultural richness of the American South; specifically its music, food, art, crafts, spirits and car racing. Through its community involvement and help of other like-minded charities, the Southern Culture Society strives to keep these regional treasures alive, educate people on their roots and celebrate that which is uniquely Southern.

Carolina 'ShineFest is open to the general public, and admission is free. The event is open from 10 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 21 and from Noon until 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 22. The Carolina 'ShineFest will be a fun-filled, family event as well as a complete way to kick off Thanksgiving week and the upcoming holiday season. Festival attractions include:

? Appearances by moonshine and NASCAR legend Junior Johnson from 3 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. on Saturday and from 2 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. on Sunday.

? Appearances by Robert Johnson, Junior's son, who has begun his racing career with five wins in his first 13 races.

? Tours of Piedmont Distillers, the exclusively legal distillery in North Carolina.

? A large collection of authentic moonshine bootlegging cars.

? Drivers and race cars from the legendary Flathead Ford Racing Association.

? Authentic race cars will be on display showing the evolution of the NASCAR stock car racing -- from its bootlegging roots to today -- from the Winston Cup Museum in Winston-Salem, N.C.

? Music by rising country-music star Matt Stillwell, Holy Ghost Tent Revival, Possum Jenkins, Bruce Piephoff & Band, Piedmont Blues Preservation Society member Matt Hill and Music Maker Relief Foundation artist Pat Cohen.

? The finest North Carolina Barbeque and other central North Carolina culinary delights.

? Locally crafted beverages including: Moonshine cocktails made with Junior Johnson's Midnight Moon and Catdaddy Carolina Moonshine, Magic Hat Brewery beer, Autumn Creek Vineyard Wine and soft drinks from Cheerwine.

? A marketplace showcasing North Carolina's best arts and crafts

? A kids entertainment area

The Carolina 'ShineFest has been made possible through the generous support of many local businesses including Piedmont Distillers, producer of Junior Johnson's Midnight Moon and Catdaddy Carolina Moonshine, Cheerwine, AKA Entertainment & Media, Henderson-Bromstead Art, Autumn Creek Vineyards, The Winston Cup Museum, Junior Johnson Brands, Thunder Road Harley Davidson, Buck's Satellite (Direct TV), Magic Hat Brewery, Chinqua Penn Plantation, BB&T, Cellular Sales (Verizon) and Carolina Carports.

The Carolina 'ShineFest is being produced in partnership with AKA Entertainment & Media of Greensboro, N.C. AKA Entertainment & Media has produced large festivals in Eden, Greensboro, Winston-Salem and Zebulon, N.C. For more information about AKA Entertainment & Media, please visit www.aka-entertainment.com. For more information regarding the Carolina 'ShineFest or the Southern Culture Society, please visit www.carolinashinefest.com.

About Junior Johnson:

Like many of the other early stock car racers, Junior Johnson grew-up tending to the family's whiskey business. He helped his father work the copper stills during the day and developed his incredible driving skills by running shine at night. Junior combined his understanding of how to make a car run flat-out with his legendary driving skill to become one of the most successful drivers and owners in racing history. As a NASCAR driver, Johnson won 50 races and 49 poles. He is tied with Ned Jarrett for 10th place on the all-time victory list. After retiring from driving, the legendary driver became a legendary team owner. His drivers won 139 races and six series championships. Cale Yarborough won three straight titles for Johnson in 1976, '77 and '78. Darrell Waltrip won the other three championships in 1981, '82 and '85. Prior to their broadcasting careers, both Jeff Hammond of FOX Sports and Tim Brewer of ESPN won multiple championships as crew chiefs for Johnson. Junior Johnson was recently honored as one of the first five inductees into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame Class of 2010 includes Johnson and other NASCAR legends, Bill France, Sr., Bill France, Jr., Dale Earnhardt, Sr., Richard Petty, and will be officially inducted in a ceremony on May 23, 2010 at the Hall of Fame in Charlotte, NC.