Junie Donlavey - 1970s

1970s

Hutchins returned in 1970, and had a fifth-place at Richmond, but was soon removed from the ride. LeeRoy Yarbrough drove for Donlavey in one race at Trenton Speedway, but his engine expired several laps into the race. Bill Dennis finished the year with Donlavey. Dennis would run with Donlavey in his first full season the next year. He had ten top-tens, one pole position, and finished eighteenth in points. Dennis started 1972, with a fifth at Richmond, but resigned after that race. Max Berrier, Butch Hartman, Bobby Isaac, David Pearson, Johnny Rutherford, and Fred Lorenzen were among those who shared the ride for the rest of the year. Donlavey also fielded a second car for the first time in his career, when he fielded the #98 at Martinsville for Isaac, who finished 35th as a teammate to Jimmy Hensley, and again two races later at the National 500 for Richard D. Brooks, who finished 41st.

In 1973, Donlavey secured his first full-time sponsor, signing Truxmore Industries. Brooks began the year with Donlavey, and ran part of his season with him. Other drivers included Harry Gant, Charlie Glotzbach, Ray Hendrick, and a one-off with Yvon Duhamel. He also fielded the 98 for Brooks and Richie Panch. Then next season, Dennis returned for three races, before being replaced by multiple drivers. Glotzbach ran eleven races with him, the most by any driver that year. In 1975, Donlavey decided to run full-time, and hired Brooks as driver. Brooks ran 25 races, had six top-fives and finished 10th in points. Donlavey also fielded a second car, the #93, for Kenny Brightbill, Dick May, Earl Ross, and Jody Ridley. In 1976, Brooks had eighteen top-ten finishes and finished tenth in points again. The #93 ran in two races for Buck Baker and Gene Felton, with Donlavey also fielding the #99 for Dick Trickle at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The next season, Brooks finished sixth in points, with Donlavey fielding the #93 for Belgian racer Christine Beckers. She finished 37th. Brooks began 1978 by finishing fifth in two out of the first three races of the season, but despite an eighth-place points finish, Brooks departed the team.