Mural honoring late NASCAR driver from Sanford dedicated
Sep. 6—Linda McDuffie looked at Sanford's newest mural in Carthage Square honoring a local hero.
"That is my dad," she said, choking up as she gazed at the mural paying homage to the late John Delphus "J.D." McDuffie, a NASCAR driver for 27 years who was known for never giving up.
"I hope he's proud. I sure do miss him," she said.
Even though the mural painted by local artist Chris Dalton isn't entirely finished, it has captured the image of the driver also known for the ever-present cigar in his mouth.
McDuffie, a Sanford native, never won a race nor had a major sponsor in his career but competed each week against bigger teams who boasted popular drivers like Dale Earnhart, Neil Bonnett, Bobby Allison and Richard Petty.
McDuffie died doing what he loved when he was killed in the 1991 Budweiser at the Glen race in Watkins Glen, New York.
During a brief ceremony, Mayor Rebecca Wyhof Salmon noted that this was the 13th mural gracing a building wall in the city and 18th piece of public art to be dedicated.
"These public arts projects have been a way to bring history alive," she said. "This is truly a special day for this community."
The event included more than the mural dedication.
The area was closed to traffic and along South Gulf Street, classic vehicles were parked in spaces and drew large crowds.
When Dalton completes her work, the mural will include an image of McDuffie without a racing helmet and the words "Never Quit."
Those two words defined McDuffie's racing career, his daughter said.
McDuffie posted 653 career starts, finishing 12 times in the top five and 106 times in the top 10. His primary sponsor was Rumple Furniture of Elkin.
But the statistics don't define the man that Linda McDuffie knew.
"It's just Pops," she said.
