John Oliver Gunn Jr.

John Oliver Gunn Jr. (July 25, 1939 – July 7, 2010), also known as Johnnie, was an American racing driver from Yanceyville, North Carolina.

Early life

After attending Bartlett Yancey High School in his hometown of Yanceyville, Gunn studied mechanical engineering at the University of Miami. His father ran a Ford dealership near the Virginia International Raceway, which gave him access to motor racing early on. He entered his first races during his student days in an Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider, winning two national sports car championships.

Gunn finished the 1974 racing year sixth behind Brian Redman, Mario Andretti, David Hobbs, Eppie Wietzes, and Brett Lunger in the SCCA/USAC F5000 championship. In the Can-Am series, he mainly used Lola racing cars and was fifth in the 1974 championship in the Lola T260. During the 1980s, Gunn frequently raced in the IMSA GT series.

Gunn's greatest success in an international endurance competition was a second-place finish at the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1976.