Victory Lane

Rockingham 6-16-68

Donnie got his first NASCAR Grand National win for car owner Banjo Matthews on a blistering hot day at Rockingham on June 16, 1968. They are shown here celebrating in Victory Lane with Miss Carolina 500.

DA and Banjo in Victory Lane

Donnie and Banjo went to Victory Lane five times in their time together. This is believed to be a Victory Lane shot after Donnie won the 1969 National 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Oct. 12, 1969. It was his second win with Banjo and the second of his Grand National career.

Daytona 7-4-70

Donnie celebrates in Victory Lane with "Pop" and Kittie Allison after winning the Firecracker 400 at Daytona on July 4, 1970.

Charlotte 10-10-76

Winning the National 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Oct. 10, 1076 was significant because it was Donnie's first win in five years and because it earned him a full-time ride with Hoss Ellington.

Talladega 8-7-77

Donnie and Pat celebrate winning the 1977 Talladega 500 in Victory Lane with son Kenny and twins Ronald and Donald. It was the eighth victory of Donnie's Grand National/Winston Cup career and his second driving for Hoss Ellington. Notice the Winston Girl on the left? That's Pattie Petty before she was married to Kyle.

Rockingham 10-23-77

Atlanta 11-5-78

You can imagine Donnie's surprise, disbelief and frustration when he got to Victory Lane after winning the Dixie 500 at Atlanta International Speedway on Nov. 5, 1978 and being told that they were expecting Richard Petty instead because he had at first been credited with the win.

Atlanta 11-5-78 2

When Donnie and Hoss posed for this picture with the trophy in Victory Lane after the 1978 Dixie 500 at Atlanta International Raceway, they hadn't even officially been declared the winner of the race yet. A scoring fiasco resulted in Richard Petty initially being declared the winner to end a 42-race winless streak. But after several hours, several recounts and quite a few harsh words, it was sorted out and Donnie was declared the winner. It was win No. 10 for him and the last of his illustrious NASCAR Winston Cup career.

Daytona 1980

Donnie proudly displays the trophy he claimed for winning one of the Twin 125 qualifying races at Daytona on Feb. 14, 1980. Joining him in Victory Lane to celebrate his outside pole starting position position for the 1980 Daytona 500 were his mother, Kittie, and the Union 76 girls.

Daytona 2-14-80 2

Donnie get a big hug from his mom and congratulations from the Union 76 girls as Car owner Hoss Ellington examines the winning trophy in the background.