James Hylton was the 1966 Grand National Rookie of the Year and a two-time Cup winner who famously raced into his seventies, competing in ARCA as an independent owner-driver long after his contemporaries retired. His longevity was unmatched.
In April 2018, Hylton, his son James Jr., and a crew member were killed when their truck crashed on I-85 in Georgia while returning from a Talladega race. He was 83, still chasing checkered flags to the very end.
At a Glance
- Born: August 26, 1934, Roanoke, Virginia
- Died: April 28, 2018, Banks County, Georgia
- Age: 83
- Cause of death: Injuries from a highway traffic collision
From the Book
This profile is adapted from Legends at Rest: NASCAR Legends by Howard Wear.
Portrait: Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.