James Hylton first raced at the Rockingham Speedway in 1966 and has 12 top 10 finishes at the race track in his long racing career.
Some believe experience and cunning will defeat youth. James Hylton hopes this will be the case Sunday during the Carolina 200.
Hylton first raced at the Rockingham Speedway in 1966 and has 12 top 10 finishes at the race track in his long racing career. His best finish came in 1968, when he finished third behind Donnie and Bobby Allison.
“I always run pretty well there,” Hylton said. “It really earned its nickname of ‘The Rock.’ It was hard to drive there, plus when I first drove there, there was no power steering and the race was 500 laps. It really took a lot out of you.”
At the age of 74, Hylton knows he will be the elderly statesman at the track Sunday and old enough to be most of the drivers’ grandfather. Despite the age difference, Hylton is counting on his knowledge of the track to help guide him to the front.
“I’m trying to remember how I drove there before,” he said. “I’m getting hyped up to drive there, just like a boxer gets prepared for a big fight.”
Hylton feels part of the charm of the track is there are two sections, one in turns one and two and another in turns three and four.
“In one and two there is really a flattening out (of the track),” Hylton said. “Then in three and four there is good elevation. You can really drive a car into three and four all day, but with one and two, you really have to respect it.”
Like most of the former drivers who have competed at “The Rock,” Hylton was disappointment to see it taken off the NASCAR Sprint Cup circuit because he felt it was not only a great track for drivers, but the fans as well.
“For race fans, you couldn’t ask for a better track,” Hylton said. “You couldn’t ask for a better show. Fans could see the entire race track from their seat and see every move on the track. They didn’t have to hear the cars coming, watch them, and then see them drive away.”
Despite the fact the top drivers no longer race around the track in a Sprint Cup race, Hylton believes the Carolina 200 will highlight some of the best racing fans will see in the area.
“I think fans will see a great show,” Hylton said. “This is still one of the best tracks. I think ARCA is putting on some of the best shows in racing today.”
Even though Hylton may reminisce about his previous races at Rockingham Speedway during the weekend, he still has a competitive fire burning inside of him.
“I usually drive a Dodge, but I will have a Ford (at the race),” Hylton said. “We are going to try a new suspension there. I think I can run in the top 10. I have lots of hope in the car.”
And just like the tortoise in the story of “The Tortoise and the Hare,” Hylton is hoping his style will result in taking the checkered flag Sunday afternoon.
“You just have to set a steady pace,” he said. “You just have to withstand the abuse the track is going to give you and the car and hopefully everything will work out in the end.”
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