A former NASCAR driver who made his home in Upstate South Carolina and his son are dead as the result of an accident early Saturday morning. The two men were passengers in a truck hauling a race car.
Franklin County Deputy Coroner Clayton Bryant confirmed 83-year-old James Hylton, Sr. and his son, 61-year-old James Hylton, Jr. both were killed when the truck they were in went off-road, became airborne and flew into the bank of a nearby creek.
The father and son were passengers in the truck, which wrecked on Interstate 85 near mile marker 164 (close to the Ga. 320 exit near Carnesville).
The truck reportedly was driven by the team’s crew chief, Terry Strange. Strange was taken to a Greenville, South Carolina hospital for treatment of injuries.
The Hyltons lived in Inman, South Carolina.
Hylton, Sr., who drove the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series circuit from 1964 to 1993, won two races, the first at Richmond Raceway in 1970 and the second coming at Talladega Superspeedway in 1972. He finished second in MENCS points three times (1966, 1967 and 1971). He was also the 1966 Cup Series Rookie of the Year.
Hylton was the current owner of the No. 48 team on the ARCA Racing Series circuit, which competed in Friday's race at Talladega Superspeedway. The car is driven by Brad Smith.
"Racing competitively in parts of six decades, James Hylton’s dedication, passion and longevity in motorsports is virtually unmatched," NASCAR and ARCA officials said in a joint statement on Saturday. "Hylton won the rookie of the year at NASCAR’s highest level, the 1972 race at Talladega Superspeedway and regularly contended for championships during the early years of his career. His racing influence continued into the ARCA series, where he competed as a driver and, most recently, a car owner.
"We have lost a truly special member of the racing family and a beloved figure among generations of competitors and race fans alike. We extend our deepest condolences to the Hylton family on the tragic loss of James Hylton and his son James, Jr."
Their bodies have been sent to the GBI Crime Lab in Decatur for an autopsy.
The Georgia State Patrol, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and various fire crews responded to the scene. The investigation into the cause of the accident continues.
