Bobby Hillin Jr.

Robert "Bobby" K. Hillin Jr. (born June 5, 1964) is an American stock car racing driver. He is a former competitor in NASCAR's Winston Cup and Busch Series, and once held the record for being the youngest driver ever to win a Winston Cup Series event.

Bobby Hillin Jr.
BornRobert Hillin Jr.
(1964-06-05) June 5, 1964
Midland, Texas
NASCAR Cup Series career
334 races run over 17 years
Best finish9th (1986)
First race1982 Northwestern Bank 400 (North Wilkesboro)
Last race2000 goracing.com 500 (Bristol)
First win1986 Talladega 500 (Talladega)
Wins Top tens Poles
1 43 0
NASCAR Xfinity Series career
115 races run over 14 years
Best finish19th (1999)
First race1986 All Pro 300 (Charlotte)
Last race2009 O'Reilly Challenge (Texas)
First win1988 Budweiser 200 (Dover)
Last win1989 GM Parts 300 (Nazareth)
Wins Top tens Poles
2 25 0

Racing career

Born in Midland, Texas, Hillin began his career in racing by watching his father's IndyCar team, Longhorn Racing, compete in United States Auto Club-sanctioned sprint car racing and IndyCar events.[1] An all-district linebacker in high school,[2] he began his stock car career at the age of 13 and soon after won the track championship at Odessa Speedbowl in Odessa, Texas, and attended the Buck Baker Driving School at the age of 16.[3]

Hillin's 1984 Winston Cup car

Hillin made his debut in NASCAR Winston Cup Series competition at the age of 17, driving a car owned and sponsored by his family and crewed by Harry Hyde in the 1982 Northwestern Bank 400 at North Wilkesboro Speedway to a 21st-place finish.[4] Hillin moved to North Carolina to further his career, continuing his education through correspondence courses; he graduated from high school the day before the 1983 Coca-Cola World 600;[4] in 1984 he joined Stavola Brothers Racing,[4] and in 1986 became the youngest winner in NASCAR's "modern era" when he won the Talladega 500 for the team,[4] at the age of 22 years, 1 month and 22 days.[5]

Despite the win, and two wins in the NASCAR Busch Series in 1988 and 1989 driving for Highline Racing, Hillin's career took a downturn; he would later say he was not mature enough to deal with the pressures of being a NASCAR winner.[6] He left the Stavola Brothers team after the 1990 season; he started the 1991 season qualifying a backup car for Moroso Racing fastest in third-round time trials for the Daytona 500.[7] A seventh-place finish in the 500 won Hillin the team's regular ride, however after ten races a lack of sponsorship forced the team to cut back its schedule, and Hillin was released;[8] After two races with Jimmy Means Racing,[9] Hillin was named as substitute driver for Kyle Petty, who had broken his leg earlier in the year in a wreck at Talladega;[10] he drove eight races in the Team SABCO No. 42 before Petty returned.[11]

Hillin then joined Team Ireland late in the 1991 season, and then for a partial season in 1992.[12] When the team closed late in 1992 after being disqualified at the October Charlotte race, Hillin moved to Donlavey Racing, running the full 1993 season for the team.[13] After three races in 1994, Hillin resigned from the team;[14] Hillin ran a partial schedule the rest of the year for Charles Hardy Racing and Moroso Racing,[15][16] then attempted two races early in 1995 for Moroso,[17] before joining Jasper Motorsports twelve races into the 1995 season, replacing Davy Jones.[18] Hillin remained with the team through 1996 and into 1997. Hillin also competed in the Suzuka Thunder Special, an exhibition race held at Suzuka Circuit in Japan following the 1996 season;[19] he finished seventh in the event.[20] He was released from the team after failing to qualify for the 1997 Coca-Cola 600;[21] he continued to drive for the team through the Pocono 500 before being replaced by Morgan Shepherd.[22] Later that year Hillin attempted three races for Triad Motorsports,[23] failing to qualify for any; he would only drive one further Winston Cup race in his career, at Bristol Motor Speedway in 2000 for Melling Racing, substituting for an injured Stacy Compton.[24]

Hillin restarted his own Busch Series team for the 1998 season, including five Major League Baseball players in the team's ownership;[25] the team underperformed, and after the 2000 season he chose to go into-semiretirement, having decided to go into business in his native Texas.[6] In 2008 Hillin returned briefly to competition, driving at Kansas Speedway in the Nationwide Series for MacDonald Motorsports; he drove one additional race for the team in the series at Texas Motor Speedway in 2009, but then retired for good from the sport.[6]

Personal life

Hillin is married to Jamie Patterson of Austin, Texas. He has three children with his former wife Kim; Luke, Stephanie and Joseph. He is currently the CEO of T-Rex Engineering & Construction, providing services to the Gulf of Mexico's oil drilling industry.[1][6]

Motorsports career results

NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Winston Cup Series

NASCAR Winston Cup Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 NWCC Pts
1982 Hillin Racing 8 Buick DAY RCH BRI ATL CAR DAR NWS
21
MAR TAL NSV DOV CLT POC
36
RSD MCH
16
DAY
20
NSV POC TAL
19
MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV NWS CLT MAR CAR ATL RSD 46th 379
1983 DAY
DNQ
RCH CAR
25
ATL
19
DAR
DNQ
NWS
16
MAR TAL NSV DOV BRI CLT
11
RSD DAY
15
NSV POC
16
TAL
13
MCH
25
BRI DAR
41
RCH DOV
11
MAR NWS CLT
36
CAR ATL 37th 737
96 POC
37
MCH
Ulrich Racing 6 Buick RSD
DNQ
1984 Stavola Brothers Racing 8 Chevy DAY
35
RCH CAR ATL
37
BRI NWS TAL
11
NSV CLT
33
RSD DAY
37
NSV POC
33
TAL
15
MCH
21
BRI DAR
23
RCH DOV
DNQ
MAR CLT
15
NWS ATL
33
RSD 32nd 1477
Buick DAR
12
MAR DOV
25
POC
16
MCH
19
CAR
12
1985 Chevy DAY
9
RCH
11
CAR
24
ATL
12
BRI
9
DAR
20
NWS
19
MAR
18
TAL
9
DOV
12
CLT
12
RSD
17
POC
18
MCH
28
DAY
15
POC
29
TAL
38
MCH
26
BRI
24
DAR
13
RCH
21
DOV
23
MAR
8
NWS
17
CLT
9
CAR
25
ATL
19
RSD
13
15th 3091
1986 DAY
4
9th 3546
Buick RCH
6
CAR
39
ATL
16
BRI
28
DAR
38
NWS
13
MAR
6
TAL
4
DOV
8
CLT
15
RSD
32
POC
10
MCH
7
DAY
3
POC
33
TAL
1
GLN
28
MCH
13
BRI
9
DAR
7
RCH
10
DOV
9
MAR
17
NWS
15
CLT
26
CAR
11
ATL
15
RSD
6
1987 DAY
13
CAR
14
RCH
11
ATL
24
DAR
23
NWS
13
BRI
26
MAR
15
TAL
5
CLT
34
DOV
26
POC
14
RSD
13
MCH
6
DAY
13
POC
15
TAL
40
GLN
29
MCH
13
BRI
29
DAR
6
RCH
15
DOV
39
MAR
22
NWS
8
CLT
28
CAR
33
RSD
34
ATL
14
19th 3027
1988 DAY
13
RCH
8
CAR
21
ATL
6
DAR
17
BRI
15
NWS
18
MAR
3
TAL
13
CLT
14
DOV
17
RSD
24
POC
15
MCH
12
DAY
13
POC
21
TAL
17
GLN
13
MCH
37
BRI
10
DAR
30
RCH
14
DOV
21
MAR
14
CLT
6
NWS
13
CAR
23
PHO
7
ATL
9
12th 3446
1989 DAY
39
CAR
15
ATL
30
RCH
15
DAR
26
BRI
27
NWS
DNQ
MAR
21
TAL
35
CLT
9
DOV
13
SON
13
POC
13
MCH
20
DAY
28
POC
11
TAL
29
GLN
5
MCH
14
BRI
7
DAR
8
RCH
13
DOV
15
MAR
27
CLT
9
NWS
15
CAR
8
PHO
18
ATL
7
16th 3139
1990 DAY
6
RCH
31
CAR
17
ATL
16
DAR
12
BRI
21
NWS
30
MAR
21
TAL
23
CLT
34
DOV
16
SON
5
POC
29
MCH
28
DAY
6
POC
12
TAL
10
GLN
16
MCH
21
BRI
15
DAR
31
RCH
11
DOV
14
MAR
26
NWS
14
CLT
31
CAR
14
PHO
42
ATL
22
19th 3048
1991 Moroso Racing 27 Olds DAY
7
30th 2317
20 RCH
20
CAR
18
ATL
21
DAR
17
BRI
15
NWS
20
MAR
17
TAL
17
CLT
19
Jimmy Means Racing 52 Pontiac DOV
19
SON
21
Team SABCO 42 Pontiac POC
15
MCH
15
DAY
15
POC
28
TAL
11
GLN
18
MCH
33
BRI
30
DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS
Team Ireland 53 Chevy CLT
18
CAR
DNQ
PHO ATL
32
1992 31 DAY
38
CAR RCH ATL
21
DAR
DNQ
BRI TAL
28
CLT
13
DOV SON POC MCH
17
DAY
25
POC
25
GLN
23
MCH
26
BRI DAR
17
RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT
40
CAR PHO 34th 1135
Cale Yarborough Motorsports 66 Ford NWS
25
MAR
Yates Racing 28 Ford TAL
QL
Donlavey Racing 90 Ford ATL
29
1993 DAY
35
CAR
19
RCH
28
ATL
15
DAR
35
BRI
33
NWS
26
MAR
23
TAL
17
SON
41
CLT
16
DOV
25
POC
38
MCH
33
DAY
12
NHA
20
POC
20
TAL
13
GLN
35
MCH
11
BRI
12
DAR
24
RCH
27
DOV
12
MAR
22
NWS
22
CLT
20
CAR
33
PHO
18
ATL
41
27th 2717
1994 DAY
24
CAR
33
RCH
26
ATL DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL SON 44th 749
Charles Hardy Racing 44 Ford CLT
DNQ
DOV POC MCH
14
IND
21
GLN MCH
40
BRI DAR RCH DOV CLT
15
CAR PHO
Moroso Racing 20 Ford DAY
DNQ
NHA POC TAL
23
MAR
DNQ
NWS ATL
43
1995 DAY
DNQ
CAR RCH ATL DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL SON CLT
DNQ
37th 1686
Jasper Motorsports 77 Ford DOV
42
POC
23
MCH
13
DAY
28
NHA
20
POC
12
TAL
16
IND
39
GLN
27
MCH
39
BRI
DNQ
DAR
13
RCH
36
DOV
13
MAR
DNQ
NWS
24
CLT
24
CAR
21
PHO
21
ATL
9
1996 DAY
DNQ
CAR
18
RCH
26
ATL
28
DAR
41
BRI
DNQ
NWS
DNQ
MAR
DNQ
TAL
DNQ
SON
43
CLT
26
DOV
29
POC
13
MCH
14
DAY
32
NHA
21
POC
38
TAL
35
IND
26
GLN
29
MCH
19
BRI
DNQ
DAR
18
RCH
32
DOV
12
MAR
24
NWS
35
CLT
36
CAR
33
PHO
39
ATL
16
37th 2128
Bill Elliott Racing 94 Ford BRI
22
1997 Jasper Motorsports 77 Ford DAY
38
CAR
42
RCH
41
ATL
DNQ
DAR
42
TEX
42
BRI
DNQ
MAR
33
SON
35
TAL
20
CLT
DNQ
DOV
43
POC
37
MCH CAL DAY NHA 47th 511
Triad Motorsports 78 Ford POC
DNQ
IND
DNQ
GLN
DNQ
MCH BRI DAR RCH NHA DOV MAR CLT TAL CAR PHO ATL
2000 Melling Racing 9 Ford DAY CAR LVS ATL DAR BRI TEX MAR TAL CAL RCH CLT DOV MCH POC SON DAY NHA POC IND GLN MCH BRI
40
DAR RCH NHA DOV MAR CLT TAL CAR PHO HOM ATL 68th 43
- Qualified for Davey Allison
Daytona 500
Year Team Manufacturer Start Finish
1983 Hillin Racing Buick DNQ
1984 Stavola Brothers Racing Chevrolet 22 35
1985 38 9
1986 25 4
1987 Buick 21 13
1988 9 13
1989 26 39
1990 10 6
1991 Moroso Racing Oldsmobile 36 7
1992 Team Ireland Chevrolet 26 38
1993 Donlavey Racing Ford 9 35
1994 33 24
1995 Moroso Racing Ford DNQ
1996 Jasper Motorsports Ford DNQ
1997 31 38

Nationwide Series

NASCAR Nationwide Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 NNSC Pts
1986 Highline Racing 92 Buick DAY CAR HCY MAR BRI DAR SBO LGY JFC DOV CLT SBO HCY ROU IRP SBO RAL OXF SBO HCY LGY ROU BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR ROU CLT
28
CAR MAR 87th 79
1988 Highline Racing 81 Buick DAY
24
HCY CAR
4
MAR DAR
5
BRI LNG NZH
23
SBO NSV CLT
2
DOV
1
ROU LAN LVL MYB
9
OXF SBO HCY LNG IRP
30
ROU BRI
12
DAR
31
RCH
12
DOV
4
MAR
16
CLT
3
CAR
7
MAR
10
21st 2105
1989 DAY
14
CAR
12
MAR HCY DAR
21
BRI NZH
1
SBO LAN
10
NSV CLT
38
DOV
16
ROU LVL VOL MYB SBO
24
HCY DUB IRP
36
ROU BRI DAR
33
RCH
10
DOV
28
MAR CLT
34
CAR
6
MAR 27th 1460
1990 42 Pontiac DAY RCH CAR MAR HCY DAR BRI LAN SBO NZH HCY CLT DOV ROU VOL MYB OXF NHA SBO DUB IRP ROU BRI DAR
4
RCH DOV MAR CLT NHA CAR
10
60th 379
81 MAR
26
1991 Roy Hill Racing 4 Chevy DAY
11
RCH CAR
39
MAR VOL HCY DAR BRI LAN SBO NZH 72nd 237
O3 Racing Enterprises 03 Chevy CLT
34
DOV ROU HCY MYB GLN OXF NHA SBO DUB IRP ROU BRI DAR RCH DOV CLT NHA CAR MAR
1992 Shoemaker Racing 64 Pontiac DAY CAR RCH ATL MAR DAR BRI HCY LAN DUB NZH CLT DOV ROU MYB GLN VOL NHA
20
TAL IRP ROU MCH NHA BRI DAR RCH DOV 74th 200
Allison Racing 28 Ford CLT
22
MAR CAR HCY
1993 Hillin Racing 95 Ford DAY CAR RCH DAR BRI HCY ROU MAR NZH CLT DOV MYB GLN MLW TAL IRP MCH NHA BRI DAR RCH DOV ROU CLT
40
MAR CAR HCY ATL 109th 43
1994 J&J Racing 99 Chevy DAY CAR RCH ATL MAR DAR HCY BRI ROU NHA NZH CLT DOV MYB GLN MLW SBO TAL HCY IRP MCH BRI DAR
34
RCH DOV
7
CLT
28
MAR CAR 66th 286
1995 Moroso Racing 20 Ford DAY
26
CAR
41
RCH
21
ATL
28
NSV
24
DAR
8
BRI
28
HCY
DNQ
NHA NZH CLT DOV MYB GLN MLW TAL SBO IRP MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV CLT CAR HOM 46th 616
1997 Bobby Jones Enterprises 50 Pontiac DAY CAR RCH ATL LVS DAR HCY TEX BRI NSV TAL NHA NZH CLT DOV SBO GLN MLW MYB GTY
DNQ
IRP MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV CLT CAL CAR HOM N/A -
1998 Bobby Hillin Racing 8 Chevy DAY
38
CAR
DNQ
LVS
DNQ
NSV
26
DAR
19
BRI
23
TEX
DNQ
HCY TAL
26
NHA NZH CLT
9
DOV
2
RCH
19
PPR
34
GLN
36
MLW
21
MYB
DNQ
CAL
15
SBO
32
IRP
10
MCH
7
BRI
14
DAR
29
RCH
34
DOV
17
CLT
DNQ
GTY
17
CAR
8
ATL
30
HOM
25
24th 2304
1999 DAY
5
CAR
34
LVS
DNQ
ATL
19
DAR
22
TEX
34
NSV
14
BRI
13
TAL
29
CAL
24
NHA
35
RCH
12
NZH
25
CLT
DNQ
DOV
43
SBO
16
GLN MLW
12
MYB
15
PPR
14
GTY
18
IRP MCH
DNQ
BRI
10
DAR
35
RCH
21
DOV
29
CLT
DNQ
CAR
20
MEM
19
PHO
42
HOM
23
19th 2517
2000 DAY
33
CAR
42
LVS
32
ATL
23
DAR
DNQ
BRI
DNQ
TEX
DNQ
NSV
18
TAL
DNQ
CAL
DNQ
RCH
13
NHA
32
CLT
DNQ
DOV
DNQ
SBO
9
MYB
23
GLN
29
MLW
22
NZH
24
PPR
42
GTY
DNQ
IRP
42
MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV CLT CAR MEM PHO HOM 41st 1137
2008 MacDonald Motorsports 81 Dodge DAY CAL LVS ATL BRI NSH TEX PHO MXC TAL RCH DAR CLT DOV NSH KEN MLW NHA DAY CHI GTY IRP CGV GLN MCH BRI CAL RCH DOV KAN
36
CLT MEM TEX PHO HOM 137th 55
2009 DAY CAL LVS BRI TEX NSH PHO TAL RCH DAR CLT DOV NSH KEN MLW NHA DAY CHI GTY IRP IOW GLN MCH BRI CGV ATL RCH DOV KAN CAL CLT MEM TEX
23
PHO HOM 134th 94

References

  1. Shaffer, Jan (July 22, 2010). "Where Are They Now? Bobby Hillin Jr". Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved 2013-09-16.
  2. "Texas Tie: Bobby Hillin Jr.". February 20, 2000. Fort Worth, TX: Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Sports-Special Page 4. Accessed 2013-09-17.
  3. "Hillin not hiding in the trunk this time". The Charlotte Observer. Charlotte, NC. August 18, 1993. p. 3B. Retrieved 2013-09-17.
  4. Harris, Mike. "Youngest NASCAR winner Bobby Hillin learns fast". August 10, 1986. Youngstown, OH: The Vindicator. Page D5. Accessed 2013-09-17.
  5. "Bobby Hillin". July 16, 1996. Ocala, FL: Star-Banner. Page 6D. Accessed 2013-09-17.
  6. Aumann, Mark (April 15, 2011). "Retro Racing: Talladega win didn't propel Hillin Jr. way he envisioned". NASCAR.com. Turner Sports. Retrieved 2013-09-17.
  7. "Hillin Jr. Leads Third Leg of Time Trials". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Sarasota, FL. February 13, 1991. p. 6C. Retrieved 2013-09-17.
  8. Higgins, Tom (June 24, 1991). "Moroso looking to rebuild shattered life". Wilmington Morning Star. Wilmington, NC. p. 2C. Retrieved 2013-09-17.
  9. Gillispie, Tom (June 2, 1991). "Dover has hot, powerless feeling". Sunday Post-Courier. Charleston, SC. p. 8C. Retrieved 2013-09-17.
  10. "NASCAR puts big dent in rough racing". Philadelphia Daily News. Philadelphia, PA. June 13, 1991. p. 81. Retrieved 2013-09-17.
  11. Green, David (September 2, 1991). "Petty's comeback spoiled by engine". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. Spartanburg, SC. p. D4. Retrieved 2013-09-17.
  12. Stout, Harold (May 3, 1992). "Aiming High". The Tuscaloosa News. Tuscaloosa, AL. p. C1. Retrieved 2013-09-12.
  13. Zeller, Bob (October 23, 1993). "Kyle Petty notches fourth straight pole spot at Rockingham". Greensboro News & Record. Greensboro, NC. p. C5. Retrieved 2013-09-12.
  14. "Donlavey gives M. Wallace seat". The Charlotte Observer. Charlotte, NC. March 9, 1994. p. 2B. Retrieved 2013-09-17.
  15. Higgins, Tom (April 27, 1994). "Hillin gets new ride". Wilmington Morning Star. Wilmington, NC. p. 3C. Retrieved 2013-09-17.
  16. "Bobby Hillin Jr. – 1994 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. USA Today Sports Media Group. Retrieved 2013-09-17.
  17. "Changes everywhere on NASCAR circuit". Wilmington Morning Star. Wilmington, NC. February 17, 1995. pp. NASCAR Supplement 2. Retrieved 2013-09-17.
  18. "Labonte replaces Green in 200". TimesDaily. Florence, AL. June 4, 1995. p. 4C. Retrieved 2013-09-17.
  19. "To the Far East". The Mount Airy News. Mount Airy, NC. November 21, 1996. p. 8A. Retrieved 2013-09-17.
  20. "Motorsports Report". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Fort Worth, TX. November 28, 1996. p. 4S. Retrieved 2013-09-17.
  21. Mackena, Joe (May 24, 1997). "Hillin released by Jasper Motorsports". Associated Press. Retrieved 2013-09-17.
  22. "Morgan to Jasper Motorsports". Motorsport.com. June 9, 1997. Retrieved 2013-09-17.
  23. "Hillin named to take over Triad ride at Pocono this week". July 17, 1997. Charlotte, NC: The Charlotte Observer. Page 2B. Accessed 2013-09-17.
  24. DeLoach, Jenny (August 27, 2000). "Pros can be blockheads, too: Bristol really gets 'em mad". The Daytona Beach News-Journal. Daytona Beach, FL. p. 12C. Retrieved 2013-09-17.
  25. Brioso, Cesar. "Hillin Has Big-league Supporters". November 14, 1998. Fort Lauderdale, Florida: Sun-Sentinel. Page 1C. Accessed 2013-09-17.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.