Jimmy Horton

James Horton III (born July 3, 1956) is a racecar driver currently racing a dirt modified for the HALMAR racing team weekly at the Orange County Fair Speedway.[1] He raced in 48 NASCAR Winston Cup races in eight seasons.[2] He was a regular on the ARCA circuit in the 1980s and 1990s. Horton has won many of the most noted races for dirt track modifieds in the Northeastern United States.

James Horton III
Born (1956-07-03) July 3, 1956
Folsom, New Jersey
NASCAR Cup Series career
48 races run over 8 years
Best finish36th (1990)
First race1987 Miller High Life 500 (Pocono)
Last race1995 UAW-GM Teamwork 500 (Pocono)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 0 0
NASCAR Xfinity Series career
7 races run over 4 years
Best finish47th (1987)
First race1985 Goody's 300 (Daytona)
Last race1989 Gatorade 200 (Darlington)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 0 0

Racing career

Horton's No. 3 dirt Modified
Horton's No. 3 dirt Modified

Local racer

Horton first became known as a modified racecar driver in the Northeastern United States. He began racing in a small block powered sportsman car, his father's racecar, in the early 1970s. He won the sportsman championship at Orange County Speedway in 1974.

He won modified track championships at numerous tracks. He was the 1976 Modified champion at Orange County driving his dad's No. 43 and won it again in 2017 driving the Halmar Racing No. 43. That season, he was involved in one of the rare dead heat modified feature wins along with fellow future NASCAR racer Tighe Scott. It was the first race of a twin 50 feature and it was too close to call. Scott and Horton's cars collided after the race. After 1976 he started racing in the No. 3 Statewide dirt modified. He won track championships at Bridgeport Speedway (NJ) in 1975, 1977, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1997, 1998, 2003 and, 2014.[3] Horton won the most races on Bridgeport's 5/8 mile track (before it was reconfigured as a 4/10 mile in 2020).[4] He is a 2-time winner of the premier race in dirt modified racing, the Super DIRT Week 200 (1987 & 1994). He won the Eastern States 200 in his later career. He won modified track championships at New Egypt Speedway (NJ) in 2004 and 2006.[5][6] He is still racing in weekly races in New Jersey as of 2020.[7]

NASCAR

Horton made his first NASCAR start in the Busch Grand National series in 1985.[2] He raced in seven Busch races in his career.

Most of his career Winston Cup starts were at tracks in the Northeastern United States for underfunded teams, but Horton made two starts (and a relief driver appearance) at Hendrick Motorsports in 1990 when Darrell Waltrip was injured during final practice for the Firecracker 400. Horton's two starts for Hendrick were in the two July restrictor plate races—Daytona and Talladega, and also participated as a relief driver at the second Pocono race. Horton started 41st in the Firecracker (had to move to the rear of the field because of the driver change) at Daytona race, and finished 17th. He finished a career best 13th in the summer race at Talladega, the second of the two races in Hendrick's Tide #17 Chevrolet. (Greg Sacks drove the car, except for Sarel van der Merwe at Watkins Glen, until Darlington, when Waltrip was cleared to return.)

Horton was involved in a major crash during the 69th lap of the 1993 DieHard 500. Horton's car was clipped by Stanley Smith's car. Horton's car hit three other cars before it flew over the wall and landed on an access road outside of the track. Smith suffered near-fatal head injuries in the incident,[8] while Horton walked out of the wreck virtually unscathed.

ARCA

Horton won numerous ARCA races, including the series premiere event, the Daytona ARCA 200, in 1990 and 1992. The 1992 victory was his seventh superspeedway victory, which at the time was the second most in series history.[9] He used a NASCAR Chevrolet Lumina purchased from Darrell Waltrip for the victory.[9] Horton escaped serious injury after a frightening crash at Atlanta in 1995. Horton's #52 AC Delco Chevrolet rolled over during a multi-car accident. His car was struck from the bottom while rolling by teammate Ed Dixon. Incredibly, neither driver was seriously injured.

Personal life

His son Jimmy Horton IV (born March 2, 1987) raced Modifieds for his Grandfather at New Egypt Speedway (NJ) and Bridgeport Speedway (NJ).[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 NWCC Pts Ref
1987 S & H Racing 80 Ford DAY CAR RCH ATL DAR NWS BRI MAR TAL CLT DOV POC
21
RSD MCH DAY POC
33
TAL GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR RSD ATL
DNQ
67th 164 [10]
1988 DAY
DNQ
RCH CAR ATL
DNQ
DAR
18
BRI NWS MAR TAL
DNQ
CLT
31
DOV
34
RSD POC
18
MCH
DNQ
DAY
DNQ
POC
29
TAL GLN MCH
DNQ
BRI DAR
37
RCH DOV
20
MAR CLT NWS CAR
DNQ
PHO ATL
32
41st 647 [11]
1989 Pontiac DAY
DNQ
CAR ATL
13
RCH DAR
32
BRI NWS MAR TAL
DNQ
CLT DOV
31
SON POC
37
MCH DAY POC
33
TAL GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR CLT NWS CAR PHO ATL 46th 377 [12]
1990 Ford DAY
37
RCH CAR ATL DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL
DNQ
CLT
23
DOV
20
SON POC
39
MCH DAY
DNQ
36th 756 [13]
Hendrick Motorsports 17 Chevy DAY
17
POC TAL
13
GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH
S & H Racing 80 Pontiac DOV
30
MAR NWS ATL
35
Group 44 44 Pontiac CLT
23
CAR PHO
1991 S & H Racing 80 Chevy DAY
DNQ
RCH CAR NA - [14]
Ford ATL
DNQ
DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL CLT DOV
DNQ
SON POC MCH
DNQ
DAY
DNQ
POC TAL GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV
DNQ
MAR NWS CLT CAR PHO ATL
1992 Active Motorsports 32 Chevy DAY CAR RCH ATL
26
DAR BRI NWS
DNQ
MAR TAL CLT DOV
22
SON POC
34
MCH
26
DAY POC
34
TAL GLN MCH
38
BRI DAR RCH
31
DOV MAR
DNQ
NWS CLT CAR
34
PHO ATL
24
39th 660 [15]
1993 DAY
25
CAR RCH
DNQ
ATL
27
DAR BRI NWS
DNQ
MAR TAL
36
SON CLT
25
POC
37
MCH
41
DAY
38
NHA POC
26
TAL
39
GLN MCH
38
BRI DAR DOV
22
MAR NWS CLT CAR
34
PHO ATL
38
38th 841 [16]
Hover Motorsports 80 Ford DOV
DNQ
RCH
DNQ
1994 DAY
19
CAR RCH ATL
DNQ
DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL
DNQ
SON CLT DOV POC MCH
DNQ
DAY NHA POC TAL IND GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR PHO ATL 62nd 106 [17]
1995 Junior Johnson & Associates 27 Ford DAY CAR RCH ATL DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL SON CLT DOV POC
34
MCH DAY NHA POC TAL IND GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR PHO 61st 61 [18]
Hendrick Motorsports 58 Chevy ATL
QL
1998 ISM Racing 35 Pontiac DAY CAR LVS ATL DAR BRI TEX MAR TAL CAL CLT DOV RCH MCH POC SON NHA POC
DNQ
IND GLN MCH BRI NHA DAR RCH DOV MAR CLT TAL DAY PHO CAR ATL NA - [19]
- Qualified but replaced by Jeff Purvis
Daytona 500
Year Team Manufacturer Start Finish
1988 S & H Racing Ford DNQ
1989 Pontiac DNQ
1990 Ford 40 37
1991 Chevrolet DNQ
1993 Active Motorsports Chevrolet 29 25
1994 Hover Motorsports Ford 28 19

Busch Series

NASCAR Busch 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 NBSC Pts Ref
1985 S & H Racing 85 Pontiac DAY
41
CAR HCY BRI MAR DAR SBO LGY DOV CLT SBO HCY ROU IRP SBO LGY HCY MLW BRI DAR RCH NWS ROU CLT HCY CAR MAR 94th 40 [20]
1986 DAY
15
CAR
30
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 CAR MAR 62nd 191 [21]
1987 Buick DAY
28
HCY MAR DAR
30
BRI LGY SBO CLT
37
DOV IRP ROU JFC OXF SBO HCY RAL LGY ROU BRI JFC DAR RCH DOV MAR CLT CAR MAR 47th 204 [22]
1988 DAY
DNQ
HCY CAR MAR DAR BRI LNG NZH SBO NSV CLT DOV ROU LAN LVL MYB OXF SBO HCY LNG IRP ROU BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR CLT CAR MAR NA - [23]
1989 Ken Schrader Racing 52 Chevy DAY CAR MAR HCY DAR BRI NZH SBO LAN NSV CLT DOV ROU LVL VOL MYB SBO HCY DUB IRP ROU BRI DAR
16
RCH DOV MAR CLT CAR MAR 99th - [24]

ARCA Hooters SuperCar Series

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

ARCA Hooters SuperCar 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 AHSSC Pts Ref
1988 S & H Racing 80 Ford DAY
25
ATL TAL FRS PCS ROC POC
23
WIN KIL ACS SLM POC
4
TAL DEL FRS ISF DSF SLM ATL
7
42nd - [25]
1989 Pontiac DAY
5
ATL
18
KIL TAL
31
FRS POC
24
KIL HAG POC
34
TAL
DNQ
DEL FRS ISF TOL DSF SLM ATL
8
28th - [26]
1990 DAY
1
ATL
1*
KIL TAL
1*
FRS POC
1
KIL TOL HAG POC
1
TAL
36
MCH
31
ISF TOL DSF WIN DEL ATL
33
21st - [27]
1991 Chevy DAY
4
ATL
34
KIL 61st - [28]
Pontiac TAL
1*
TOL FRS POC MCH KIL FRS DEL POC TAL HPT MCH ISF TOL DSF TWS ATL
1992 Active Motorsports 32 Chevy DAY
1
FIF TWS TAL
38
TOL KIL POC MCH FRS KIL NSH DEL POC HPT FRS ISF TOL DSF TWS SLM ATL 94th - [29]
1993 DAY
37
FIF TWS TAL KIL CMS FRS TOL POC
2
MCH
27
FRS POC
19
KIL ISF DSF TOL SLM WIN ATL 44th - [30]
1994 Ken Schrader Racing 52 Chevy DAY TAL
4
MCH
27
DMS POC POC KIL FRS INF I70 ISF DSF TOL SLM WIN ATL
2
53rd 1045 [31]
Olds FIF
5
LVL KIL TOL FRS
1995 Chevy DAY ATL
1
TAL
39
FIF KIL FRS MCH
8
I80 MCS FRS POC POC KIL FRS SBS LVL ISF DSF SLM WIN ATL
33
42nd 845 [32]

References

  1. Siano, Joseph. "Experience Is Lacking", The New York Times, February 18, 1990. Accessed September 30, 2007. "Last week, the race winner, Jimmy Horton of Folsom, N.J., said the accidents probably were a result of drivers' inexperience at Daytona."
  2. Driving statistics, Retrieved September 27, 2007
  3. Bridgeport Speedway Past Champions (1973-2006) Archived August 26, 2018, at the Wayback Machine, Retrieved September 26, 2007
  4. "2020 Danny Serrano 100 Weekend". Bridgeport Speedway. September 27, 2020. Event occurs at 3:19. FloRacing.
  5. New Egypt Speedway website, Point Champions section of Standings page Archived October 16, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, Retrieved September 26, 2007
  6. Who's The Next Big Deal in Dirt Modified Racing; Area Auto Racing News; October 3, 2006; by Brett Deyo; Retrieved September 27, 2007
  7. "Bridgeport Speedway 6.28.20 (subscription required)". Speedshift TV. June 28, 2020. FloRacing. Speedshift TV.
  8. Zenor, John (June 9, 2001). "Former Winston Cup driver Smith leaves horrid accident in past". Arizona Daily Sun. Archived from the original on December 10, 2020. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  9. Horton Wins At Daytona, February 9, 1992 The New York Times; Retrieved September 26, 2007
  10. "Jimmy Horton – 1987 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
  11. "Jimmy Horton – 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
  12. "Jimmy Horton – 1989 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
  13. "Jimmy Horton – 1990 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
  14. "Jimmy Horton – 1991 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
  15. "Jimmy Horton – 1992 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
  16. "Jimmy Horton – 1993 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
  17. "Jimmy Horton – 1994 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
  18. "Jimmy Horton – 1995 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
  19. "Jimmy Horton – 1998 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
  20. "Jimmy Horton – 1985 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
  21. "Jimmy Horton – 1986 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
  22. "Jimmy Horton – 1987 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
  23. "Jimmy Horton – 1988 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
  24. "Jimmy Horton – 1989 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
  25. "Jimmy Horton – 1988 ARCA Permatex SuperCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
  26. "Jimmy Horton – 1989 ARCA Permatex SuperCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
  27. "Jimmy Horton – 1990 ARCA Permatex SuperCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
  28. "Jimmy Horton – 1991 ARCA Permatex SuperCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
  29. "Jimmy Horton – 1992 ARCA SuperCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
  30. "Jimmy Horton – 1993 ARCA Hooters SuperCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
  31. "Jimmy Horton – 1994 ARCA Hooters SuperCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
  32. "Jimmy Horton – 1995 ARCA Hooters SuperCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
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