James Hylton Pop Kola Tribute

Thanks to Marc Cohn for this request and his approval to add this tribute car to Trading Paints. TALLADEGA, Ala. — James Hylton, a two-time winner in NASCAR’s premier series and a competitor known for his longevity, has died. He was 83. Franklin County (Ga.) Deputy Coroner Clayton Bryant confirmed to NASCAR.com that Hylton and his son, James “Tweety” Hylton Jr., were killed in a traffic accident on Interstate 85. The two were returning from Friday’s ARCA Series event at Talladega Superspeedway, when according to Bryant, their GMC truck and enclosed trailer left the road and made impact with a creek bank in the median. Bryant said the call came from emergency dispatchers shortly after 6 a.m. Saturday. Bryant, who was among the responders, said that both Hyltons were pronounced dead at the scene. NASCAR officials also confirmed the Hyltons’ passing. The driver, whose name was not provided, survived the crash and was transported to a hospital in Greenville, South Carolina. The Hylton team was also involved in a highway incident last July, the father and son emerging uninjured when their truck and racing hauler crashed after a race at Iowa Speedway. NASCAR and ARCA released the following statement on the passing of Hylton and his son: “Racing competitively in parts of six decades, James Hylton’s dedication, passion and longevity in motorsports is virtually unmatched. 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.”