Hylton to enter Daytona 500

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Kyle Ocker, FanZone Sports

EM Motorsports announced today that 74-year-old James Hylton will enter the 51st Daytona 500 in a Dodge. Hylton was on his way to racing in the 2007 Daytona 500, but a faulty clutch in the Gatorade Duels, after running as high as second place in the event, made him unable to become the oldest competitor to race in the Daytona 500.

Hylton, 1966 Rookie of the Year, has competed in 16 Daytona 500s, but has yet to win one. He will try to become not only the oldest competitor to race in the 500, but the oldest to win it.

“Christmas has come early for me,” said Hylton. “I am thrilled to be able to fulfill the promise that I made to the fans in 2007 of returning for one more Daytona 500. My main goals are to become the oldest competitor to ever run the Daytona 500 and of course, win the race”.

The team is also looking for sponsorship to run the entire 2009 Sprint Cup Series schedule.

“Our goal is to run a complete 2009 series with James Hylton driving the EM Motorsports Dodge,” stated team owner John Carter. “You don’t know how proud we are of being part of history by putting James Hylton in our car. We hope that sponsors will come on board so we can run the complete 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series”.

Hylton, celebrating his 50th year in NASCAR, competed full-time in the ARCA RE/MAX Series in 2008 as well as driving in the Winn-Dixie 250 Nationwide Series race at Daytona. Hylton began his career as a mechanic for NASCAR legend Rex White and crew chief Louis Clements in September 1959. At age 73, Hylton set the record as the oldest driver to start a Nationwide Series event at the 2008 Winn-Dixie 250.