At 72, Hylton plans comeback at Daytona

I have to admit that I don't recall this driver, but it looks like he had a long and pretty successful career. Now, he wants to make a comeback to become the oldest driver to ever compete in a Cup race.

"I am doing this for seniors to show that at 70 years old, you don't have to go hunting for an old folks home. You can go race for a little bit," Hylton said. "A lot of the old drivers want to come out here and hang out in the pits and see if I can do it."

The odds are stacked against Hylton, who made the first of his 15 Daytona 500 starts in 1966. But he's not doing this because he foolishly thinks he can win the Super Bowl of NASCAR.

Rather, Hylton just wants a spot in the record books as the oldest driver to ever make a Cup race. He already holds the mark in both the Busch and Automobile Racing Club of America Series, and is focused on making it a trifecta. The Cup record of age 65 is shared by Hershel McGriff (Sonoma, 1993) and Jim Fitzgerald (Riverside, 1987).

"More power to him," said David Stremme, one of 11 current Cup drivers who wasn't born when Hylton notched his only two victories. "You've got to believe that if he makes the race, he might earn more money finishing last than he did in an entire season of his early days.

Indeed, Carl Edwards won $269,882 last season for finishing 43rd in the biggest race of the year. Hylton, meanwhile, estimates the most money he ever made in a single season was "right around $150,000."

foxsports

[edit on 2007/1/15 by GradyPhilpott]

I'm not a nascar fan, but i might be fun to watch. "Hylton comes in for 4 tires and Geritol." lol

Originally posted by phantom702
I'm not a nascar fan, but i might be fun to watch. "Hylton comes in for 4 tires and Geritol." lol

I would say that Viagra would be a better sponsor for this guy, but Mark Martin has spoken for them already.

Seriously, it may be possible?

Grady? Do you remember a team by the name of Phoenix Racing? He was Jeff Purvis' crew chief and I think he was the owner of his cars durin Jeff's time in both the Cup and Busch Series

It won't matter if he leaves the blinker on. They always turn the same direction......

Originally posted by ben91069
I would say that Viagra would be a better sponsor for this guy, but Mark Martin has spoken for them already.

Mark Martin is no longer sponsored by Viagra, so that could be an option, if he qualifies. Still, his aspirations only include one race, so as to obtain a record, so sponsorship is probably a little hard to come by.

Originally posted by gimmefootball400

Grady? Do you remember a team by the name of Phoenix Racing? He was Jeff Purvis' crew chief and I think he was the owner of his cars durin Jeff's time in both the Cup and Busch Series

I can't say that I do, but my following NASCAR was interrupted for about twenty years, so a lot of folks came and went without my being aware.