James Hylton, the 72-year-old stock car competitor who attempted to qualify for this year’s Daytona 500, has been selected as the first-quarter recipient of the National Motorsports Press Association/Pocono Spirit Award. Hylton found himself in the national spotlight during 2007 Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway when he attempted to become the oldest driver to qualify for the Nextel Cup Series’ season-opening Daytona 500.

The two-time NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series winner nearly pulled off the feat, finishing 23rd in one of the two Gatorade 150-mile qualifying races. While disappointed that he was unable to make his first Nextel Cup Series start since 1993, Hylton, who has 601 career starts in the series, vowed he would be back.

“If I’d have turned this deal down,” Hylton said of his Daytona effort, “when I got to be an old man, I’d look back and say, ‘I should have taken that chance.”

Hylton received 44 votes cast by the membership. Jimmie Johnson, the defending Nextel Cup champion and driver of the Hendrick Motorsports #48 Chevrolet, received 15 votes. Former Craftsman Truck Series champion Bobby Hamilton received one vote as did Patti Petty, who along with husband Kyle, founded Victory Junction Gang Camp.

The NMPA/Pocono Spirit Award, which has been presented annually since 1992, recognizes character and achievement in the face of adversity, as well as sportsmanship and contributions to motorsports. Four quarterly winners are selected, with one overall Spirit award winner chosen by a vote of the NMPA membership at year’s end. The award will be presented during the group’s annual dinner and awards ceremony in January, 2008.

[NASCAR]

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