James Hylton calls it career with ARCA race at Kansas Speedway after long, winding career

ARCA driver James Hylton gives a thumbs up while sitting in his race car during practice at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan., Friday, Oct. 4, 2013. The 79-year-old will retire following Friday's ARCA Kansas Lottery 98.9 race. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley) (The Associated Press)

ARCA driver James Hylton takes a lap during practice at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan., Friday, Oct. 4, 2013. The 79-year-old will retire following Friday night's ARCA Kansas Lottery 98.9 race. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley) (The Associated Press)

KANSAS CITY, Kan. – The oldest driver to race in each of NASCAR's top three divisions is calling it a career.

James Hylton is 79. He will race Friday night in Kansas City in the lower-tier ARCA race and that's it.

Born on his family's farm in Virginia in 1934, Hylton's family worked hard to make ends meet during the Depression. He started driving in his father's Model T. He was a crew chief for Ned Jarrett in the early days of NASCAR, then got behind the wheel and placed second in the Cup standings in 1966.

Hylton also finished second in points to Richard Petty in 1967 and '71, and won twice in more than 600 Cup starts. In all, Hylton racked up 140 top-five finishes and 321 top-10s in the Cup series.