Chase Elliott and Lee Petty never raced each other, but they both raced the same man. Enter James Hilton, one of NASCAR’s most overlooked iron men. His career is a time-warp, bridging legends like David Pearson all the way to Ryan Blaney. And what he accomplished might blow your mind.

• Which stat proves Hilton was criminally underrated for decades?
• How do you finish second in points—twice—without ever winning a race?
• What record did he break after 187 starts and 12 runner-up finishes?
• And how in the world did he race full-time at 78 years old?

Hilton racked up 301 top 10s in 534 starts, raced in the 60s against NASCAR royalty, and was still strapping in a helmet well into the 2010s. It’s not just longevity—it’s insanity. From Lee Petty to Chase Elliott, Hilton didn’t just witness the history of NASCAR… he lived across its entire timeline.

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