Jimmy Horton

Horton has won many of the most noted races for dirt track modifieds in the Northeastern United States.

He began racing in a small block powered sportsman car owned by his father, in the early 1970s.

That season, he was involved in one of the rare dead heat modified feature wins along with fellow future NASCAR racer Tighe Scott.

Most of his career Winston Cup starts were at tracks in the Northeastern United States for underfunded teams, but Horton made two starts (and a relief driver appearance) at Hendrick Motorsports in 1990 when Darrell Waltrip was injured during final practice for the Firecracker 400.

Horton's two starts for Hendrick were in the two July restrictor plate races—Daytona and Talladega, and also participated as a relief driver at the second Pocono race.

Horton started 41st in the Firecracker (had to move to the rear of the field because of the driver change) at Daytona race, and finished 17th.

(Greg Sacks drove the car, except for Sarel van der Merwe at Watkins Glen, until Darlington, when Waltrip was cleared to return.)

Smith suffered near-fatal head injuries in the incident,[13] while Horton walked out of the wreck virtually unscathed.

On March 1, 2024, Horton acquired Art's Radiator and Welding in Flemington, New Jersey, a well known sponsor in dirt modifieds and chassis and automotive parts supplier, from the Lentini family.