NASCAR Fans, Drivers Remember Bobby Hamilton as a Fighter, Champion

“He will be greatly missed as a husband, a father, a grandfather, an owner and a friend,” said the Hamilton family.

Bobby Hamilton at the 2004 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Awards Banquet. Photo courtsey: bobbyhamiltonracing.com

NASHVILLE - Bobby Hamilton Racing is saddened to announce that its owner Bobby Hamilton Sr. passed away Sunday afternoon at his home in Nashville, Tennessee from complications of Cancer.

He was 49.

A non-smoker, Hamilton went public with his battle with cancer at a March press conference at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Hamilton began his NASCAR career in 1989, and won four Nextel Cup races.

Hamilton is survived by his wife Lori, son Bobby Jr., and a granddaughter.

“He will be greatly missed as a husband, a father, a grandfather, an owner and a friend,” said the Hamilton family.

“We want to thank everyone for their love and support of our racing operation and the outpouring of care and concern during his cancer battle. One of Bobby’s greatest loves in life was racing and we will continue on in his honor.”

In lieu of flowers the family asks fans please make donations to the American Cancer Society or the Victory Junction Gang Camp.

Richard Petty comments on the passing of Bobby Hamilton:

Bobby Hamilton was the driver of the famed ‘43' owned by Richard Petty from 1995-1997. He won for Petty Enterprises in 1996 at the Phoenix ( Ariz. ) International Speedway and also at the North Carolina Speedway (Rockingham) in 1997.

“The Petty family is saddened by the passing of Bobby Hamilton. Bobby was not only a huge part of the racing family, but of the Petty family as well. He will always be a part of our family. He had a heart of a champion and that affected everyone around him. You could always count on Bobby. He was just that type of guy. He never let you down and gave you everything he had on-and-off the track. His family is in our hearts and prayers.”

Quotes from Sterling Marlin, Joe Nemechek, and Mark Martin regarding the passing of Bobby Hamilton.

Sterling Marlin:

Marlin is a Tennessee native and a good friend of Hamilton.

"Bobby was a great guy and a good friend. This sport is really going to miss him. He was a hard, clean racer and a really talented driver. We started racing right about the same time and he was a fierce competitor. He knew what he wanted to do and he made it happen.

"But at the same time he'd give anyone the shirt off his back. He was a sincere man that genuinely cared about people.

"We flew a lot of miles together to and from races and test sessions and made some good memories together. Everyone in the racing world will miss him."

Joe Nemechek:

Nemechek was teammates with Hamilton at Andy Petree Racing from 2000-2001.

"It's hard to put into words how you feel when something like this happens. It's just hard to believe. It seems like yesterday I was helping to push Bobby to victory at Talladega back in '01.

"It hits close to home when something like this happens. It's like when I lost my brother-- anytime you're close to someone and you know them well it just makes your heart hurt.

"Bobby was a heck of a race car driver. He was a family man and loved his kids and his grand kids.

"It's a sad time. He'll be missed, but we'll keep him in our thoughts and prayers."

Mark Martin

"Bobby was one of the most down to earth people that I have ever been around. He treated everyone the same no matter who you were or what you did. He was just a really good guy."

"He was a very unique person and he was a great competitor on the race track, and it's just a huge loss for everyone in the racing family and our thoughts are prayers are with his family at this time."

Bobby Hamilton Racing Team History:

The foundation for what would someday become Bobby Hamilton Racing began in 1996 when, NASCAR veteran, Bobby Hamilton, in a partnership with friend, Chuck Spicer, purchased a race truck and began making plans to compete in one or two NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races.

The original idea was to build a competitive team that Bobby Hamilton Jr. could one day step into, and start what everyone hoped would be a successful NASCAR racing career with the family operation.

Over the first three years, Hamilton started seven races with his own truck, during which time Hamilton Jr.’s career took off, and he soon left the nest so to speak.

This left Hamilton Sr. pondering the future of his young team. That is when everything began falling into place and Hamilton bought out his friend Chuck Spicer.

Shortly after this transaction in December 1998, in a small shop behind Hamilton’s Mount Juliet, Tennessee home, Bobby Hamilton Racing was born. A few weeks later, sponsorship and factory support from Dodge began taking shape.

With two trucks and a handful of crewmembers, the work began on what has developed into one of the premier teams in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series

Three short months after this meager beginning, BHR qualified for the opening event of the 1999 season at Homestead Miami Speedway. The team finished ninth that day and began what would be a challenging first year.

Solid runs proved that they had potential, and over the last half of the season, the team improved every week. This was just the beginning, and the team would no doubt build on their one pole position, four top five, and 14 top ten finishes in their first year.

In 2000, the team arrived at Daytona International Speedway to begin their second season of competition, with little doubt that the hard work and the experiences of the previous year would pay dividends quickly. As it turned out, the 2000 season was one of tremendous accomplishments.

The team won the first three pole positions of the year and took home their first victory in just the third event of the season. BHR reeled off three more wins, six more poles, and led over 800 laps of competition during the year.

The team also entered their first NASCAR Winston Cup Series race at Homestead Miami Speedway with Bobby Hamilton, Jr

BHR began its third year of competition in 2001 by moving into a new, 46,000 square foot facility, and increasing its involvement with DaimlerChrysler.

It was at the beginning of the 2001 season that the organization formed a second full-time effort in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series as part of Dodge Motorsports’s diversity program (No. 8 Dodge Team).

The 2001 season opened with the organization winning the Daytona 250 from the pole position, which turned out to be a launching pad for a record-setting year for BHR.

Over the 24-event season, the No. 18 team recorded a series high 20 top ten finishes and finished in the third position in the points standings.

The No. 8 team finished in the 20th position in the points standings.

After such a successful year in 2001, Bobby Hamilton Racing continued its growth by adding a third team (No. 4 Team) over the winter of 2002.

With the addition of the third team and the changing of driver talent over the winter, no one knew exactly what to expect in 2002. But just like the previous year, BHR went to Daytona International Speedway for the season opener and won for the second year in a row.

From that point on, the organization marched on through the season, winning again at Michigan and by season’s end, placed all three teams in the top 20 in the final series points standings.

No other organization has ever accomplished such a feat in Truck Series history.

In 2003, Owner, Bobby Hamilton, came home to drive full-time for the organization, Chad Chaffin joined the No. 18 team, and Bill Lester returned as the driver of the No. 8 Team.

Hamilton won two races, Darlington and Homestead, and finished sixth in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series standings. Hamilton’s successful first full year in the truck series helped set the stage for a memorable 2004 campaign.

2004 proved to be the most successful year in BHR history. Hamilton took the checkered flag on four occasions, Atlanta, Memphis, Kentucky and Nashville, collecting more wins than any other driver in the series.

He posted 12 top-five finishes and 16 top-10 finishes and in the process delivered Dodge Motorsports their first ever NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series crown.

Chaffin also proved to be factor in BHR’s No. 18 entry with two wins, Dover and Indianapolis Raceway Park and a solid 10th place finish in the final series standings.

The 2005 season dawns with Hamilton facing the daunting task of defending his 2004 series championship. In addition, NASCAR’s youth movement has invaded Bobby Hamilton Racing with two new additions.

Chase Montgomery takes over the No. 18, replacing the departing Chaffin and NCTS newcomer Timothy Peters will compete in a limited schedule of events in the No. 04 BHR entry. Nashville native Deborah Renshaw will replace Montgomery in the No. 8 BHR2 Dodge.

All these changes make BHR’s 2005 goals very simple. BHR hopes to place both full-time teams in the top ten in the final standings, once again capture the driver’s championship, and establish BHR as the most successful team in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. It will certainly be worth watching.

WE WILL MISS YOUR GREAT POST RACE INTERVIEWS AND FACIAL EXPRESSIONS .

In 1995 a man I knew very little about was named to drive my beloved #43,I would root for no other driver agian.The loss of Bobby Hamilton will change racing for me, it will never be the same,rest in peace Bobby,you wiull be missed

Thank you for being the person that you where. We will all miss a real sportsmen. God bless your family.

I was a backup scorer with NASCAR for many years and scored for Bobby in many races. He was always such a gentleman and always took time to talk to you. I will always have an empty place in my heart now that he's gone. However, you will not be forgotten Bobby. Rest in peace.

A true competitor and wonderful ambassador for the sport of racing. He will be missed by so many.

Condolences to the family. Hamilton Racing was a class act!

Bobby Hamilton was a Great Racer and my favorite!

A great racer and a person you will be missed. My thoughts and prayers are with the Hamilton family

As a NASCAR fan my thoughts and prayers are with his family.

My thoughts and prayers are with the Hamilton family

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