Legendary Car Owner Jim Horton Sr Passes
Folks knew him as "Horton Sr," or "Coach", or as I preferred "Mr. Horton,".... and if you ever spoke to him, you know what a wealth of knowledge stood before you.... having built and owned modifieds from the 60's, right up until just a few years ago.
A partial list of some of those who wheeled Jim Horton cars are Dudie Babey, Mike Grbac, Sammy Beavers, Bobby Pickell, son Jimmy Horton, Stan Ploski, Fritz Epright, and many, many others...
As if that wasn't enough, Jim surprised the racing world by putting on the racing suit himself and getting behind the wheel of his sportsman racer in the mid 80's, and had a real strong showing in the Rookie Division at Flemington.
Speaking of "Mr. Horton's" son "Jimmy", you can't think of the entire racing career of Jimmy Horton without thinking about the the early years when Jimmy first learned to wrench on a some of those "Horton built" race cars mentioned above, and the lessons learned from his father, and from those he met along the way..... and then applying what he learned to become the car builder and racer who we have all watched for the past 5 decades. In addition to knowledge from his father, Jimmy also learned the value of hard work. That knowledge.... that hard work... and the deep understanding of the sport, would earn a path all the way to NASCAR for the Horton name.
The Horton's, father and son, at Pocono (6/19/88). Photo by/provided by Jack Kromer.
As provided to us via text from a post seen on Facebook, Jimmy posted, "We lost my Hero! My biggest fan & my best friend! Love you Champ!"
I'm sure that I speak for everyone here on our site that we'll never forget the lifetime contribution to the sport from Mr. Horton.
Our condolences to the Horton Family.
Hall of Fame Pioneer Driver Bob Rossell Passes
Weedsport, NY (March 25, 2026) – The Northeast Dirt Modified Hall of Fame joins the racing world in mourning the death and celebrating the life of pioneer driver and fabricator Bob Rossell, who passed away on March 24 after a long illness, with his wife Carol by his side. He was 89.
Rossell, from Jacobstown, NJ, was inducted into the Northeast Dirt Modified Hall of Fame in 2018.
Rossell began racing on the paved New Egypt Speedway quarter-mile in 1958, in an old Chevy coupe with an engine out of a junk pile. Working out of NES champion “Stubby” Stevens’ nearby Jacobstown garage, along with his good friend Gil Hearne, Bob was just getting going when the U.S. Air Force took him out of the scene for a year, in 1961.
When Rossell returned, he jumped back in with both feet — barnstorming up and down the Eastern seaboard, tagging along with the infamous “Eastern Bandits,” holding his own with Ed Flemke, Dennis Zimmerman, Rene Charland, Red Foote and the like.
Bob’s big scores include NASCAR’s 200-lap Battle of Bull Run at Old Dominion in 1963, Wall Stadium’s 300-lap Garden State Classic (twice), Langhorne qualifiers at Flemington and Orange County Fair Speedway, five extra-distance events at East Windsor, and a 90-minute timed race on the 1-1/8 mile Nazareth National big track, where he beat the great Frankie Schneider on the last turn of the last lap. After dominating Utica-Rome’s 1963 New Yorker 400, Rossell’s win was protested by Lou Lazzaro, who alleged Bob was pushed across the line. Many months later, NASCAR awarded the win to Lazzaro.
Rossell was a regular in the elite All-Star Racing League from 1967-71.
He was also a sought-after car builder, with top drivers like Will Cagle and Tommy Corellis, among others, finding success in Rossell racers. Cagle ran Rossell cars almost exclusively from 1965-72, arguably some of his best years racing in the Northeast.
It was a great existence until July 1971, when Rossell was critically injured during an All-Star event at Lebanon Valley, almost losing a foot, laid up in Albany Medical Center for 29 days.
Tough and stubborn, Bob was back driving the following spring. By July of ’72, he was back in form, clicking off five wins that summer, including a 100-lap Syracuse qualifier at East Windsor.
Rossell never officially retired — “I put the car on the trailer after a rough night at East Windsor and just never took it off.” — but went on to a second career, building sulkies for Standardbred horses for more than a decade.
Above provided by The Northeast Dirt Modified Hall of Fame
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A favorite on the track, and off.... ...Always looked forward to seeing Bob (whether at a mall show, or maybe at Bridgeport or New Egypt), and without fail, we'd find something interesting to talk about.
Bob checked all the boxes. Racer, fabricator, builder/driver of some of our most memorable cars, a hard worker (there were not enough hours in a day for Bob). and a heck of a story teller.
I remember one time when I was helping to set up guest drivers for a New Egypt Speedway Legends Event for Buffy Swanson, and I called Bob's house early one evening to see if he could attend, and Carol answered, and I was told to call back a little later because if it was still light out, Bob's was still outside working.
Everything about Bob is why I enjoy doing what we all do here. The years watching him race, the amazing cars he built over the years.... and then getting to meet Bob after his driving days were over, but for me, the stories were just starting.....
Bob Rossell in victory lane with Harry Dee at East Windsor SpeedwayIf someone was to ask any of us why we have been fans of short track racing for over 50 - 60 years, all you would have to do is look at everything Bob was about, and what he accomplished, and the answer is obvious.
As so many have offered, we will miss talking racing memories with Bob, but we will always remember.
My condolences to Carol and to Jimmy and the entire Rossell Family.
3Wide
