Bobby Hamilton

Bobby Hamilton

Charles Robert Hamilton, Sr. (May 29, 1957 – January 7, 2007) was a driver and owner in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series circuit and the winner of the 2004 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (now Camping World Truck Series) championship. Hamilton owned Bobby Hamilton Racing, which fielded three entries in each NCWTS event. Hamilton's son, Bobby Hamilton, Jr., is currently a driver in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, and owns Bobby Hamilton Racing, yet he has disavowed his relationship with the team. Bobby's team shut down after the 2008 season due to the slumping economy.

Hamilton may be best remembered for two of his Winston Cup wins. His first career victory at the 1996 Dura Lube 500 at Phoenix was the first win for the #43 Petty car since Richard Petty's last win in 1984. He also had a memorable win at the Talladega 500 in April 2001 driving the #55 car for owner Andy Petree. The entire 500-mile race was run caution-free and was under intense scrutiny from both NASCAR and the media at large, being the first superspeedway race run since the death of Dale Earnhardt at the 2001 Daytona 500 two months earlier. A physically and mentally exhausted Hamilton slumped to the ground after exiting his car and was given oxygen from a tank before giving the standard post-race Victory Lane interview while sitting on the ground, leaning against the drivers door.