Steve Waid: Bobby Hillin’s career started – and ended – while he was young
Former NASCAR driver Bobby Hillin Jr. won one race in NASCAR's top series. // David Griffin, NASCAR Scene
COMMENTARY
When he won the Talladega 500 on July 27, 1986, at what was then known as Alabama International Motor Speedway in Talladega, Ala., Bobby Hillin Jr. became the youngest driver to win a Winston Cup race in NASCAR’s post-1971 modern era.
He was barely 22 years old, and he had been a NASCAR regular for five seasons.
Since then, first Kyle Busch, and now, Joey Logano have claimed the distinction of being NASCAR’s youngest winner – ever.
The 1986 Talladega 500 was the first and only victory of Hillin’s Winston Cup career, which lasted from 1983 through 1997 – although he did compete in one race in 2000.
Hillin, from Midland, Texas, was preparing for a career in open-wheel racing when he attended the Buck Baker Driving School. That experience prompted him to pursue a livelihood as a NASCAR driver.
Of course, in NASCAR circles, no one had ever heard of him. He wanted to change that.
One day in 1982 he walked through the door of a converted country store that served as the home of a publication called Grand National Scene.
“Hello,” he announced. “I’m Bobby Hillin.”
With him was gruff, veteran crew chief Harry Hyde.
Hillin, then 18, told Scene’s writers about himself, his aspirations in NASCAR and how he relied on Hyde’s direction to help him realize them – all of which was duly reported.
But there was considerable doubt that the kid would get far.
In 1983, Hillin joined the fledgling Stavola Brothers team, owned by Bill and Mickey Stavola of New Jersey and based in Harrisburg, N.C.
The Stavolas started a second team in 1986, and Hillin’s new teammate was none other than Bobby Allison.
Allison, driving a Buick, got the first-ever victory for the Stavolas when he won the Winston 500 at Talladega on May 4. Hillin finished fourth.
The Talladega 500 in October 1986 has been recorded as one of the most competitive races in NASCAR’s history. Twenty-six drivers led the race, a NASCAR record that was tied at Talladega in 2001 and topped last October, again at Talladega, when there were 28 different leaders.
Hillin, of course, was one of the leaders in 1986. He took the lead with nine laps to go, but, being pursued by a huge pack of cars in the high-speed draft, it wasn’t likely he would hold it.
But on the final lap, Sterling Marlin hooked Allison’s bumper and triggered a multicar crash that reduced a fleet of cars to rubble.
Hillin was ahead of the melee. The majority of his challengers had been eliminated. He went on to win by three car-lengths over Tim Richmond.
Many thought the victory would be the first of many to come for Hillin. Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be.
He stayed with the Stavolas through the 1990 season and then competed with such owners as Dick Moroso and Junie Donlavey – often on a limited basis – until he left Cup competition after 1997, at age 33.
Hillin was young when his career started and when it ended.
But he did indeed have his moment in the spotlight.
