Race Driving Dreams of Young Bobby Hillin Have Different Ending

As a child, Bobby Hillin Jr. dreamed of driving Indy cars and sprint cars.

As a 22-year-old, it’s stock cars that he drives. And it’s in the NASCAR stock car series that he’s making his mark.

Two weeks ago, Hillin became the youngest driver ever to win a NASCAR race when he finished first in the Talladega 500.

“I always watched the sprint cars and my dad’s Indy cars and thought that was where I wanted to be, out there running those cars,” said Hillin, who grew up in Midland, Tex., where his father operated racing teams.

But then Buddy Baker paid Hillin’s father a visit in Indianapolis one year and everything changed.

“He told my dad about his father, Buck Baker’s driving school. And he convinced my dad that was the way to go,” Hillin said.

At that driving school, in Rockingham, N.C., Hillin and his father and grandfather met longtime stock car crew chief Harry Hyde.

“Without Harry, there’s no way I’d be where I am now,” said Hillin, who will drive in today’s NASCAR race at Watkins Glen International. “He told my father and granddad that I could drive these cars. We went with what Harry told us and he was absolutely right.”

Hillin, in a car sponsored by his grandfather, horse breeder R.N. (Blaze) Hillin of Odessa, Tex., and handled by Hyde, ran five races in 1982 as a 17-year-old.

“It didn’t take me long to learn how this sport is,” said the former high school defensive end. “I may have had an illusion or two when I first came on the circuit, but maybe that was because I was so young.

“I was successful back in Texas on the short tracks and I thought the transition to the NASCAR scene would be a lot easier. I also thought success would come fast,” he said.

“I was running at the finish in the first race I started (at North Wilkesboro, N.C.,). But running all day and still finishing 21st tells you how competitive this kind of racing is.”

Hillin was determined, though.

He talked his mother into letting him move to Charlotte, N.C., by promising he would finish high school by correspondence and would graduate with his class.

He did, working on his school assignments each morning and on his race car in the afternoon. It got hectic sometimes. For example, the day after Hillin qualified for the World 600 at Charlotte, he flew home for graduation ceremonies and then flew back for the race the following day.

In 1983, Hillin, an 18-year-old, ran 12 races and finished as high as 11th twice. Then Hyde, now crew chief for Tim Richmond, took another job.

“I made the best of the opportunity. I learned all I could and almost broke into the top 10 before Harry left,” Hillin said.

Then he met New Jersey businessmen Bill and Mickey Stavola.

“That was the most fortunate event in my career,” he said. “I was able to get their attention and they liked what they saw. Words can’t express how thankful I am that I was able to form a partnership with them.”

He has been part of the Stavola Brothers Racing Team ever since, running 16 races in 1984, 28 in 1985 and the full schedule this year.

“One goal I accomplished in 1985 was to pass, under competitive conditions, all the drivers I have to run against on this circuit. That really helped my confidence,” he said.

Now, after a third-place finish in the Firecracker 400 at Daytona Beach on July 4, Hillin has his first victory, supplanting Terry Labonte, who won as a 23-year-old in 1980, as the youngest stocker to pull into Victory Lane.

“I’ve been lucky in a lot of things,” he said. “But I also am determined. I knew right from the start that I belonged, and that’s not bragging. It was just something I felt.

“But I’m not going to let it sink in,” he added. “I don’t want anybody on the crew to think I’m getting a big head. We’re going to approach the next race and every race just like we’ve been approaching them.

“But, wow, it’s a good feeling to win.”