R.I.P. James Jones - Wilson County Speedway Promoter & Carolinas Dirt Track Racer

Just read that James C. Jones of Goldsboro, NC passed on April 15 in Wayne County, NC Memorial Hospital at age 83.

His name can be found in various old race listings posted on this site from Coastal, Wake County, Raleigh Fairgrounds, Wilson, Wilmington, Occoneechee and other places.. Also raced as Jimmy Jones and Jim Jones. One of Jack Walker's listings on his Carolina Race Place site shows James racing at Coastal Speedway/Myrtle Beach from 1955-1957.

James was a dirt track racer in both Carolinas and the promoter of Wilson County Speedway in Wilson, NC from 1963-1978 , some real glory years for that wonderful old ghost track - "The Gem of the East."

James started 11 NASCAR Convertible Division races - 10 in 1957 and one in 1958 as well as his two Cup starts in 1956 and 1958.

From Stock Car Racing Wiki:

James Jones is a former NASCAR driver from Goldsboro, NC. He competed in two Nextel Cup Series events in his career.

Jones debuted in 1956, racing at Wilson. Starting 21st in the twenty-four car field, Jones completed all but thirty-one laps in route to a career-best 15th place effort.

His other race came in 1958, when James raced at Raleigh. Starting 51st in the massive fifty-five car field, Jones completed all but thirty-eight laps in route to a mid-pack 29th place effort.

That's James in 12th place at the Wilmington, NC Legion Stadium points for 1954 - one spot ahead of " The Woodchopper " - as originally posted on this site by Jack Walker.

R.I.P. James. Prayers to his family and friends.

Thanks for the photo and memories, Robbie.

Just got approved for this site. Sad to get the news about James Jones. He was a good raceer. I raced at Wilson for almost 20 years. My last driver was Roger Mathews. I would like to contact any and all who have pictures or movies of races at Wilson. As a side note I was in a massive wreck in front of the grandstands in my secon year of driving in the hobby class. I landed on top of W.D. Haggins and my diff was in the first turn!!! A lot of good memories. Any help with pictures would be a big help. I did restore Milton Farmers last modified (97) and roger was the driver of that car.

If you click on the link below, it will take you to the pictures posted on this site by RR member Tim Hamm of Elm City, NC. Many of the photos were taken at Wilson County. Happy to have you on our RR site. We often refer to Wilson County Speedway as the "Gem of the East." Sure do miss her.

http://stockcar.racersreunion.com/photo/photo/listForContributor?sc...

The 1975 photo of Roger Matthews below was taken by Tim Hamm at Wilson: