Hylton nearly checks in, before missing out on 500

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Back in Daytona International Speedway's "overflow" section of trailers, four Cup haulers were lined up next to a string from the Truck series.

Not surprisingly, James Hylton's trailer was located there. It was the one sponsored by Retirement Living sporting the words: "TV For Your Freedom Years!"

Fitting. After all, the 72-year-old former Talladega 500 winner had been enjoying many freedom years -- he hadn't competed in a Cup race since 1993.

James Hylton: Better hope I don't start doing this on a regular basis. (US Presswire)

On Thursday, Hylton went from being the Man of the Hour to a nice footnote late during the first Duel. He started the race as one of 22 drivers trying to race his way into Sunday's Great American Race.

With six laps to go, Hylton was on the verge of becoming the oldest man to qualify for the Daytona 500. Then came a yellow flag, a rough restart and a 23rd-place finish.

It made sense to get a quote or two from Hylton, but nearly 45 minutes after Duel 1 -- and with Duel 2 well under way -- Hylton remained a no-show at his trailer. He was too busy enjoying the attention on and near pit road, where there were photographs to be taken and autographs to be signed.

The only action around Retirement Living was a white-haired man chomping on a cookie.

"Oh, James won't be here for a while," Hylton's spotter, 63-year-old ARCA driver Tim Mitchell said. "Apparently Michael Waltrip failed inspection, and we might be in the race."

Um, excuse me, but ... WHAT!?

Turns out Waltrip's backup No. 55 Toyota underwent intense scrutiny but lived to race another day, Sunday to be precise. (If you don't know why Waltrip was driving a back-up car, I have one question: What are you doing reading this column?)

With no post-race inspection failure for Waltrip, there was no historic news made by Hylton.

In fact, he joined some bigger names who won't be competing Sunday, either.

Jeremy Mayfield, Brian Vickers and Bill Elliott all attempted, and failed, to qualify for the 500. Ditto Paul Menard and Cup newcomer and former open-wheel driver A.J. Almendinger.

Same for Kenny Wallace. The usually smiling Wallace was walking through the garage area when Martin Truex Jr. jogged toward him yelling, "Herm, did you make it?"

Acknowledging his nickname, Wallace answered Truex. Let's just say the driver's well-known laugh was nowhere to be heard.

His brother, Mike, however, produced a happier story. Mike Wallace joined Waltrip, David Reutimann and Joe Nemechek as four drivers who on Thursday earned a spot in the 500.

Nobody was happier at the speedway than those four men, with the possible exception of Hylton, who believed he put to rest the notion that he didn't belong on the track -- something the King himself, Richard Petty, had said.

"I think I might have put a quietness on all that kind of stuff," Hylton said. "Racing with these kids, we had no problem with it. They just better hope I don't start doing this on a regular basis."