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Sprint Cup
JENSEN: So Long To A Legend
Jim Hunter was there every step of the way, as NASCAR exploded from a regional phenomenon and into the national consciousness
NASCAR Vice President of Corporate Communications Jim Hunter had a career in motorsports that spanned portions of six decades. (Photo courtesy of NASCAR)
Eventually, NASCAR will find Jim Hunter’s successor.
They will never find his replacement.
Hunter, a longtime NASCAR executive who died Friday night at age 71 after a yearlong battle with cancer, was a true original, a genuine difference maker in the growth, direction and ultimate success in NASCAR.
A South Carolina native, Hunter was old school before old school was cool, growing up in the hardscrabble post-World War II era before prosperity had reached into the Pee Dee and BMW plants replaced the cotton mills.
Hunter was there every step of the way, as NASCAR exploded from a regional phenomenon and into the national consciousness over the past generation. He was there when guys were racing for $100 first-place money on some Dirty South short track somewhere on Saturday night and there when $100 million, 100,000-seat tracks hosted Sunday afternoon races with $5 million purses.
Hunter’s age was an asset; he was old enough to know where everybody in NASCAR was buried and was probably there when a few of the holes were dug, too. But his longevity meant that he understood exactly why NASCAR was where it was at any given point in time, because he had grown up with it. He understood where NASCAR was today, because he knew where it was last week, last month, last year and the last generation. Few others had that depth of experience and knowledge.
Growing up when he did helped Hunter in terms of context; but what truly separated him from most of us was his personality. Hunter had the skill of a politician and the soul of a racer. His manners were pure Southern Gentleman, his personality vibrant and engaging. Depending on the audience, he was not above the occasional ribald joke or recounting some wild tale from years gone by. He’d seen it all in his career, and more than anyone, he knew that boys liked to have at it, on and off the track. And when they crossed the line, he’d always help them find their way back to the other side.
In the NASCAR community, Hunter’s phone number was as important as a bailbondsman’s was to someone who’d had one-too-many speeding tickets: If there was a problem, 24/7, Hunter was the first call. He knew how to fix things, how to get things done that needed to be done in everyone’s best, long-term interests. Politicians and business leaders took his phone calls and so did Bill France Jr.
On a gut level Hunter understood the most fundamental underlying truth about racers: In the Sprint Cup garage, it’s a bunch of guys with high levels of testosterone and a propensity towards engaging in tool-swinging contests with each other. They’re all fierce competitors, whether well-heeled car owners or young up-and-coming drivers. And sometimes they don’t understand the Facts Of Life, at least not in the context of NASCAR racing.
When a young driver behaved like a jackass, Mike Helton or John Darby could and would crackdown on them, but it was Hunter who took them aside, explained what they did wrong and counseled them so they didn’t repeat the same mistake again and again.
“If it wasn't for Jim Hunter, I probably would have run myself right out of the sport,” said Kevin Harvick. “He was kind of like the mediator between myself and NASCAR and he was somebody that I could relate to. I always felt like if there was anything wrong, I could go talk to Jim and usually when I did something wrong, he was the first one to tell me. He just had a good way of putting things to let you know that needed to go about it differently. If it wasn't for him, there's a good possibility I probably wouldn't be where I am at today."
“He helped me through a lot of the tough times when I was struggling and fighting with NASCAR,” added Tony Stewart, who like Harvick was a bit of a bad boy early on. “He was the guy that came in and helped me see it from a different perspective. I lost a good friend but the whole sport lost a great mentor and somebody that has really been a behind-the-scenes guy but very much a big part of this sport being as successful as it is.”
“He took me under his wing early on in my career and said, ‘Hey kid, you can do things the hard way or do things the right way,’” said Kurt Busch. “He really helped me out and was a good friend of mine. It’s tough to see him go.”
Hunter knew NASCAR needed its superstars. And unlike some folks, he never tried to neuter them or surgically remove their personalities. He just tried to keep them on track and out of the walls.
In terms of dealing with reporters, which was a big part of his job, there was absolutely no one better to talk to. He helped a lot of us, myself included, get where we are today. There isn’t another person in NASCAR who the media owes a bigger collective debt to than Jim Hunter.
In all the years I knew Hunter, in every conversation we ever had, two things were abundantly clear: He loved NASCAR and he cared passionately about those who loved it, too, be they fans, drivers, owners, sponsors, track workers, crew guys, and, yes, even us ink-stained wretches.
So farewell, my friend. You will be missed more than you’ll know.
And in case there was any question, Earnhardt’s probably shown you around your new home already.
Tom Jensen is the Editor in Chief of SPEED.com, Senior NASCAR Editor at RACER and a contributing Editor for TruckSeries.com. You can follow him online at twitter.com/tomjensen100 and e-mail him at Jensen is the author of “Cheating: The Bad Things Good NASCAR Nextel Cup Racers Do In Pursuit of Speed,” and has appeared on numerous television and radio shows. Jensen is the past President of the National Motorsports Press Association and an NMPA Writer of the Year.
They will never find his replacement.
Hunter, a longtime NASCAR executive who died Friday night at age 71 after a yearlong battle with cancer, was a true original, a genuine difference maker in the growth, direction and ultimate success in NASCAR.
A South Carolina native, Hunter was old school before old school was cool, growing up in the hardscrabble post-World War II era before prosperity had reached into the Pee Dee and BMW plants replaced the cotton mills.
Hunter was there every step of the way, as NASCAR exploded from a regional phenomenon and into the national consciousness over the past generation. He was there when guys were racing for $100 first-place money on some Dirty South short track somewhere on Saturday night and there when $100 million, 100,000-seat tracks hosted Sunday afternoon races with $5 million purses.
Hunter’s age was an asset; he was old enough to know where everybody in NASCAR was buried and was probably there when a few of the holes were dug, too. But his longevity meant that he understood exactly why NASCAR was where it was at any given point in time, because he had grown up with it. He understood where NASCAR was today, because he knew where it was last week, last month, last year and the last generation. Few others had that depth of experience and knowledge.
Growing up when he did helped Hunter in terms of context; but what truly separated him from most of us was his personality. Hunter had the skill of a politician and the soul of a racer. His manners were pure Southern Gentleman, his personality vibrant and engaging. Depending on the audience, he was not above the occasional ribald joke or recounting some wild tale from years gone by. He’d seen it all in his career, and more than anyone, he knew that boys liked to have at it, on and off the track. And when they crossed the line, he’d always help them find their way back to the other side.
In the NASCAR community, Hunter’s phone number was as important as a bailbondsman’s was to someone who’d had one-too-many speeding tickets: If there was a problem, 24/7, Hunter was the first call. He knew how to fix things, how to get things done that needed to be done in everyone’s best, long-term interests. Politicians and business leaders took his phone calls and so did Bill France Jr.
On a gut level Hunter understood the most fundamental underlying truth about racers: In the Sprint Cup garage, it’s a bunch of guys with high levels of testosterone and a propensity towards engaging in tool-swinging contests with each other. They’re all fierce competitors, whether well-heeled car owners or young up-and-coming drivers. And sometimes they don’t understand the Facts Of Life, at least not in the context of NASCAR racing.
When a young driver behaved like a jackass, Mike Helton or John Darby could and would crackdown on them, but it was Hunter who took them aside, explained what they did wrong and counseled them so they didn’t repeat the same mistake again and again.
“If it wasn't for Jim Hunter, I probably would have run myself right out of the sport,” said Kevin Harvick. “He was kind of like the mediator between myself and NASCAR and he was somebody that I could relate to. I always felt like if there was anything wrong, I could go talk to Jim and usually when I did something wrong, he was the first one to tell me. He just had a good way of putting things to let you know that needed to go about it differently. If it wasn't for him, there's a good possibility I probably wouldn't be where I am at today."
“He helped me through a lot of the tough times when I was struggling and fighting with NASCAR,” added Tony Stewart, who like Harvick was a bit of a bad boy early on. “He was the guy that came in and helped me see it from a different perspective. I lost a good friend but the whole sport lost a great mentor and somebody that has really been a behind-the-scenes guy but very much a big part of this sport being as successful as it is.”
“He took me under his wing early on in my career and said, ‘Hey kid, you can do things the hard way or do things the right way,’” said Kurt Busch. “He really helped me out and was a good friend of mine. It’s tough to see him go.”
Hunter knew NASCAR needed its superstars. And unlike some folks, he never tried to neuter them or surgically remove their personalities. He just tried to keep them on track and out of the walls.
In terms of dealing with reporters, which was a big part of his job, there was absolutely no one better to talk to. He helped a lot of us, myself included, get where we are today. There isn’t another person in NASCAR who the media owes a bigger collective debt to than Jim Hunter.
In all the years I knew Hunter, in every conversation we ever had, two things were abundantly clear: He loved NASCAR and he cared passionately about those who loved it, too, be they fans, drivers, owners, sponsors, track workers, crew guys, and, yes, even us ink-stained wretches.
So farewell, my friend. You will be missed more than you’ll know.
And in case there was any question, Earnhardt’s probably shown you around your new home already.
Tom Jensen is the Editor in Chief of SPEED.com, Senior NASCAR Editor at RACER and a contributing Editor for TruckSeries.com. You can follow him online at twitter.com/tomjensen100 and e-mail him at Jensen is the author of “Cheating: The Bad Things Good NASCAR Nextel Cup Racers Do In Pursuit of Speed,” and has appeared on numerous television and radio shows. Jensen is the past President of the National Motorsports Press Association and an NMPA Writer of the Year.
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