KANSAS CITY, Kan – Ahead of Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400, the Furniture Row Racing teams will compete with heavy hearts at Kansas Speedway following the loss of James “Jim” Watson.
Watson, 55, who joined the team earlier this year, suffered a heart attack on Saturday night.
The Greenfield, Wisc. native joined the Denver, Co.-based team in February as a road-crew fabricator. He previously worked for Roush Fenway Racing (2006 – 2015) while spending last season with HScott Motorsports.
Before his team experience, Watson honed a career in racing as a driver competing in dirt late model and in asphalt super late models at various venues in Wisconsin.
“On behalf of Furniture Row Racing we extend our deepest sympathies to Jim’s family,” said Joe Garone, president of Furniture Row Racing.
“He was an outstanding and talented member of our racing family, whose life was dedicated to racing since his early days as a race-car driver in Wisconsin. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Jim’s wife Laurie, daughter Brittany and to his entire family and friends. Our No. 77 and 78 teams will be racing with heavy hearts today.”
He is survived by his wife, Laurie and daughter Brittany.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
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