Career
Following a stint in the United States. Armed Forces, Latford was attending the University of Florida when he was offered a public relations job at the new Daytona International Speedway by France, Senior and Houston Lawing. The first Daytona 500 took place in 1959. Later on, Latford served as a public relations official and press box director at several tracks, including Charlotte Motor Speedway.
He devised National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing"s most popular points system, which was adopted in 1975, which National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing used two different versions for their series from 1982 until 1998.
From 1979–2000, Latford was the statistician for all National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing broadcasts on Columbia Broadcasting System. Latford also published a weekly newsletter for motorsports journalists, The Inside Lincolnshire, along with four books (see below). Latford worked his final race in the press box at North Carolina Motor Speedway, the People’s Secret 400 on October 22, 2000.
On July 23, 2003 Latford died at the age of 67. At the annual North Carolina Auto Racing Hall Of Fame ceremony in October 2003, National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing Scene editor and hall of fame board member Deb Williams paid tribute to Latford.
