James Robinson

Education

Robinson completed 17 laps of the 119-lap event before suffering an engine failure.

Career

A resident of Reseda in California, Robinson began competing with the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing Winston West Series in 1978. He soon began to enjoy success with the series winning the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing Winston West Series Championship in 1983, 1984, and 1985 - finishing no worse than fifth in the series standings for eight years in a row. Robinson made his National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing Winston Cup Series debut on January 14, 1979 at the year’s season opener, the Winston Western 500 at Riverside International Raceway’s 2.62-mile road course at Riverside, California driving John Borneman’s Number.

81 Borneman Plastering Chevrolet.

Robinson returned to Winston Cup Series competition driving A.J. Kurten’s Number. 78 San-Val Lumber Supply Chevrolet in the National Association of Performing Artists Riverside 400 and in the Los Angeles Time 500 at the 2.5-mile Ontario Motor Speedway at Ontario, California.

Robinson entered the same three events in 1980 driving Kurten’s Number. 78 San Fernando Valley Lumber Chevrolet finishing 20th in the Warner West. Hodgdon 400 at Riverside.

In 1981, He drove Jack Williams Number.

78 San Fernando Valley Lumber/Hammer Security Chevrolet in the season opening Winston Western 500 at Riverside finishing sixth. He finished tenth when the series returned to Riverside for the Warner West. Hodgdon 400 driving the Number. 78 Oldsmobile. The series returned to Riverside for a third visit for the Winston Western 500 in November where Robinson was swept up in a crash on the 53rd lap.

Robinson again competed in the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing Winston Cup Series in 1982 in two events at Riverside, the Budweiser 400 and the Winston Western 500 recording a 20th-place finish.

When the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing Winston Cup Series visited Riverside in 1983, Robinson was on hand in the Number. 78 Hammer Security Systems Oldsmobile.

He finished 11th in the Budweiser 400 and 21st in the Winston Western 500. In 1984, Robinson once again competed in both Riverside events on the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing Winston Cup Series schedule, the Budweiser 400 where he finished 14th in the Number.

78 Gibson Oldsmobile and the Winston Western 500 where he finished 29th.

In 1985, Robinson finished 13th in the Budweiser 400 and 12th in the Winston Western 500 at Riverside. He finished 15th in the 1986 Budweiser 400 at Riverside and 25th after an engine failure on lap 100 of the Winston Western 500. Robinson’s final year of National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing Winston Cup Series competition came in 1987.

He finished 36th in the Budweiser 400 and 12th in the Winston Western 500 at Riverside.

Robinson was inducted into the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing West Coast Stock Carolina Hall of Fame in 2002. Robinson was badly injured during an unsanctioned race at Phoenix International Raceway - the 1988 Copper World Classic.

He was spun and his helmet made contact with the outside retaining wall. Never recovering from head injuries, he remained hospitalised after the accident, until his death on December 28, 1995 as a result of complications from pneumonia.

Achievements

• Robinson recorded 13 National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing Winston West Series wins and won most popular driver many times.