DILLSBURG: The Dillsburg native Lynn Paxton, one of Williams Grove Speedway’s most successful victors and genuine benefactors throughout the years, passed away. He was a genuine fan favorite and one of the greatest sprint car drivers. Paxton, who was 80 years old, recently passed away.
Paxton, who was inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 1996, gave up sprint car racing following his 39-year-old victory in the storied Williams Grove Speedway National Open in 1983. It was his second victory in the esteemed competition. Paxton drove the Rhee Smith No. 1 to his first-ever victory overall at Williams Grove Speedway in 1965.
Paxton was unbeatable
Paxton left the Williams Grove Speedway record books with 43 sprint car victories and two super modified victories overall during his illustrious career, which spanned from 1961 to 1983. Paxton’s win total topped the oval’s all-time win list for several seasons and was once believed to be unbeatable.
He won the sprint car race at Williams Grove Speedway in 1979, 1981, and 1982. By the time his career ended, Lynn Paxton had won almost 220 races in sprint cars and super modifieds, 14 in late-model stock cars, and one in an ARDC Midget. He defeated the World of Outlaws six times and won three KARS Series crowns.
Factual historical material
Throughout his career, Paxton also won track titles at Penn National Speedway, Hagerstown, and Port Royal Speedways. Car owners Harold Hank, Shorty Emerich, Al Hamilton, Bob Benchoff, Maynard Boop, Roy Morral, and Bob Weikert were among those who clamoured for his driving prowess.
Situated on Route 15, immediately south of Williams Grove Speedway, the Eastern Museum of Motor Racing was founded, propelled forward, and curated by Lynn Paxton. By his attempts to leave his stamp on the sport not just while driving but also in his “office” at the EMMR, Lynn Paxton won over the hearts and minds of spectators and other drivers alike, both on and off the speedway.
It is impossible to overstate the amount of factual historical material and data that Lynn Paxton was able to contribute to the museum, other racing historians and scholars throughout the state, the country, and even the world, thanks to his own life experiences and his acquired expertise.