Mechanicsburg – Williams Grove Speedway is mourning the loss of one of its most prolific winners and true ambassadors throughout history, Lynn Paxton of Dillsburg.
Paxton passed away late Friday at the age of 80.
Inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 1996, Paxton retired from the sport of sprint car racing after a win in the famed Williams Grove Speedway National Open in 1983, at the age of 39.
It was his second win in the prestigious event.
Paxton’s first ever win overall anywhere occurred at Williams Grove Speedway in 1965 at the wheel of the Rhee Smith No. 1.
Overall in his storied career from 1961 through 1983, Paxton etched 43 sprint car wins and a pair of super modified wins in the Williams Grove Speedway record books.
For a number of seasons Paxton’s win mark sat atop the oval’s all-time win list and was thought at one point to be insurmountable.
He was the 1979, 1981 and 1982 Williams Grove Speedway sprint car track champion.
By the end of his career, Lynn Paxton had recorded more than 220 overall career sprint car and super modified victories plus 14 in a late model stock car and a lone ARDC Midget victory.
He scored three KARS Series titles and trumped the World of Outlaws six times.
Paxton also scored track titles at Port Royal, Hagerstown and Penn National Speedways during his career.
The collection of car owners that clamored for his driving talents included Harold Hank, Shorty Emerich, Al Hamilton, Bob Benchoff, Maynard Boop, Roy Morral and Bob Weikert.
Lynn Paxton was a founder, driving force behind and curator of the Eastern Museum of Motor Racing, located just south of Williams Grove Speedway along Rt. 15.
Lynn Paxton won the hearts and minds of fans and fellow drivers alike both on and off of the speedway via his efforts to not only make his mark on the sport while behind the wheel but while in his “office” as well, at the EMMR.
The factual historical information and data that Lynn Paxton was able to provide through his own personal experiences and his learned knowledge to not only the museum but also to other racing historians and researchers across the state, nation and indeed the world, was immeasurable.
And it will forever be missed.
No one could tell a story like Lynn Paxton.
And he will forever be missed. But his legacy will live on forever.
The staff and management of Williams Grove Speedway extends is deepest condolences to the family of Lynn Paxton at this time of loss.
