Good Lord, do you realize what this means

This disturbing news hit me this morning:

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Feb. 14 -- If he could have gotten NASCAR's approval, James Hylton says he would have outfitted his No. 58 Chevrolet with blinkers and flashed them nonstop during Thursday's qualifying race at Daytona International Speedway. What's the harm of having a sense of humor, Hylton figured, even though he's serious about the task at hand?

At 72, the silver-haired Hylton will strap into a racecar Thursday afternoon and battle at more than 180 mph for the right to compete in Sunday's Daytona 500.

Daytona Spotlight
Senior Moment Veteran stock-car racer James Hylton, 72, is trying to qualify for Sunday's Daytona 500 after a 14-year hiatus from part-time competition in NASCAR's top ranks. Here's a look at Hylton's résumé:
Hometown: Inman, S.C.
Car: No. 58 Retirement Living TV Chevrolet.
NASCAR debut: 1964.
NASCAR career starts: 601.
NASCAR career wins: 2 (Richmond, 1970; Talladega, 1972).
Speed in Sunday's qualifying: 179.637 mph (60th among 61 drivers).
Quote: "This is not a PR stunt. This is something I've always lived for: To have a first-rate car and be able to challenge some people with equal equipment."

Common sense suggests it's not prudent racing at such speeds against men 50 years younger. But NASCAR allows it, with no age limit for competing in stock-car racing's top ranks (though 18 is the minimum age).

Hylton managed to find a car owner and sponsor, Retirement Living TV, to bankroll his effort. A championship team, Richard Childress Racing, sold him one of its old cars and even fine-tuned the handling so all Hylton has to do is flip the ignition and mash the gas. In short, he has been handed the best Daytona car he has ever had. And he says he simply couldn't live with himself if he didn't seize it.

You can almost hear the conversation up in Kennebunkport. "Now Barb, I'm drawin' a line on the sand, here, need ya 100% behind me on this one...Barb, put the rolling pin down. Not gonna go wobbly on this one..."