04/14/2026
You will always and forever be my hero! Love you Dad!
Thank you for all the thoughts and prayers the last couple of days as we try to navigate through this difficult time.
There has been an incredible amount of messages, calls and Facebook post that the Horton Family are so thankful for. The support that we feel as a family has been overwhelming.
For those asking about funeral arrangements there are as followed.
James Madison Horton, Jr. (“Jim,” “Dynamo,” “Coach,” “Grandpa”), 92, of Bridgewater, New Jersey, passed away on April 8, 2026, under the watchful and compassionate care of his devoted caregiver, Beso.
Born in New Jersey on July 4, 1933, Jim lived a life defined by grit, independence, and an unmatched passion for short track racing that spanned nearly seven decades.
Jim married the love of his life, Beverly, on December 23, 1955, beginning a partnership that remained the foundation of his life. He proudly served his country in the United States Army before building a long and steady career with Johns Manville from 1955 to 1987. He later continued working with the Somerville Laborers Union until retirement, carrying the same work ethic that defined everything he did.
But to those who knew him best, Jim’s true life was lived in the shop and at the racetrack.
A car owner since 1956, Jim Horton was a constant presence in local dirt track racing—a builder, a problem-solver, and a fixture behind the scenes whose influence reached far beyond the cars he fielded. He did things his own way, often with whatever was on hand, finding solutions that weren’t always pretty but always got the job done and got the car to the next race. His shop lights were on at all hours, a place where cars were built, rebuilt, and kept alive through determination and ingenuity.
Over the years, his cars were driven by many— his son, grandson, friends, and respected names throughout the racing community. To drive for Jim meant something. It meant you had earned his trust, his time, and his investment, and that you were part of something bigger than just a race team. He gave opportunities, shared knowledge freely, and helped shape generations of drivers, whether they realized it at the time or not.
Known as “Dynamo” and “Coach,” his nicknames were hard-earned. He brought intensity, honesty, and a relentless standard to everything he touched. He wasn’t one for shortcuts or excuses, but he was always willing to help someone willing to work. His presence in the pits, at the track, and in the shop became part of the fabric of the racing community itself.
That lifelong dedication came full circle in 2024, when his son drove Jim’s No. 76 to victory at New Egypt Speedway—his final win as a car owner at the age of 90. It was not just another checkered flag, but a reflection of a lifetime spent building, teaching, and staying in the game long after most would have stepped away.
Outside of racing, Jim was a devoted fan of the New York Yankees, an avid deer hunter who enjoyed both bow and shotgun seasons, and a natural athlete who remained a fast runner well into his later years.
Jim was predeceased by his parents, Harriet Parker and James Horton, Sr.; his beloved wife, Beverly; his daughter, Cyndi; and his grandson, Ryan. He was also the eldest and last surviving of nine siblings.
He is survived by his son, James Horton III and his wife Lisa; his grandchildren, James Horton IV and his wife Morgan, Shepard Lowell and his wife Aliza, Kaitlin Werner and her husband Eric, Emily Eskow and her husband Huey, Hunter Horton, and Kevin Holt; and his great-grandchildren, Cara, Kelsea, Rylie, Reagan, and Theodore.
Jim’s legacy lives on in his family and in the countless people who spent time in his shop, stood beside him in the pits, or took the wheel of one of his cars. He leaves behind a standard of effort, toughness, and loyalty that cannot be replicated.
And while he was never one to hold back—quick with a sharp word, a raised voice, or a no-nonsense opinion—those who knew him best wouldn’t have had it any other way. It was part of what made him real, made him respected, and made time spent with him something you never forgot.
Jim will lie in repose on Sunday, April 19, 2026, from 1:00-3:30 p.m., where family and friends will gather in the Chapel of Wright & Ford Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 38 State Highway 31, Flemington, NJ, to laugh, tell stories, remember, and to simply be present for one another.
The visitation will be followed by United States Army Military Honors and a public Life Celebration Service officiated by Certified Celebrant Daniel James "D.J." Wright at 3:30 p.m. at the funeral home and to which all are welcome.
Burial will his beloved wife, Beverly, and cherished daughter, Cyndi, will take place privately at Bloomsbury Cemetery, Bloomsbury, NJ.
You are encouraged to visit Jim's permanent life celebration site at www.wrightfamily.com to leave messages of condolence, share words of comfort and recollection, and post photographs of his life.
For those who wish, contributions in his honor and memory may be made to the Checkered Flag Fan Club, P.O. Box 79, Kutztown, PA 19530, or to the Garden State Vintage Stock Car Club, 438 Third Avenue, Brick, NJ 08724. Any and all contributions are greatly appreciated by the family.
https://www.wrightfamily.com/obituaries/James-Masidon-Horton-Jr?obId=48088648
