19 Facts About Jimmy Hensley

James Edward Hensley was born on October 11,1945 and is an American former NASCAR driver.

Jimmy Hensley spent most of his career working as an oil truck driver in addition to racing.

Jimmy Hensley was best known as being a substitute driver for many teams.

Jimmy Hensley competed again for Donlavey in the 1973 and 1974 Virginia 500 events, coming home in seventh and sixth places, respectively.

In 1981, Jimmy Hensley returned to the Winston Cup Series, driving in the fall Martinsville event for Cecil Gordon in the No 24 Buick and bringing home a seventh-place result.

That same year, Jimmy Hensley competed in the inaugural Busch Series season, competing in 11 events and recording four top five finishes.

Jimmy Hensley spent the 1983 season out of Cup and in the Busch Series, where in 29 starts, he registered 16 top ten finishes.

Behind the wheel of the No 00 Oldsmobile in 1985, Jimmy Hensley came home second in points, just 29 points behind champion Jack Ingram, after a season with three wins at Hickory, South Boston, and IRP.

Jimmy Hensley again finished second in points in 1987 driving the No 5 Advance Auto Parts Buick for Sam Ard, starting and finishing first in the season finale at Martinsville for his only win of the season.

Just four races later, Jimmy Hensley won again at Martinsville in the 1988 Miller Classic.

In 1989, Jimmy Hensley drove 18 races in six different cars, recording a pole at Hickory in the No 70 Dirt Devil Pontiac but finishing no better than sixth.

Jimmy Hensley started the 1992 with the No 25 Beverly Racing team, but they were unable to locate permanent sponsorship.

Jimmy Hensley ran in 22 races with four top-ten finishes with the group, and won Rookie of the Year honors at the age of 47, due to the other competitors that season running part-time schedules.

Jimmy Hensley then spent most of the season driving the No 7 car in place of the deceased Alan Kulwicki per Kulwicki's will.

In 1997 Jimmy Hensley joined Petty Enterprises, piloting the No 43 Cummins Dodge in the next three seasons.

At age 52 in 1998, Jimmy Hensley found victory lane at Nashville and finished sixth in the final points standings.

Jimmy Hensley was replaced at Petty, and signed with the No 16 Team Rensi Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado group.

Jimmy Hensley began 2001 without a ride, but ran a majority of the year filling in for Randy MacDonald in the No 72 truck.

Jimmy Hensley retired after that season, and now works installing fire-service systems.