DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- James Hylton is retiring after 50 years of NASCAR racing.

Hylton, a 78-year-old driver from Inman, S.C., announced Thursday that this will be his final season behind the wheel.

He says he's "been thinking about this for quite a while. I'm 78 and the time has come."

Hylton has made 602 starts in the Sprint Cup Series since his rookie season 1964. He won at Richmond in 1970 and at Talladega two years later. He has made 143 starts in the ARCA Series, all since 1997.

He attempted to qualify for the Daytona 500 in 2007, but failed to finish high enough in a qualifying race.

Hylton made his first start at Daytona International Speedway in 1966. He will make his last one Saturday in the 50th annual ARCA Lucas Oil 200.