Former NASCAR team owner and sponsor Johnny Hayes died in a single-vehicle accident Wednesday afternoon on Burton Lane in Denver, NC. Hayes, who owns a house on Webbs Chapel Church Road not far from the wreck scene, apparently lost control of his vehicle about 1:15 p.m., hit some trees and then was pinned inside until Denver firefighters were able to extricate him. It is believed the accident was the result of a medical problem. Hayes, 68, also had a home in Rockbridge Baths, VA. Hayes owned the Skoal bandit race team in the 1980s whose primary drivers were Phil and Benny Parsons and Harry Gant. Hayes later was a spokesman for Skoal and was involved in the US Tobacco racing team for many years where he was vice president of motorsports. He was a member of the North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame in Mooresville, NC. Among his survivors are his wife, Elizabeth Ann; a daughter, Kristen; two sons, Scott and Zach; his mother, Corrie of Denver; and a brother, Don M. Hayes of Dalton, GA.(denverncnews.com)(12-22-2011)
