James Edward Foster – (deceased) – Lavonia, GA – After high school, James Edward Foster began his impressive career in dirt track racing in 1979. He grew up around cars and learned the mechanics at a young age. He frequently visited the local racetracks in Lavonia, Hartwell, and Toccoa, Georgia. In 1980, the Lavonia native bought his first car with Roger Haley as the driver, racing in the B Cadet class only for a brief time. This experience led him to purchase his own late model car and hire Mike Kesler and Kenneth Alewine as the drivers.
James’s passion for mechanics led to his career as a crew chief. Together with his father, JR Foster, James founded their family-owned business, Foster Racing, which played a critical role in the victories of several dirt track racers in Georgia. In his career as a crew chief/mechanic, Foster prepped cars that won over 1,200 victories in dirt series racing ranging from super late model, limited late model, and crate late model. He had his 1,000th win with Adam Smith, winning 11 races in a Foster car. Over this time, he led and equipped cars for drivers David McCoy, Joe Barnett, and Buddy Morris, as well as Hall of Famers Jack Pennington, “Buck” Simmons, Leon Sells, and others.
He has been a crew chief for car owners JR Foster (father), Jim Ivester, Steve “Hollywood” Tuner, Gerald Voyles, and Chris Woods (owner and driver). In the early days of his career, James prepared the super late model car #77 for Buddy Morris (driver) and owner JR Foster. Morris went on to win an astounding 150 races, including races in the Hav-a-Tampa Series, as well as Dixie Speedway, Rome Speedway, and Sugar Creek Speedway. Additionally, James had the honor of prepping super late model cars for Joe Barnett, who achieved over 100 wins during his career. This highlights James’s versatility and reliability in producing winning race cars.
In his later years, James continued to produce winning cars for legendary champions, including Buck Simmons, Jack Pennington, Leon Sells, and Stan Massey, among others. The famous #41 super late model driver, Buck Simmons, won an impressive 25 races in a Foster car. Foster’s prowess was also evident in Fulmer Lance’s 103 wins in a Foster-prepared super late model car, racing at various tracks throughout the region, including Concord, Cherokee, Gaffney, NC, Phoenix City, AL, and the Northeast Georgia area. Stan Massey’s #77 car had 82 wins, and Leon Sells also had over a dozen wins in a car equipped by James. These accomplishments showcase James’s unwavering focus on maximizing performance and giving his drivers the best chance to win.
In James’s recent racing endeavors, one of his leading drivers, David “Bad Boy” McCoy (#187), had a remarkable 10-year run with James, winning over 283 races in a Foster car from 2012-2021. McCoy’s impressive record speaks volumes about James’s ability to build and maintain top-performing race cars. During McCoy’s time with James, he competed in limited late model and crate models, and their partnership proved to be a winning combination. From 2012-2015, McCoy had an incredible streak of wins, including 28 in 2012, 43 in 2013, 32 in 2014, and 42 in 2015, and achieved an impressive 115 wins from 2016-2021. Even after McCoy left to join the circuit, James continued to produce winning cars with his new driver, Chris Woods (#17). This is a testament to James’s ability to consistently produce high-quality race cars and his dedication to helping his drivers succeed.
In his 40 years of setting up cars, James Foster was considered the most wanted and admired dirt track racing crew chief in the Northeast Georgia area. His attention to detail and commitment to excellence earned him a reputation as one of the best crew chiefs and mechanics in the sport. Foster died June 14, 2023, at the age of 61.