James "Jim" Watson, a road-crew fabricator for Furniture Row Racing's NASCAR Cup Series teams, died Saturday night after suffering a heart attack. He was 55.
Furniture Row Racing made the announcement on its website.
"On behalf of Furniture Row Racing we extend our deepest sympathies to Jim's family," Joe Garone, president of Furniture Row Racing,said in the news release. "He was an outstanding and talented member of our racing family, whose life was dedicated to racing since his early days as a race-car driver in Wisconsin. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Jim's wife Laurie, daughter Brittany and to his entire family and friends. Our No. 77 and 78 teams will be racing with heavy hearts today."
"Our No. 77 and 78 teams will be racing with heavy hearts today."
FRR Crew Member James Watson Passes Away » https://t.co/Sx5VWJYaSp #RIP pic.twitter.com/uLTsHDfY2K— FalciAdaptiveMotorsports (@FalciAdaptive) October 22, 2017
Watson was a member of Furniture Row Racing since February 2017. Previously, he worked for Roush Fenway Racing (2006-2015) and spent last season with HScott Motorsports. Jim was a longtime race car driver, competing in dirt late models and in asphalt super late models throughout southeast Wisconsin.
He is survived by his wife, Laurie, and daughter Brittany.