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Flagman Jumping Jack Houston made incredible memories at the Stockton 99 Speedway
Caravan News 5680

Flagman Jumping Jack Houston made incredible memories at the Stockton 99 Speedway

The Noceti Group is sad to announce the passing of a legend in the racing community on December 1st, Jumping Jack Houston, who worked for NASCAR for over 35 years and served as a flagman at the Stockton 99 Speedway, Kingdon Dragstrip, Madera, San Jose and various other speedways-of-call up and down the West Coast.

In 1953, Jack Houston made his debut as the new flagman on the stand at the Stockton 99 Speedway, where is seemed like he was there forever. He was the first flagman at the Kingdon Dragstrip, in 1951 and he has been flagging the west coast ‘big cars’ (Grand Nationals) in 1951 & 1952. His fame in racing grew onwards, flagging over 87 tracks in his still current career, including Winston Cup events at Riverside International Speedway and Ontario Motor Speedways continuing his career until 2017.

Several drivers owe the lack of serious injury and even their lives to the quick thinking of Jack, in moves on his part to drag drivers from flaming cars with no regard to his own safety.  He was a no-nonsense flagman, and you quickly learned who was in charge when he was on the stand. You got a black flag for two laps, and just as often as not found the flag in the cockpit next to you as he threw it in on the third pass. A move that many have witnessed several times before he retired from flagging. Stories are abound about Jack throwing red flags and walking off the stand over the hoods and roofs of cars to reach the driver’s window to discuss ancestry.

Jack Houston will be greatly missed, along with his impact on the racing community by his quirky flagman antics. 

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am on Friday, December 8th at the Cherokee Memorial Evergreen Chapel. There will be a gathering after the services at the Moose Lodge in Lodi.

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