There’s another golden generation of people slowly leaving us, and that’s the people who were working and guiding NASCAR through its age of glory and growth back in the day. One of those men was Robert “Hoot” Auton, who worked as a race official at every level in the sport. It’s interesting to note that he passed the bug onto his kids. One of his sons is the director of the truck series and the other is the director of transportation for NASCAR. Sounds like he was a dad who got his kids involved.

Below find the announcement from NASCAR.

Longtime NASCAR Official ‘Hoot’ Auton Passes Away

Robert “Hoot” Arlin Auton, of Hickory, N.C., passed away Sunday at the age of 75. Auton worked as an official at every level of NASCAR — from the short tracks of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series to the Cup Series — for 37 years.
Auton is survived by his wife of 56 years, Jerolyn Stallings Auton, and two sons and two daughters. Son Wayne Auton is the Camping World Truck Series director; his other son, Robert “Buster” Auton, is the NASCAR director of transportation.
“Hoot was one of NASCAR’s pioneers and will be missed by the entire NASCAR community,” NASCAR president Mike Helton said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.”
Hoot Auton was born March 20, 1933, in Lincoln County. He originally became involved with NASCAR providing fire equipment before becoming a NASCAR official. He also was retired as owner of Auton Remodeling and was a member of the Springs Road Baptist Church.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother and three sisters, and survived by eight siblings as well as eight grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren, and a number of nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. ET Tuesday at Burke Mortuary in Newton. Funeral service will be held at 2:30 p.m. ET Wednesday at Springs Road Baptist Church in Hickory, with Dr. Bob Philbeck and Dr. Spencer Edmonds officiating. The body will lie in state 30 minutes prior to the service. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Springs Road Baptist Church Debt Retirement Fund