Hamilton loses cancer fight.

Bobby Hamilton, the 2004 Craftsman Truck Series champion and owner of the Bobby Hamilton Racing team, has lost his battle with cancer at the age of 49.

Hamilton was diagnosed with cancer of the neck in March last year, forcing him to hand his drive in the Truck Series over to son Bobby Jr. The four-time NEXTEL Cup race winner had hoped to be back in action before the end of the season, but a 14th place finish in the third round of the 2006 Truck Series campaign was to be his final race as his illness prevented him from getting behind the wheel again.

"He will be greatly missed as a husband, a father, a grandfather, an owner and a friend," Hamilton's family said in a statement. "We want to thank everyone for their love and support of our racing operation and the outpouring of care and concern during his cancer battle.

"One of Bobby's greatest loves in life was racing and we will continue on in his honour."

NASCAR's vice president for communications Jim Hunter admitted that the news of Hamilton's death had come as a shock and said he would be sadly missed by all in the NASCAR family.

"He meant an awful lot," he said. "He was old school and one of those guys that did it his way," Hunter said. "He was very popular in the garage area and in the industry because he worked real hard. He didn't believe anyone was owed anything.

"It came as a real shock. We knew the cancer was serious, and we knew he was fighting it, but you just never know these things. He will be missed. He was a tough, tough guy."

All at Crash.net extend their sympathies to Hamilton's family and friends.