Born: November 30th, 1946 in Ventura, California
Hueneme High School 1964
Ventura College
Jim lettered in Tennis at both Hueneme H.S. and Ventura College, where he was ASB president.
In 1978 he personally financed the construction of the Ventura Raceway at the County Fairgrounds.
To this day, he continues to own and operate the only successful professional sports franchise in Ventura County history.
No individual has contributed more to his or her sport than Jim Naylor has to automobile racing. Jim has been recognized within the auto racing community with a number of national awards. In 1991 he was named “Race Organizer of the Year” by the United States Automobile Club. In 1993, USAC also awarded him the Jim Bunk Memorial Award for his devotion to midget racing. Jim was the “Non-winged Sprint Car Promoter of the Year” in 2006 when he was “Western Race Organizer of the Year” by the USAC.
He continues to be one of the most sought-after presenters at the Annual Promoters Workshop for Track Operators in Reno every December.
His raceway has spurred many satellite businesses such as the Corey Kruseman Driving School for prospective race car drivers and several racing engine and chassis builders. The raceway has brought some of the most successful drivers to Ventura County including Cruz Pedregon, Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Kurt and Kyle Busch, Billy Boat and Jimmy Sills. But the thing that pleases Jim the most is the way that the track and sheds bring families together.
Naylor has two daughters, Julianne and Laura. He currently lives in Oxnard, California.