Jim Stout of Brushy Fork, W.Va., a well-known racing figure in and around his home state and part-owner of the C.J. Johnson Motorsports No. 37 Dirt Late Model driven by Jacob Hawkins of Fairmont, W.Va., died Saturday after suffering an apparent heart attack. He was 64.

A diehard racing supporter, Stout spent many years helping West Virginia driver Denny Chamberlain’s efforts before befriending Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, Tenn., and traveling regularly with the Hall of Fame racer as a volunteer crew member. He often drove Bloomquist’s hauler as part of his duties with the legendary competitor.

Stout also was close with veteran West Virginia team owner Eric Hudkins and more recently became friendly with Canadian driver Ricky Weiss, and during the past racing off-season Stout joined with fellow West Virginian C.J. Johnson to assemble a formidable racing effort for Hawkins. He bought into C.J. Johnson Motorsports and was at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio, on May 15 when the team made its most recent start.

“He loved racing,” said Rocket Chassis co-owner Mark Richards said of Stout, whom he first met in the 1980s. “He was a man who lived to go to the races.”

Stout worked as a heavy equipment operator for Development Services and C&W Coal Company and co-owned J&J Logging and J&J Farms with his twin brother Joe. The Stout siblings were collectively known in racing circles as “The Twins.”

He is survived by his brothers, three sisters, several nephews and a stepgrandson. Visitation is at Wright Funeral Home and Crematory in Philippi, W.Va., 4-8 p.m. Tuesday, May 25; 3-8 p.m. Wednesday, May 26; and from 10 a.m. Thursday, May 27, until the noon funeral.