Don White (racing driver)

Donald O. H. "Don" White (June 24, 1928 – April 29, 2016) was an American racing driver known for his stock car career.[1] He is best known for competing in United States Auto Club (USAC) sanctioned events; during the 1960s, White was twice the USAC Stock Car National Champion. He retired as the series' winningest driver.[2]

Don White
BornDonald O. H. White
(1928-06-24)June 24, 1928
Monmouth, Illinois, U.S.
DiedApril 29, 2016(2016-04-29) (aged 87)
Keokuk, Iowa, U.S.
Championship titles
USAC Stock Car (1963, 1967)
AAA/USAC Stock Car career
Years active1956–1957, 1960–1981, 1983
Championships2
Best finish1st in 1963, 1967
NASCAR Cup Series career
24 races run over 9 years
Best finish79th (1955)
First race1954 Race 2 (Daytona Beach)
Last race1972 Miller High Life 500 (Ontario)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 12 0

White had 24 starts in the NASCAR Grand National / Winston Cup series between 1954 and 1972 with 12 top-ten and 7 top-five finishes.[3] Earlier in his career, White won three International Motor Contest Association (IMCA) championships: 1954, 1955 and 1958.[1][4]

Driving career

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White started his first national race in 1949.[2] This IMCA race happened at Cedar Rapids, Iowa; he was second place before retiring because of mechanical problems.[5] White won IMCA championships in 1954, 1955, and 1958.[5] By the time that he ended IMCA racing in 1958, he had won at every track on the circuit.[5] White's biggest competitor in IMCA was his brother-in-law Ernie Derr.[5]

He moved to the USAC Stock Car series in 1959.[5] His national racing career ended at a USAC Stock Car race at Milwaukee on August 28, 1983.[2]

White won the most races in USAC Stock Car history.[2] He had 53 wins and A. J. Foyt was second with 41.[2] In a mid-2015 interview for the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) website, White said "I think I liked Milwaukee as well as any place. Won 14 or 15 there, so I'd say that was my favorite.[2] The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel cited in his obituary that he was the winningest driver in major races at the track.[2]

Death

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White died on April 29, 2016 at age 89.[2] Foyt reacted to his death by saying, "Don White was a good racer, real fair because he never did anything dirty, and real smooth. He always had beautiful equipment and his cars handled real well. He was a super guy."[2]

Awards and honors

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White has been inducted into the following halls of fame:

References

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  1. ^ a b Radebaugh, Don (July 2, 2015). "Oldest living ARCA winner, Iowan Don White still at the wheel". ARCA Racing Series. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Kallmann, Dave. "Stock-car racer Don White was all-time victory leader at Milwaukee Mile". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
  3. ^ "Don White Racing Results". Racing References. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  4. ^ "Past National Champions - Late Model". International Motor Contest Association. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  5. ^ a b c d e Cameron, Brad (May 2, 2016). "Keokuk racing legend Don White dies at 87". Daily Gate City. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
  6. ^ "DON WHITE - USAC HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2013 - USAC Racing". usacracing.com. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
  7. ^ "Legendary Inductees". Iowa Racing Museum. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
edit
  • Don White driver statistics at Racing-Reference
Sporting positions
Preceded by USAC Stock Car Champion
1963
Succeeded by
Preceded by USAC Stock Car Champion
1967
Succeeded by