Rex White, who became just the seventh driver to capture NASCAR’s premier series championship in 1960, has died.
During a nine-year career competing at NASCAR’s highest level, White won 28 times in 233 starts. He had 110 top-five and 163 top-10 finishes when he retired from competition. He also won 36 pole positions.
White, 95, was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2015, along with fellow drivers Bill Elliott, Fred Lorenzen, Wendell Scott and Joe Weatherly.
In addition to his ‘60 championship, White finished second to Ned Jarrett in the points battle the following season. He placed in the top 10 in points six times.
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“We mourn the loss of NASCAR Champion and Hall of Famer, Rex White,” Jim France, NASCAR chairman and CEO, shared in a statement. “Rex epitomized the formative days of NASCAR — a true pioneer whose contributions helped shape the foundation of our sport. His hard work, dedication and talent allowed him to make a living doing what he loved most — racing cars. He was the model of consistency — finishing in the top five in nearly half of his races — and dominated the short tracks. On behalf of NASCAR and the France family, I want to offer our condolences to the friends and family of Rex White.”
White, who was 5 feet, 4 inches tall and weighed just 135 pounds during his heyday, was considered one of NASCAR‘s fiercest competitors in spite of his slight size and a right leg damaged by childhood polio.
One of NASCAR‘s top independent drivers, White had a knack for saving his equipment and making his push to the front during the latter stages of a race. It was a game plan born of necessity, according to White.
“I beat some good drivers in my career but my biggest thing … I had a habit of eating every day,” White said in 2015. “In order to eat and pay your bills, you‘ve got to take in money. If you‘re supporting a race car with your funds, doing the work yourself, you don‘t race until the end of the race when you get the money.”
The bulk of White‘s victories came on the series’ smaller venues — he was a six-time winner at Bowman Gray Stadium and won at Martinsville, Nashville Fairgrounds and Richmond as well. His lone victory on an intermediate track came at Atlanta Motor Speedway in 1962. It was also his final victory in the series.
Best known for piloting a gold and white No. 4 Chevrolet, White was named one of NASCAR‘s 50 Greatest Drivers in 1998 and was named the series’ Most Popular Driver in 1960.
In addition to induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame, White is also a member of the International Motorsports Hall of Fame, the National Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame and the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame.
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