CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Rex White, who was NASCAR’s oldest living champion and a 2015 inductee into the Hall of Fame, has died. He was 95.

NASCAR and the NASCAR Hall of Fame confirmed White’s death on Friday. No additional details were provided.

“Rex epitomized the formative days of NASCAR — a true pioneer whose contributions helped shape the foundation of our sport,” NASCAR chairman Jim France said. “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 won the 1960 Cup Series title and 28 Cup races in a career that spanned 233 starts across nine seasons. He led the final five laps in 1958 at Champion Speedway in Fayetteville, North Carolina, to earn his first career victory and scored 13 top-five finishes in 22 starts.

White won five more races the next season, but didn’t earn his only championship until 1960, when he won six times in 44 starts. He won seven times the next year, when he was runner-up to fellow Hall of Famer Ned Jarrett in the championship standings.

White then won eight times in 1962, but finished fifth in the standings as he competed in only 37 of the 53 races that year. White never contested a complete season at a time when NASCAR ran as many as 62 times a year.

White notched a career-high six victories at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, where NASCAR this year returned after a lengthy absence. He also won three times at North Wilkesboro Speedway and two times at Martinsville Speedway in Virginia.

Born during the Great Depression and raised in Taylorsville, North Carolina, White suffered from polio as a child and that altered his gait for most of his life. He had an early interest in cars and was working on the family Model T by the time he was 8. He had learned how to drive two years earlier using a neighbors truck.

“I was unaware the car on which I labored represented hope to people around me, frustration to those trying to stop illegal moonshine,” he said. “I saw automobiles as transportation, not the symbol of an upcoming billion-dollar sport.”

White purchased his first car in 1954 when a relative of his wife helped him with the $600 needed to buy a 1937 Ford. He immediately began racing as a means to earn a living.

White ran his first race in the Sportsman division at West Lanham Speedway in Maryland. He went on to win the championship in his rookie season of the Sportsman division.

He moved up to NASCAR two years later and by the time he won the championship five seasons later, he was named both NASCAR’s most popular driver and driver of the year.

“Growing up on a North Carolina farm, Rex familiarized himself with all things mechanical and enjoyed driving anything with wheels,” said Winston Kelly, executive director for the NASCAR Hall of Fame. “Rex was among NASCAR’s pioneers who remained very visible at tracks and industry events for years. He was a dedicated ambassador who enjoyed supporting any event or activity he was requested to participate in.

“NASCAR has lost one of its true pioneers.”

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Chris Knight

Chris Knight has served as a senior staff writer and news editor for CATCHFENCE.com since 2001.
In his 20-plus years with CATCHFENCE.com, he has covered NASCAR’s top three national series, often breaking news and providing exclusive at-track content, including in-depth race weekend coverage. He also offers insider coverage of the entire Motorsports platform, including the ARCA Menards Series.
In 2022, Knight became co-owner of CATCHFENCE.com.
In addition to his active duties at CATCHFENCE.com and other Motorsports-related endeavors, he is also a frequent contributor to SiriusXM Satellite Radio NASCAR Channel 90. You can follow him on X (formerly Twitter) at @Knighter01 or on Instagram, Snapchat, or Threads at @TheKnighter01. He can be reached by email at [email protected].

NASCAR is hitting pause on its Chicago Street Race for a year, officials said.

In a statement, NASCAR officials said they will not be returning to the Loop for the Chicago Street Race in 2026 “to afford us the time necessary to work collaboratively with the City of Chicago.”

NASCAR said they will work with the city to find a possible new date for the race and also develop a new, more efficient plan, “with a goal to return to the street of Chicago in 2027.”

The NASCAR Chicago Street Race, officially called the Grand Park 165, has taken over the roads in and around Grant Park for the past three years, with the first race in 2023.

City and NASCAR officials have touted its power to attract thousands of fans from around the world to the city, boosting the local economy. Chicago Sports Commission Executive Director Kara Bachman said in 2024, the economic impact from the event was $128 million, which was 17.5% higher than 2023.

But not everyone is thrilled by the race; residents who live near the course and in adjacent neighborhoods have complained about the street closures, the parking restrictions, and the noise from the race.

Mayor Brandon Johnson’s office released a statement on the announcement, writing, “We appreciate NASCAR’s dedication to the City of Chicago and their commitment to continuing their community engagement efforts, particularly their support of STEM education for our city’s young people. We look forward to resuming discussions around a potential return of the NASCAR Chicago Street Race in 2027.”

Ald. Bill Conway, whose 34th ward partially includes the area where the race has been held, also released a statement, saying “It’s disappointing that negotiators haven’t been able to move this event off the July 4th weekend—especially given how NASCAR has provided Chicago the opportunity to shine on the world stage. Over the past two years, NASCAR has made meaningful efforts to reduce disruptions for residents and businesses along the race route, streamline setup and takedown, and maintain open lines of communication with our community. I hope parties return to the table with a commitment to making this event work even better for Chicago, both logistically and financially.”

Sarah Fisher, a former IndyCar driver, is now supporting her 11-year-old son, Danny O’Gara, as he pursues a racing career. Recently, Danny achieved two victories at the Indy Karting Challenge and is currently competing in the Lucas Oil School of Racing formula car championship, where he ranks fourth overall in his debut season. Fisher emphasizes the challenges of supporting a young racer financially, highlighting the necessity for sponsorship in their journey toward professional racing. Both mother and son are focused on building a future in IndyCar or NASCAR.

By the Numbers

• Danny has secured wins in top karting series including the SKUSA Winter Series and the Route 66 Championship.
• He currently sits fourth in points in the Lucas Oil School of Racing championship with four rounds remaining in his first season.

State of Play

• Fisher is seeking sponsorship to support Danny’s racing ambitions, which involve increasing costs related to entry fees and equipment.
• Geared up with a long-term development program alongside BRANDed Management, the goal is to elevate Danny to higher levels of racing.

What’s Next

Fisher and her team aim to secure financial backing to support Danny’s participation in upcoming races, striving for a future in IndyCar or NASCAR. The family plans to strengthen partnerships with sponsors that align with their vision for developing young racing talent.

Bottom Line

Support and sponsorship are essential for Danny O’Gara’s progression in racing as he aims to follow in his mother’s footsteps. Investing in his journey could yield the next generation of motorsport stars.

“We’re thrilled to bring the excitement of the Savannah Bananas to NASCAR fans with this one-of-a-kind collaboration,” said Mike Perman, Senior Vice President, CW Sports. “Partnering with Viking Motorsports allows us to engage a passionate and loyal sports audience ahead of the Bananas’ broadcast debut on The CW.”

“We’re honored to represent The CW and the Savannah Bananas on track at Indianapolis,” said Don Sackett, owner of Viking Motorsports. “This partnership is a perfect reflection of what Viking Motorsports is all about—pushing boundaries, engaging fans, and having fun doing it. We’re excited to help bring the energy of Banana Ball to the NASCAR Xfinity Series with Matt behind the wheel.”

Founded in 2016, the Savannah Bananas have revolutionized the baseball experience with choreographed dances, flaming bats, celebratory antics, and nonstop surprises. With over 9.8 million followers on TikTok, the Bananas have surpassed every team in MLB, NFL, NBA, and NHL in social reach. Every game at Savannah’s historic Grayson Stadium has sold out since their inception.