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San Francisco Chronicle
4 days ago
- Automotive
- San Francisco Chronicle
Rex White, who was NASCAR's oldest living champion and a Hall of Famer, dies at 95
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.' ___
Fox Sports
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Fox Sports
Rex White, who was NASCAR's oldest living champion and a Hall of Famer, dies at 95
Associated Press 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 of the 1958 season opener 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.' ___ AP auto racing: recommended Item 1 of 2 in this topic
Winnipeg Free Press
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Winnipeg Free Press
Rex White, who was NASCAR's oldest living champion and a Hall of Famer, dies at 95
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 of the 1958 season opener 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.' ___ AP auto racing:
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Watch: Car struck by soda can thrown from stands during race at Bowman Gray Stadium
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (WGHP) — What appears to have been a full can of soda hit a race car during the Sportsman race at Bowman Gray Stadium Saturday night, and the moment was caught on camera. A fan threw the can from the stands near turn 1 while Zack Ore and Chase Robertson were battling for the lead with a few laps to go. The can bounced off the rear decklid of the Ore number 55 car and was struck by a couple of more cars. While shooting the video, FOX8 Photojournalist Chris Weaver saw the throwing motion out of his peripheral vision, but the person who threw the can was not in the frame of the camera shot. Winston-Salem police officers quickly responded to the area in the stands to try to figure out who threw the can and spoke with several people. Police say they were unable to identify the person responsible.
Straits Times
20-06-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Kitefoiler Maximilian Maeder, wushu exponent Zeanne Law win top honours at Singapore Sports Awards
Singapore's Zeanne Law is the first wushu exponent to win the Sportswoman of the Year accolade. PHOTO: CHEAH CHENG POH Singaporean kitefoiler Maximilian Maeder, who clinched bronze at the Paris Olympics, earned his first Sportsman of the Year gong at the 2025 Singapore Sports Awards on June 20. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG SINGAPORE – Singaporean kitefoiler Maximilian Maeder added another feather to his cap on June 20, when he was named Sportsman of the Year at the Singapore Sports Awards for the first time. It was his first nomination for the award, having previously won Sportsboy of the Year for three consecutive years. Following an impressive 2024 season, the 18-year-old edged out strong contenders – silat exponent Sheik Farhan Bin Sheik Alau'ddin, pool player Aloysius Yapp, badminton's Loh Kean Yew, and wushu exponent Jowen Lim – to clinch the Sportsman gong at the ceremony held at Swissotel The Stamford Singapore. Maeder is the first sailor to win the top men's award since 1999, when Siew Shaw Her, who won gold in the men's 420 class at the 1998 Asian Games, last received the accolade. The teenager dominated the international kitefoiling circuit in 2024, winning nearly every event, including the European and World Championships. In August, he became Singapore's sixth and youngest Olympic medallist after clinching bronze at the Marseille Marina. After the Olympics, Maeder continued his fine form by clinching the overall title at the Kitefoil World Series, before capping off a stellar season with victory at the Formula Kite Youth European Championships. His achievements were further recognised in November, when he was named World Sailing's Male Young Sailor of the Year. The Sportswoman of the Year award also had a first-time winner in Zeanne Law, who is the first wushu exponent to win the top female accolade. The other nominees for the award were Daphne Tan (bowling), Valencia Yip (kickboxing), Teh Xiu Hong (shooting), Nurdianna Sidek (silat) and Gan Ching Hwee (swimming). In 2024, Law won gold in the women's taijiquan and optional taijishan events at the World Taijiquan Championships in Singapore, in addition to a women's optional taijiquan gold at the Asian Wushu Championships. With their wins on June 20, both Maeder and Law became the first athletes in two decades to claim both junior and senior honours in consecutive years. Swimmer Mark Chay was the last male athlete to be crowned the 2001 Sportsboy and 2002 Sportsman, while sailor Joan Huang claimed the 1998 Sportsgirl and 1999 Sportswoman gongs. Organised by the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) and Sport Singapore (SportSG), the annual ceremony honours outstanding sporting achievements of those who have done well at the national and international levels. The event, which is supported by the Tote Board, was attended by SNOC president Grace Fu and Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth David Neo. The Straits Times senior correspondent David Lee picked up the Most Inspiring Sports Story of the Year award for his story 'Old is gold for Singapore's 70-year-old darts legend Paul Lim'. Assistant sports editor Rohit Brijnath and journalist Deepanraj Ganesan were also nominated for the award for their stories 'Joseph Schooling took us to brilliant places we'd never been to before' and 'From despair to delight: Jeralyn Tan's journey to boccia silver at the Paralympics' respectively. Singapore Sports Awards winners (selected) Sportsman of the Year: Maximilian Maeder (Sailing) Sportswoman of the Year: Zeanne Law (Wushu) Sportsboy of the Year: Kai Minejima Lee (Indoor Skydiving) Sportsgirl of the Year: Charlotte Ng (Wushu) Coach of the Year: Yeo Mee Hong (Netball) Team of the Year (event): Bowling Men's Team (2024 Asian Bowling Championships) Team of the Year (sport): Netball team Kimberly Kwek joined The Straits Times in 2019 as a sports journalist and has since covered a wide array of sports, including golf and sailing. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
