NASCAR Cup champion and Hall of Famer Rex White passes away

NASCAR has confirmed the passing of stock car racing legend, Rex White. He was 95 years old.

White won the 1960 NASCAR Cup Series championship, beating Richard ‘The King’ Petty to the crown. He competed at the top level of the sport from 1956 through 1964, winning 28 races and starting five Daytona 500s. While he never won any crown jewel events, he was a short track racing specialist with just two of his wins coming at tracks larger than a mile in length.

Standing at just five feet and four inches, White was also the shortest champion in the history of the sport. He was named one of the 50 best drivers in NASCAR in 1998, and in 2015, he was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

While operated as a driver/owner throughout most of his career, including his 1960 title campaign. He tried to go back-to-back in 1961, ending the season as the championship runner-up.

NASCAR chairman and CEO Jim France said of his passing: “We mourn the loss of NASCAR Champion and Hall of Famer, Rex White. 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.”