The Passing Of A Legend

[CIRF]

It is with a sad heart that we learned of the Friday passing of Don White. Don was one of the several champion drivers who called Keokuk, Iowa home.

Don White holds the all-time record of 53 wins during his USAC stock car career between 1959 and 1978. He captured the USAC stock car championship in 1963 and 1967 and had a span of eight consecutive years where he finished in the top three in points (1962-1969). He had 11 seasons in a row where he finished in the top five in points and missed the top 10 in points just once from 1959 to 1977.

I watched Don win on The Springfield Mile and he is one of my all time favorite drivers. Don was born in Monmouth, Illinois but raced out of Keokuk, Iowa his whole career. Don and the late great Ernie Derr were brothers-in-law.

REST IN PEACE MR. WHITE, YOU WERE ONE OF THE BEST OF ALL TIME.

[bigq11]

One of my favorites. They used to have 2 late model races each year at the Indy Fairgrounds mile back in the day. Remember many battles with Don, AJ, McCluskey, Ward, Jones, and many more.

[CIRF]

One of my favorites. They used to have 2 late model races each year at the Indy Fairgrounds mile back in the day. Remember many battles with Don, AJ, McCluskey, Ward, Jones, and many more.

big, you mention some great and heavy hitters, I would add Larry "Butch" Hartman (Bart's father), Bay Darnell, Terry Ryan, Norm Nelson, Sal Tovella, Jack Bowsher and Ernie Derr.

During the 1960's and early 1970's the USAC stock car circuit was as tough as any and that includes NASCAR. I never had the pleasure of watching them at the Indy Mile but we got to watch the USAC stock car boys at The Springfield Mile several times as a young child.

It was a shame and a travesty that USAC let the stock car division wither on the vine in the late 1970's and early 1980's.

[Bubstr]

Don White was a Great driver. It always amazed me how many good racers came from the small town of Keokuk Iowa. Must have been something in the water there.

[CIRF]

Don White was a Great driver. It always amazed me how many good racers came from the small town of Keokuk Iowa. Must have been something in the water there.

Keokuk is sometimes known as the city of champions, and for good reason.

Ernie Derr
Don White
Ramo Stott
Ron Hutcherson
D!ck Hutcherson
Lem Blankenship
Gordy Blankenship

All the above drivers were champions of some sanction during their racing careers.

We went to the Keokuk racers reunion last June and all the living Keokuk racing champions were present. At that time Ernie Derr and D!ck Hutcherson were the only 2 of the 7 that were deceased. Don White was there and we got our picture taken with him and he signed a picture I had taken of him and his car at Milwaukee prior to the start of one of his last starts there. As things turned out I'm extremely grateful to have made the 6 hour roundtrip drive to attend that event. Don seemed to be in pretty good shape considering he was 88 years old at the time. He wasn't real nimble on his feet but got around pretty well, nonetheless.

Now there are only 4 of them left and hopefully the reunion will continue.

[Bloomerdirtking]

I had the pleasure of getting to see the USAC boys on the Indy Mile and also up Michigan Internatinal Speedway. Back in the day they had a double-header where they ran the Indy Cars and followed it with a 100 lapper in the stock cars. Great stuff and awesome memories with dad👍