Today’s entry is provide by Jeremy Sellers. He talks about his personal experience with Rex White, one of NASCAR’s fifty greatest drivers. Jeremy is the owner of Jerm’s Joint and here is the story of how Mr. Rex White’s autograph came to Sellers’ own Wall of Fame:
I’ve made it my own personal goal to make sure that the last surviving legends of NASCAR don’t simply “fade into the sunset”. Since my interest in the sport’s history, I’ve discovered there are some true gems still among us that find it flattering that they haven’t been forgotten. As this article will not be as long as I usually submit to you folks, it is without a doubt another humble installment of my growing collection of autographs AND my growing admiration for these old motorheads.
Any of you can go to Jayski.com and print off the list of NASCAR’s 50 greatest drivers. I would highly recommend that you all at least look at it, study it, and take into realization that every driver on that list made the sport what it has become today. Me? I printed this list off, had it laminated, and is on display in my bar for all to relish. It was after this I decided to web search many of the ones still surviving. I yearned to research their statistics, what they are doing now, and even see about obtaining merchandise they might have. You would all be surprised to know how many appearances they make, race teams they run for their family members on the local, or even ARCA circuit, and the fact that they love to know we still remember them.
I came across the simple site for Rex White. Now most of you probably don’t remotely recognize the name of this 1960 NASCAR champion, and that’s okay I reckon. However, reading his stats from his web page made me salivate with interest. Within one year, he entered 233 races, posted 28 career victories in five years (the most of any driver ever in that time span), and 36 poles. That’s just the tip of the iceberg. For the entire scoop, check out www.rexwhiteracing.com.
To the point, the only contact is through his biographer Anne B. Jones Ph.D. Firing off an email, I anxiously awaited her reply only to get a brief email stating she was out of town and would address my request for autograph when she returned. I always explain our profession, our little bar, and how much we would love to have a legend’s signature to add. Weeks passed without a word before I again, submitted another email, and she sent me Mr. White’s personal post office box address down in Georgia. Without hesitation, I typed up a nice letter, offering to pay for postage, etc, if he could just give me the information, and how flattering it would be to be able to add him to our “Wall of Fame”.
Two weeks had come and gone when a large envelope arrived for me. There was no letter of explanation inside, no order form, no request for payment. However, there was an 8 1/2 x 11 of Rex back in the day standing next to his Gold Thunder #4 with “To the Guys at Jerm’s Joint, Rex White” signed at the bottom. What a treat, I thought to myself, only to find out that wasn’t all. Tucked under this photograph were two postcard sized snap shots of Rex which he had signed for us as well. This fact continues to prove that the legends of NASCAR take the time for the fans, when fans take the time to remember them. Only then did my buddy Michael hold the signed pictures along side the envelope and it was easy to ascertain that Mr. White even addressed THIS himself, too!
Rex White is almost 79 years old and still remains extremely active. I strongly encourage all of you to at least drop by his website, for me, I plan on purchasing a copy of “Gold Thunder”, which is his biography written by Anne B. Jones. There’s a wealth of NASCAR history out there folks, bathe in it while you still can!
{ 17 comments }
Being a friend of Rex’s, all I can say is he’s a class act. Rex has got some great stories about the good old days that weren’t in his books. Hopefully you can get him there for a visit sometime. He and Slick Owens, his former crew chief, are a real hoot together.
“Gold Thunder” and “All Around the Track” are must reads for any race fan. If you want to know about how things were done back in the early days of the sport and about some of the untold stories about things that went on and some of the “characters” in the garage area, then you need to read these.
Who can forget their first NASCAR race? Mine was at the half mile Weaverville, NC track around 1959 or 60.
The race was won by Rex White driving a gold and red Chevy. It impressed me so much I made a drawing of Rex crossing the finish line for a Jr high school project that won a ribbon, even though my teach didn’t quite approve of the subject.
I’ve never forgotten the Weaverville track, the gold chevy or Rex White.
Hello,
Everything you said about Rex White is so true. Wish everybody
was like Rex White. Glad he is my friend.
Thanks
Harlow Reynolds
Lynchburg,Va.
I check up on my buddy Rex every week or so. He’d just finished mowing his lawn and told me I should have called a bit earlier…lol.
He is one heck of a nice guy. Has a great sense of humor.
If you go to the Atlanta races you can usually find him wandering around the infield and garage.
Anne and he wrote a great book about his life.
It’s good to see he hasn’t been forgotten. Thanks for writing this piece.
I first saw Rex White at the Rebel 300 in my hometown of Darlington, SC in 1960. As a kid of 13 I watched him practice, qualify, and race. I just couldn’t wait for the ‘60 hardtop Chevy model cars to finally hit the dime store shelves. As soon as they did, I made a model of “Gold Thunder”. Also made model so the ‘61 and ‘62. Back in the day he was my favorite driver, and I missed #4 after he retired. Hope he gets to attend the Southern 500 Festival in September. It would be great to meet him.
It is great to see people remember and respect the generations that came before us. Without these pioneers, the sport wouldn’t be where it is today. Thanks Jeremy for the story and thanks everyone else for reading and writing in.
Thanks for the kind words. I’ll print your wonderful article out for Rex. He is a very fine person. I had a grand time writing the books- if anyone wants one order it from us and we’ll give a big discount off of the publisher’s price.
Anne
Oh- just a quick comment-You can really win his heart through a plate of fried fresh-caught catfish. My husband and I join him for that often and love to have company.
That was a fantastic story Jeremy. I love reading and hearing about the pioneer drivers that has made NASCAR what it is today. I checked out the website and plan on ordering my copy of Gold Thunder soon.
I thought I received great feedback the first time I ran this article on another site, but let me tell you, you sure now how to warm a guy’s heart. I had the age of Rex updated, but other than that, it is the original article I wrote after receiving the autographs. I put his picture right next to the one Marvin Panch autographed for us, too! If you ask me, there are no two stand-up racers like Rex and Marvin for taking the time they did. I’m so pleased you enjoyed this article. Sometimes, I think if we remember the “true grit” days of NASCAR, occasionally, they will remember us! Have a great week everyone!
By the way, I LOVE fried catfish! lol
Watch this site later this week for another article by Jeremy Sellers featuring Marvin Panch.
It is truly awesome to know that there are so many race fans who recognize and acknowledge the greatness of drivers (like Rex)from the early days.
My grandfather (God rest his soul) was Rex Whites older brother. Rex White is my Great Uncle. Pop Paw always reminded me from the time I was a sprout til I became an adult that Uncle Rex was one of the best drivers of his day. His baby brother was the man as far as he was concerned. I grew up listening to Pop Paw telling me stories of Rex’s many great accomplishments.
As a 5 to 7 yr old child my mother would take me and my siblings to Great Granny Whites house in Taylorsville, NC at least twice a month so Mom could help the 90 plus yr old keep her house and yard clean and presentable. I remember well taking my Matchbox cars with me and sliding them on the hardwood floors of her living room amongst all of Uncle Rexs many trophies.
The trophies sat in various places in the living room– end tables, mantles, the fireplace hearth,and stair steps around Great Grannys living room. Bowman-Gray, Weaverville, Wilkesboro,and Martinsville 1st place trophies were the most abundant. But the trophy I’ll always remember above all was the 1960 Grand National Championship Cup displayed front and center on the fire place hearth. We never dared to touch it, but I remember being fastinated just looking at it!
The 1960 Champion Rex White(is a gracious, humble and a no non- sense working class(man who never forgotten where he came from. His career stats are undeniably some of
the greatest, successful and most consistant of all-time. All this from a man who had nothing given to him. He earned it all.
Rex White never had a desire or need to be called the best during his career. All he did was go out on the track with his vast talent and a calm,confident, common sense attitude and won regularly. How many current Cup drivers would like to have 9 yr career that had 233 starts, 163 top 10s, 36 poles and 28 wins? He retired in his prime at age 36. We’ll never know how much more he could have achieved had he not retired so young.
Rex White is currently the oldest living Sprint Cup Series Champion in NASCAR. As a relative and huge fan of Uncle Rex, I hope he receives all the recognition and respect deserving of his vast accomplishments and contributions to the sport of NASCAR before he bids this old world good-bye . Knowing him –he would surely shy away from it–(that’s just the way he is) But it would be a shame and injustice to not expose him to the modern NASCAR fan before the good Lord takes him home!
God bless Uncle Rex, and all his fans!!!
Tim White
Remember when US 29 went around the square in Hartwell,Georgia..that was the first time this 10 year old fan saw the #4 coming around the square flat towed behind a tarp covered stake bodied truck,five minutes behind came the 21 of the WOODS, and then about dark here came the legend himself,the 46, Ralph Earnhardt. I must have drank a gallon of root beer sitting in the Rexall watching around the square for the cars heading to Hotlanta,then Monday morning returning to the drug store to see the cars headed home,those that didn’t return Sunday night. The best deal was one time I saw all the CP fendered cars of HOLMAN-MOODY with the 29 of Nelson Stacy leading the 28 of Freddy Lorenzen and one other one H-M car that brought up the rear possibly Darel Dieringer or maybe it was Ned Jarrett ..not sure but what a child hood. Then on Saturday afternoons we would be out in the field picking cotton and see Dyno Don and that big Chevy heading to N.C.,Md. or Va. to race on Sunday I’ve seen em all one time or the other and then they built I-85 and all my sightseeing went away.
I also would like a signed picture of Rex White and his #4 chevrolet.
Don Stutts
811 Lisa Run Ct
Kernersville, NC 27284
Thanks!!!!!!
The fourth annual Legends Helping Legends benefit will be March 14 at Memory Lane Museum in Mooresville, NC. Rex White will be the honored guest.
Here is the link for more info:
http://www.memorylaneautomuseum.com/
First of all, I find it strange to be on this site, since I’ve never been a race fan, well, I actually enjoyed drag-racing during the 60’s, but was never a fan of the oval tracks. About 6 years ago I moved to Fayetteville, GA, and shortly afterwards, I met Rex. We both live in a retirment community, and are just a few houses from each other. When I first met Rex, I had no idea he was a former driver, and could actually have cared less. Even though he’s about the age of my mother, we started talking and started becoming friends. Then I started finding out about his racing days. It was all very intriguing to me, and I’ve just recently found out about this article and others on the internet and intend to do more research on him. As I’ve grown to know Rex, I’ve realized that he’s not only a “champion of drivers”, but most importantly, he is a “champion of men”.
Even though Rex is still fairly busy doing interviews, speaking engagements, autograph signings, etc., he’s still never too busy to help his friends. I’ve know a couple of Rex’s friends that were in bad health, and if they needed something, Rex was always there. It might be just someone to pick up a prescription at the pharmacy, pick up some groceries, take them to the doctor, or whatever, he would always make time to do it. One of our neighbors is disabled and on a very limited income, if Rex is mowing his yard and looks over and sees that her yard also needs mowing, he just rides over there on his mower, cuts her grass, and doesn’t expect anything in return. He’s also helped me on more than one occasion when I was in need.
But he doesn’t wait on someone to call him in need, he’ll just stop by, visit for a while, just to check on his friends, and he actually came over and spent about an hour with me earlier this evening. I always enjoy spending time with him, and always feel very refreshed after our visits.
Many of you only know Rex as a racing hero, but I know him as a man, and as a friend, and believe me, he’s one of the greatest heros I’ve ever know. I’m just very thankful that I’ve had the opportunity to get to know him and become one of his friends, hope that I’m able to enjoy that friendship for many years to come, and I hope many of you get that opportunity.
I just wanted to share a little different perspect of Rex with all of you that admire him. One thing Anne, if you read this, he also loves vine ripe tomatoes, and okra, and if it’s young and tender, he loves to eat it raw. He’s the only person I’ve ever know that liked raw okra.
I was SO happy to find this site, and read so many great comments about Mr.Rex White. My Dad andI met him at the Darlington Historic Race Festival, Labor Day weekend 2008. My Dad was a huge fan of Mr.White’s. I begged my Dad to go with me, and yall will never know how very Thankful to God I am that my Daddy agreed to go….. he passed away very unexpectedly Oct.24, 2008. Less than 2 months later.
Here’s our story…after the Q&A session on that Saturday, my Dad and I went up to the front stage, where Mr.White had been seated. I walked up to the side of the stage to speak to Mr.White. My Dad was several feet back from me (he had a knee replacement 3 months prior to that… it was hard for him to get around.) I asked Mr.White if he would speak to and take a picture with my Dad, to which my Dad replied “i can’t get up on that stage.” In a matter of seconds, Mr.White was down off the stage, standing beside my Dad. Yall… my Dad cherished that moment, and so do I. I enlarged that picture and put it in a frame at eye-level in front of my Dad’s favorite recliner, so he could see it every day. He told me so many times how much he enjoyed our trip there, and how happy he was to get to actually meet Mr.White. I would love to email the picture to Mr.White, along with a note of thanks ….. do any of you know his email address?
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