Tony White

Saturday, June 11th, 2005 is a night that will always be on the minds of Oswego Speedway fans and competitors, especially those of the limited supermodified division. But it will not be remembered for the racing. Saturday night one of our own passed away during competition. And suddenly racing is a whole lot less important. Tony White was a long time competitor at Oswego Speedway. His history included crewing for Mark Regan, and as a successful limited super car owner with brother Wayne and driver Billy Izyk. In 2000, Tony decided to enter the ranks as driver, building a street stock that he campaigned for two seasons. The team earned Super Stock Owner of the year award for Tony’s brother Wayne in 2000. In 2002, Tony and Wayne, along with longtime friend Dan Dennie and others built a limited super, earning Tony the Limited Super Rookie of the Year award. After the 2003 season, Tony and Wayne sold the car, in order to concentrate on their business, White’s Car Care. But Tony couldn’t stay out, and hit the tracks a few times later in 2004 in a car owned by Doug Cliff. For 2005, the Whites were back with a brand new FFB chassis. This turned out to be Tony’s last car. Tony rides in the record books as a three time winner in the street stock division, and a two time winner in the limited supers. Tony White, 37, passed away of an apparent heart attack on lap seven of Saturday night’s limited supermodified feature. After bouncing off of the inner hub rail in turn number one, car #4 skated along the outside wall in turn two before coming to a stop. He was transported to Oswego Hospital, but did not survive.

I will not claim to be one of Tony White’s best buddies. We have had our run-ins on the track and off of the track. Our personalities often clashed. But I was also fortunate enough to see the good side of Tony. Tony and I had come to a little better understanding of each other in recent weeks, and even discussed limited super rules and such in a rare phone conversation just two days prior to his passing. I believe our first phone conversation ever, which was initiated by Tony. Tony was a vocal crusader for fairness for our division, and we shared some concerns and tossed around ideas. We shared a few refreshments and a lot of laughs after last year’s Classic, hanging out at one of the campground parties. After a tangle last year with Tony that was my fault, I received a handshake instead of a confrontation, where Tony deemed it a "racing accident". This was the "new Tony White", who admitted that he had taken racing too seriously in the past, and was more interested in having fun. "Besides - I finished the race, and you didn’t!", Tony added with a laugh. Earlier this season, after being the victim of a low move by another driver which caused him to spin, Tony laughed it off, saying "I got Tony Whited." I’ll also relate a story from just last Saturday night. Tony got some laughs from onlookers, for mocking another driver who was complaining about some heat race action that had just taken place. I can just picture Tony rubbing his eyes in the crying motion, joking with the angry driver who was talking at the time. The "New Tony White" was having a good time at the track, and should be remembered that way. Tony’s unique sense of humor and infectious laugh will always be remembered in our pit, and our thoughts will stay with his family.

Auto Racing is a very intense and emotional sport, and we often lose perspective at the track. We get all wrapped up in what’s going on with the racing team, and sometimes lose sight of what’s really important - family and friends. Let’s use these most recent events to help us take stock in what really matters in our lives, and maybe not get so stressed out at the racetrack. Every lap and every conversation and every day could be your last. Please treat it that way. I know that I have never lost a fellow driver, especially in a race in which I was competing, and it really gets me thinking. Too many drivers have been lost this year. I will think a little bit more about my family this week, and a little bit less about making a racecar turn left.
  . . . By JJ Andrews