Dale Lindsey Whittington (September 23, 1959June 14, 2003) was an American racing driver. Born in

Farmington, New Mexico Farmington (Navajo language, Navajo: Tóta') is a city in San Juan County, New Mexico, San Juan County in the U.S. state of New Mexico. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the city had a population of 46,624 people. Farmington (and ...

, he was the youngest of four sons born to 1950s race car owner Dick Whittington.HistoricRacing.com: Dale Whittington profile
/ref> Dale Whittington had 3 sons: R.D Whittington, Dale Lindsey Whittington Jr, Blake Whittington. Dale Whittington has one grandson Dale Whittington III. Whittington was not married at the time of his death.

Indy 500

Despite having little oval experience, Whittington entered the

1982 Indianapolis 500 The 66th Indianapolis 500 was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana on Sunday, May 30, 1982. Gordon Johncock, who had previously won the rain-shortened 1973 race, was the winner. Polesitter Rick Mears finished second by ...

, joining his brothers

Bill Bill(s) may refer to: Common meanings * Banknote, paper cash (especially in the United States) * Bill (law), a proposed law put before a legislature * Invoice, commercial document issued by a seller to a buyer * Bill, a bird or animal's beak Pl ...

and Don to become the only trio of siblings to qualify for the same race at Indy. He qualified 23rd, on the eighth row. On race day, he found himself caught up in the infamous Kevin Cogan crash. During the final pace lap, just before the green flag was to drop on the frontstretch,

Kevin Cogan John Kevin Cogan (born March 31, 1956) is an American former race car driver who drove in Formula One from to . Driving a RAM Williams in the 1980 Canadian Grand Prix, he failed to qualify, suffering the same result driving for Tyrrell at the ...

struck

A. J. Foyt Anthony Joseph Foyt Jr. (born January 16, 1935) is an American former racing driver who competed in numerous disciplines of motorsport. He is best known for his open wheel racing career, and for becoming the first four-time winner of the India ...

, and then

Mario Andretti Mario Gabriele Andretti (born February 28, 1940) is an American former racing driver and businessman, who competed in Formula One from to , and American open-wheel racing, IndyCar from 1964 USAC Championship Car season, 1964 to 1994 IndyCar se ...

. As the field checked up to avoid the carnage, Whittington locked his brakes and spun into

Roger Mears __NOTOC__ Roger Mears (born April 24, 1947 in Wichita, Kansas) is an American former racing driver. Best known for his career in off-road racing, he also drove in the USAC and CART series from 1978 to 1984. He competed in 31 races, including the ...

, a driver in the sixth row. All four drivers were eliminated from the race. Dale was out of the race having never taken the green flag, and never again managed to qualify at Indy.

Later years

Whittington was not involved with the 1980s IMSA Camel GT drug smuggling scandal which involved his brothers (

and Don) as well as

Randy Lanier Randy Thomas Lanier (born 1954) is a professional race car driver and convicted drug trafficker from the United States. He is best known for his racing efforts in the mid-1980s, including winning the 1984 IMSA Camel GT title for the wholly inde ...

, John Paul Sr., and John Paul Jr. Both of his brothers received prison time. Whittington transitioned to endurance racing, competing in the

ALMS Alms (, ) are money, food, or other material goods donated to people living in poverty. Providing alms is often considered an act of Charity (practice), charity. The act of providing alms is called almsgiving. Etymology The word ''alms'' come ...

series, as well as competing at the

24 Hours of Daytona The 24 Hours of Daytona, also known as the Rolex 24 At Daytona for sponsorship reasons, is a 24-hour sports car racing, sports car Endurance racing (motorsport), endurance race held annually at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Flo ...

in 1999 and 2000. He competed in

Grand-Am Grand-Am Road Racing or Grand-Am was an auto racing sanctioning body that was established in 1999 to organize road racing competitions in North America. Its primary focus was the Rolex Sports Car Series, an endurance racing championship series. I ...

in 2001 often racing with his brother, Don. Whittington was a developer responsible for developing Tampa Bay Golf and Tennis and later worked at World Jet owned by his brother Don at

Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport is a general aviation airport located within the city limits of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Fort Lauderdale, in Broward County, Florida, Broward County, Florida, United States, north of downtown Fort Lauderdal ...

(FXE). He died on June 14, 2003. He was found dead by his oldest son.

Motorsports career results

American Open Wheel racing results

( key)

Complete USAC Mini-Indy Series results

Indianapolis 500

Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results

( key)

References

External links

* 1959 births 2003 deaths Indianapolis 500 drivers Champ Car drivers Drug-related deaths in Florida 24 Hours of Le Mans drivers American Le Mans Series drivers Sportspeople from Orlando, Florida Racing drivers from Florida World Sportscar Championship drivers {{US-autoracing-bio-stub Team Joest drivers People from Farmington, New Mexico Racing drivers from New Mexico