TRIBUTE

1944 – 2024

By Nate Van Wagnen

A single mother to three daughters , White started writing about the weekly racing action at nearby Farmington Dragway . That led to the formation of a small newspaper , Quick Times Racing News , in April of 1981 . Dedicated to promoting and supporting sportsman racers , the paper quickly became popular within the grassroots racing circles . From 1981 through 2003 , she traveled to numerous racetracks throughout the Southeast and even Puerto Rico , spending countless weekends shooting photos , conversing with racers , and compiling her work into issues of QTRN .

A devastating car accident in 2003 totaled her high-mileage Nissan and caused severe damage to her right leg , ankle , and foot . Racers and fans banded together to help raise money to help White , who as an independent drag racing journalist , did not have health insurance . The accident forced White to stop traveling and publishing her paper , but she later revived the publication – and a scaled-down traveling schedule – through a QTRN blog . The last printed issue of QTRN was released in December 2004 .

“ I DO want to tell EVERYONE how much I appreciate all the things people DID FOR ME AFTER my wreck !,” White wrote in a post on her blog . “ Bill Pratt [ of DragList . com ] and many of his buddies had a Blues for Becky concert in Houston , TX and sent me a HUGE check ! Lots of people … people who didn ’ t even know me … donated items to be auctioned off . I printed some of that in the last papers I published but I just want everyone who helped me after the wreck … and even all the other years … just how much I

appreciated everything they did for me … no matter how large OR how small !

“ I loved what I did and ALL the goodness of the people I knew made ALL the other stuff worth it ALL !” she continued . “ Thanks to everyone who ever helped me any way … whether it was a little gas money , a bed to sleep in , a meal , no matter what ! Thanks for all the support I received all those years .”

In addition to QTRN , White published two Southeastern Drag Strip Directories , two Eastern U . S . Drag Strip Directories , and souvenir programs for tracks in North Carolina , South Carolina , Virginia , Kentucky , Tennessee , and West Virginia . She also released a hand-drawn doorslammer coloring book in 1990 .

White didn ’ t just report on what happened in drag racing . She also contributed to the sport by helping to form the Sportsman Class Racers Association ( SCRA ) in 1986 and the Southeast Nostalgia Pro Stock group in 2015 . Many credit White for her involvement in the early days of Pro Modified . White was the first journalist and first woman inducted into the East Coast Drag Times Hall of Fame in 2003 . She was also a board member of the North Carolina Drag Racing Hall of Fame , which awarded her the inaugural Jeff Byrd Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012 to recognize her lifelong promotion and commitment to drag racing . Numerous tracks recognized her efforts with appreciation awards over the years as well .

“ No one else had more passion for drag racing and its racers , especially Sportsman / Bracket racers than Becky ,” wrote Mark Joyce , who serves as president of the North Carolina Drag Racing Hall of Fame . “ She was the internet of information and stories of drag racing through the pages of her Quick Times Racing News back in the day . Often outspoken , Becky didn ’ t hold back and shot it straight from the hip and that was her nature . I was proud to call her a friend and have her as a board member of the North Carolina Drag Racing Hall of Fame . Her mark on this sport will always be present and she ’ ll be truly missed , but her spirit and love for this sport will live on forever .”

White was preceded in death by her oldest daughter , Teresa White , and leaves behind daughters Candace Huffman and Mendy White , as well as many other family and friends . White requested that there be no memorial service , and in lieu of flowers , she suggested donations to The Wounded Warrior Project or your local animal rescue groups .

White closed out the autobiographical section on her blog , found at QuickTimesRacingNews . Wordpress . com , with this statement : “ I always was , I am now , and I will always be DRAG RAC- ING ’ S MOST DEDICATED FAN !” DI

PHOTOGRAPHS BY VAN ABERNETHY AND FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF BECKY WHITE