Derek White Bio
Derek White (born December 9, 1970) is a Canadian professional stock car racing driver. He has competed across several NASCAR national and regional series, including the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, the ARCA Menards Series, and the NASCAR Canada Series. White is also a team owner, having co-founded MBM Motorsports with driver Carl Long.
Born and raised in Kahnawake, Quebec, White is of Mohawk descent and is recognized as the first Native American driver to attempt a race in the NASCAR Cup Series. His career has spanned stock car and drag racing, and it has included periods of suspension and reinstatement following a legal case related to tobacco smuggling.
Early Life and Background
Derek White was born on December 9, 1970, in Kahnawake, Quebec, Canada. He is of Mohawk descent and grew up within the Mohawk community near Montreal. His early exposure to motorsports came through drag racing, which he pursued seriously in Canada for many years before transitioning to stock car competition.
White spent thirty years drag racing in Canada, building a foundation in mechanical preparation, car control, and race-day strategy. The skills he developed on drag strips later translated to his move into oval and road course stock car racing in the late 2000s. His cultural heritage and long-running motorsports background have shaped both his identity and his place in NASCAR history.
Path to NASCAR
White made his entry into stock car racing in 2009, when he ran five races in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series. His series debut came at Autodrome Saint-Eustache, where he finished eleventh, establishing himself as a credible open-wheel and drag racer making the jump to fendered stock cars. The following season, he ran eleven of thirteen events and was named the 2010 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Rookie of the Year.
That same year, White made his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut at Martinsville Speedway with Mario Gosselin, finishing twenty-third after starting thirty-fourth. He also expanded into the American Canadian Tour in 2014, competing at Airborne Speedway. These regional and national starts laid the groundwork for a broader presence across NASCAR’s national touring series.
Derek White Career
Early Career (2009–2010)
Derek White’s professional stock car racing career began in 2009 in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series. Across five starts that year, he posted a best finish of eleventh at Autodrome Saint-Eustache. His consistency and quick adaptation earned him a full-time effort the following season.
In 2010, White competed in eleven of thirteen NASCAR Canadian Tire Series races and earned the 2010 Rookie of the Year award. He also made his national series debut in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series that year at Martinsville Speedway, finishing twenty-third. These early results cemented his reputation as a determined competitor willing to take on new challenges.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Breakthrough (2009–2025)
White made his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut in 2009 at Martinsville Speedway. Over the years, he has returned to the series in selected starts, building experience across superspeedways, short tracks, and road courses. His most recent Truck Series effort came in 2025 at North Wilkesboro Speedway, driving the No. 2 Ford F-150 for Reaume Brothers Racing.
He has also competed in the Truck Series with MBM Motorsports. Although his Truck Series results have not produced victories, his longevity across more than a decade of national-level competition highlights his persistence and passion for the sport.
NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Breakthrough (2012–2026)
White debuted in what is now the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series in 2012 at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, driving the No. 24 for SR² Motorsports as a road course ringer. He finished eighteenth, which remains his best result in the series. In 2015, he earned a best series finish of thirty-sixth in the standings.
White later joined forces with Carl Long to form MBM Motorsports, a team that has since fielded multiple entries in the series. In 2025, White was announced as a part-time driver for Joey Gase Motorsports in the No. 53 Chevrolet Camaro. His role with the team has allowed him to continue combining driving duties with team ownership responsibilities.
Reaume Brothers Racing Era (2025–Present)
In 2025, it was announced that Derek White would return to NASCAR competition in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series at North Wilkesboro Speedway. He drove the No. 2 Ford F-150 for Reaume Brothers Racing, starting twenty-sixth after qualifying was cancelled due to weather. He ultimately finished thirty-third after failing to maintain minimum speed past the halfway mark.
White has continued to balance driving duties across multiple teams and series, including MBM Motorsports and Rise Motorsports. His willingness to compete in different cars and at different tracks reflects the hands-on approach of a driver-owner who remains active in the garage area. The Reaume Brothers Racing effort marked his return to the Truck Series after a multi-year absence from national NASCAR events.
ARCA Menards Series Debut (2025–Present)
In 2025, it was revealed that White would make his ARCA Menards Series debut at Michigan International Speedway, driving the No. 31 Toyota Camry for Rise Motorsports. The race at the two-mile oval represented a new chapter in his career and expanded his footprint across NASCAR’s developmental ladder.
He also drove the No. 69 Ford for MBM Motorsports at Watkins Glen, where he earned his first top-twenty ARCA finish of nineteenth. These ARCA starts complement his national-level efforts and provide additional track time as he balances team ownership with driving.
Driving Style and Strengths
White’s background in drag racing has given him strong car control instincts and a steady demeanor under pressure. His experience as a road course ringer has made him comfortable on technical circuits such as Circuit Gilles Villeneuve and Watkins Glen. As both a driver and an owner, he brings a strategic perspective shaped by years of managing team logistics and race-day operations.
Notable Races and Milestones
White’s most historic milestone came in 2015, when he became the first Native American driver to attempt a race in the NASCAR Cup Series at the 5-hour Energy 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. His earlier Truck Series debut at Martinsville Speedway in 2009 marked his arrival on NASCAR’s national stage. His 2010 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Rookie of the Year award further highlighted his rapid rise in the sport.
Derek White Career Wins
Derek White has not recorded wins across the major NASCAR national series, including the NASCAR Cup Series, the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, or the ARCA Menards Series. His verified achievements instead center on longevity, team leadership, and historic firsts in NASCAR competition.
NASCAR Canada Series Highlights
Across his NASCAR Canada Series career, White earned two top-ten finishes, with his best championship result being fourteenth in 2010. His first Canada Series start came in 2009 at Autodrome Saint-Eustache, and his last verified Canada Series start came in 2015 at the same venue. The 2010 Rookie of the Year award stands as the defining individual honor of his Canada Series tenure.
Other Wins and Performances
White’s verified stock car results include two top-tens in the NASCAR Canada Series and a best Truck Series result of twenty-third at Martinsville in 2009. He also recorded a best O’Reilly Auto Parts Series finish of eighteenth at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in 2012 and an ARCA best of nineteenth at Watkins Glen in 2025. Regional titles outside of his Rookie of the Year honor are not documented in available records.
Derek White Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Derek White is a member of the Mohawk community of Kahnawake, Quebec. His Mohawk heritage has been a defining element of his public identity, including his historic 2015 NASCAR Cup Series attempt as the first Native American driver in series history. Specific details about his parents and extended family are not publicly documented in available sources.
Personal Life
White has been involved in legal proceedings related to a tobacco smuggling case that began in 2014. In March 2016, he turned himself in to authorities and was later suspended indefinitely by NASCAR. Following a Canadian Superior Court decision that overturned his convictions in 2023, White was reinstated by NASCAR and resumed national-level racing. Information about a spouse, children, or current residence is not publicly documented in available sources.
2025 Season Performance
Derek White’s 2025 season marked his return to NASCAR national-level competition after a multi-year absence. His first start came in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series at North Wilkesboro Speedway, driving the No. 2 Ford F-150 for Reaume Brothers Racing. He later added ARCA Menards Series events with Rise Motorsports and MBM Motorsports, including a nineteenth-place finish at Watkins Glen that represented his best ARCA result to date.
Across the season, White has balanced his return to driving with continued ownership responsibilities at MBM Motorsports. His efforts across the Truck Series and ARCA have produced finishes outside the top tier but have demonstrated a steady presence in the garage area. The combination of team ownership and part-time driving has defined his 2025 campaign.
Looking ahead, White’s outlook centers on continuing to field competitive entries while pursuing selective starts across NASCAR’s national series. His historic 2015 Cup Series attempt and his ongoing commitment to multiple teams position him as a unique figure in the modern stock car landscape.
