Derek White Bio
Derek White (born December 9, 1970) is a Canadian professional stock car racing driver from Kahnawake, Quebec. He last competed part-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 2 Ford F-150 for Reaume Brothers Racing, and the No. 69 Ford F-150 for MBM Motorsports, and part-time in the ARCA Menards Series, driving the No. 31 Toyota Camry for Rise Motorsports. He has previously competed in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series.
Early Life and Background
Derek White was born on December 9, 1970, in Kahnawake, Quebec, Canada. He is of Mohawk descent, a heritage that has shaped his identity both on and off the track. Before turning to stock car racing, White spent thirty years drag racing in Canada, building a long mechanical and competitive foundation in motorsports.
His transition to oval-track racing came later in life, but his drag racing background gave him a strong sense of vehicle control and race craft. That deep well of experience prepared him for the demands of NASCAR’s touring series.
Path to NASCAR
White made the switch to stock car racing in 2009, joining the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series. That year he ran five races, posting a best finish of eleventh in his series debut at Autodrome Saint-Eustache. The following season he ran eleven of thirteen events and recorded a top ten at the season-opener at Delaware Speedway. His strong developmental campaign was rewarded when he was named the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Rookie of the Year in 2010.
That same year, White also made his Camping World Truck Series debut for owner Mario Gosselin at Martinsville Speedway, finishing twenty-third after starting thirty-fourth. His willingness to race on both sides of the border marked him as a determined crossover talent.
Derek White Career
Early Career (2009-2011)
Derek White’s professional stock car racing career began in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series in 2009, where he quickly adapted to the touring format. In his first season, he logged five starts and earned a top-eleven finish at Autodrome Saint-Eustache, signaling immediate competitiveness against more experienced drivers.
The following season, he expanded his schedule to eleven of thirteen races, captured a top-ten result at Delaware Speedway, and earned Rookie of the Year honors. These early results established White as a respected name in Canadian stock car racing.
NASCAR Xfinity Series Breakthrough (2012-2014)
In 2012, White was hired by SR² Motorsports to run as a road course ringer for the Nationwide Series race at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. Piloting the No. 24, he produced a career-high eighteenth-place finish, demonstrating his versatility on permanent road courses.
Before the 2014 Drive to Stop Diabetes 300 at Bristol Motor Speedway, White formed Motorsports Business Management with driver Carl Long as principal. The team debuted as MBM Motorsports at that race with Matt Carter driving the No. 13. Over the next several seasons, White fielded rides for himself, Long, and Mike Wallace, balancing team ownership with personal driving ambitions.
NASCAR Cup Series Debut (2015)
On July 13, 2015, White announced that he would make his Sprint Cup Series debut at the 5-hour Energy 301 in Loudon for Circle Sport. The attempt carried historic significance, as he became the first Native American to attempt a Cup Series race in series history. After qualifying forty-second, he finished thirty-ninth, eleven laps down.
The outing, though modest in result, marked a milestone moment for representation in NASCAR’s top tier. Earlier in the season, White was penalized fifteen driver and owner points for an unsecured ballast before the Winn-Dixie 300 at Talladega Superspeedway.
Return to Competition (2025)
In 2025, it was revealed that White would return to NASCAR in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series at North Wilkesboro Speedway, driving the No. 2 Ford for Reaume Brothers Racing. After starting twenty-sixth due to qualifying being cancelled for inclement weather, he finished thirty-third after failing to maintain minimum speed shortly after the halfway point.
A few weeks later, White made his debut in the ARCA Menards Series at Michigan International Speedway, driving the No. 31 Toyota for Rise Motorsports. He also piloted the No. 69 MBM Motorsports Ford at Watkins Glen, where he earned his first top-twenty finish of nineteenth place.
Driving Style and Strengths
White’s background in drag racing shaped a driving style built on precise throttle control and mechanical sympathy. His experience as a road course ringer at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve highlights his adaptability across track types. As a team owner-driver, he has developed a close working relationship with co-owner Carl Long and partners Rick Ware and Curtis Key, building MBM Motorsports into a multi-car operation.
Notable Races and Milestones
His 2015 Sprint Cup Series debut at New Hampshire Motor Speedway stands as a career milestone, making him the first Native American to attempt a Cup Series race. His top-twenty finish at Watkins Glen in 2025 marked his first notable result in recent competition. Earlier, his eighteenth-place run at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in 2012 set the standard for his road course work.
Derek White Career Wins
Derek White’s professional stock car racing career has been defined more by milestones and ownership contributions than by victories. His most celebrated achievement came in 2010, when he was named NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Rookie of the Year after a consistent developmental campaign. While his NASCAR national series results have been limited, his leadership of MBM Motorsports has helped multiple drivers reach the track.
NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Highlights
Across two seasons in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series, White logged sixteen starts, with a best finish of eleventh at Autodrome Saint-Eustache in 2009 and a top-ten result at Delaware Speedway in 2010. Those performances earned him the 2010 Rookie of the Year award.
Other Wins and Performances
In 2014, White made a start in the American Canadian Tour at Airborne Speedway, finishing twenty-second after starting thirty-third. His national series work has produced finishes such as eighteenth at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, thirty-ninth at New Hampshire, and nineteenth at Watkins Glen, demonstrating steady progression rather than headline victories.
Derek White Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Derek White is of Mohawk descent, with deep roots in Kahnawake, Quebec. His Mohawk heritage became central to a high-profile legal battle tied to tobacco importation and Indigenous treaty rights, an issue he fought through Canadian courts for several years.
Personal Life
Beyond his racing and team ownership roles, White’s personal life has been shaped significantly by his cultural identity and his long tenure in motorsports. Details about his immediate family remain private and have not been publicly verified.
2025 Season Performance
Derek White’s 2025 season marked his return to NASCAR competition after several years away. His campaign began in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series at North Wilkesboro Speedway with Reaume Brothers Racing in the No. 2 Ford F-150, where a rain-cancelled qualifying session and a mid-race minimum-speed issue ended his day in thirty-third.
He expanded his schedule into the ARCA Menards Series later that year, debuting at Michigan International Speedway with Rise Motorsports in the No. 31 Toyota Camry. He then drove the No. 69 MBM Motorsports Ford at Watkins Glen, where he captured a nineteenth-place finish, his first top-twenty result in the recent comeback.
With additional Truck and ARCA starts possible through Reaume Brothers Racing and MBM Motorsports, White’s 2025 outlook centers on rebuilding race fitness, deepening his team partnerships, and stacking up consistent finishes across both series.