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Lee White, president of Toyota Racing Development and Toyota Motor Sales, announced that he's leaving his day-to-day job immediately and officially retiring at the end of the year.
A 15-year TRD veteran will remain in advisory role until year's end but explained that he is leaving down immediately to tend to family health care needs.
"I have been planning and working toward retirement at the end of this race season in December," he said. "I have been offered and accepted an opportunity to perform a reduced amount of duties from my home office. This generous arrangement afforded to us by the company will allow me to attend to personal family priorities."
White has worked in many forms of motorsports at the highest levels including later became team manager and engineer for Herman Miller Porsche Racing. He has since held positions as general manager and engineer for Roush Racing, Rocketsports Racing and Newman Haas Racing.
Throughout his career, White has participated in programs totaling approximately 1000 individual race victories and 250 championships. He is also a private, instrument-rated pilot, aircraft tuner and holder of two U.S. National and World F.I.A. speed records.
He was elevated to Toyota's top racing position in 2008 and was responsible for all TRD motorsports activities in NASCAR, USAC, NHRA, Grand-Am and Off-Road competition.
This development comes in wake of some dnfs (did not finish) due to major valve spring failures and an engine violation (underweight connecting rod in Matt Kenseth Kansas-winning engine).
No successor was named and TRD did not make any reference to engine problems.
A 15-year TRD veteran will remain in advisory role until year's end but explained that he is leaving down immediately to tend to family health care needs.
"I have been planning and working toward retirement at the end of this race season in December," he said. "I have been offered and accepted an opportunity to perform a reduced amount of duties from my home office. This generous arrangement afforded to us by the company will allow me to attend to personal family priorities."
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| Joe Gibbs and Lee White (on the right). (Photo: NASCAR) |
White has worked in many forms of motorsports at the highest levels including later became team manager and engineer for Herman Miller Porsche Racing. He has since held positions as general manager and engineer for Roush Racing, Rocketsports Racing and Newman Haas Racing.
Throughout his career, White has participated in programs totaling approximately 1000 individual race victories and 250 championships. He is also a private, instrument-rated pilot, aircraft tuner and holder of two U.S. National and World F.I.A. speed records.
He was elevated to Toyota's top racing position in 2008 and was responsible for all TRD motorsports activities in NASCAR, USAC, NHRA, Grand-Am and Off-Road competition.
This development comes in wake of some dnfs (did not finish) due to major valve spring failures and an engine violation (underweight connecting rod in Matt Kenseth Kansas-winning engine).
No successor was named and TRD did not make any reference to engine problems.