Toyota Nextel Cup Cars - Pressing The Throttle

If you could turn the clock back and give Smokey Yunick a college degree and a computer, you would end up with someone like Lee White. The head of Toyota Racing Development thrives on the same type of challenge that made Yunick a legend in motorsports.

It was in Daytona Beach's "Best Damn Garage in Town" that Yunick found horsepower in engines and holes in NASCAR's rule book, and he built cars that helped propel Nextel Cup to where it is today.

In contrast to Yunick's shop, White has the resources of the sprawling TRD centers in Southern California and High Point, North Carolina. He also has a crew of motivated designers, engineers, and fabricators to press the throttle on Toyota's American motorsports program.

Unlike Smokey, who was a lightning rod for controversy, White does most of his work behind the scenes, where he is most successful.

Here's a snapshot look at the man behind TRD

September 1976-December 1979
General manager and engineer for Read Racing Engines in Hoopeston, Illinois, where he was responsible for engine development and production for the IMSA Champion Spark Plug Challenge and the NASCAR Baby Grand Series. His drivers included Irv and Scott Hoerr, Craig Ross, Patrick Bedard, Donald Sparks, Nelson Guzler, Larry Pearson, and Davey Allison.

December 1979-November 1985
Team manager and engineer at Herman & Miller Porsche Racing in Parsippany, New Jersey. He was responsible for race team operations, engine development, and chassis construction for a single-car SCCA Trans Am and IMSA GT racing team. He managed a multi-car Porsche effort at the 1982 24-hour race at Le Mans, France.

November 1985-December 1991
General manager of racing at Jack Roush Racing, Livonia, Michigan. He helped win more than 100 races and 20 championships, oversaw Roush's multi-team efforts in SCCA Trans Am and IMSA GT, and was responsible for the development of the Turbo 2.5L Merkur engine used in Trans Am and IMSA GTO. He also oversaw chassis design, development, and vehicle aerodynamics, as well as application of electronic fuel injection on engines in the GTO and GTP classes. He also worked with Roush to create his first Winston Cup team with driver Mark Martin.

December 1991-October 1994
General manager at Rocketsports Racing in Lansing, Michigan. He was head of the team's engine and chassis engineering and was responsible for a multi-car IMSA GT and Trans Am team. Drivers included Paul Gentilozzi, Scott Pruett, Irv Hoerr, Darrin Brassfield, Eric Van de Peole, and Steve Millen. Among his championships and race wins is the overall victory at the 1994 24 Hours of Daytona race.

October 1994-November 1997
General manager, Newman-Haas Racing, Lincolnshire, Illinois. He was responsible for a two-car CART racing team owned by Paul Newman and Carl Haas. Drivers Michael Andretti, Christian Fittipaldi, and Paul Tracy were on this team.

November 1997-Present
Senior vice president and general manager of Toyota Racing Development U.S.A. Inc., Costa Mesa, California. He is responsible for engine design, development, manufacturing, production, and team support for the CART, IRL, Off Road, Grand Am Sports Car, CORR, NHRA Import Drag Racing, USAC Midgets, NASCAR Truck, NASCAR Busch, and NASCAR Nextel Cup Series. While at TRD, he helped Toyota win the '02 CART Drivers and Manufacturer's Championship, the '03 IRL Driver's and Manufacturer's Championships, and the '03 Indy 500.