By: Zach Catanzareti, Staff Writer
For more than a decade, Charleston, West Virginia’s Josh White has been racing for awareness in the ARCA Menard’s Series.
And it’s not just to spread his name across the garage area and hunt for trophies.
The 34-year-old has 20 career starts in the ARCA ranks as well as one start in the Craftsman Truck Series. But his background as a U.S. Marine is what leads his racing charge.
White was a lance corporal for the United States Marine Corps from 2011 to 2015, and when he made his Truck Series debut in 2016, he became the first Marine to start a national NASCAR series race in 50 years.
And after three years away from his last ARCA start in 2022, White is now back with Clubb Racing Inc. this September at Bristol Motor Speedway.
“I’ve just been focused on myself, you know, and my family,” White told Kickin’ The Tires about his return. “I have had a desire to get back out there and get back racing.”
Indeed, three years can feel like a lifetime for any racecar driver. His last start came at Charlotte Motor Speedway with Clubb Racing Inc., where White experienced a mechanical failure three laps into the event.
“I met Alex in 2015, raced against him a few times,” he said. “I remember specifically running against him in Springfield, Illinois. We didn’t talk much back then, but we always respected each other on track. And he was somebody that I looked forward to saying hello to.”
Clubb Racing Inc. has made 76 ARCA starts since its inception in 2017, scoring three top-10 finishes, most recently with Alex Clubb driving the No. 03 to a 10th-place finish at Elko in June.
“I know how much it takes to start a team and get everything you need,” he said. “We just continued our friendship. We’ve talked a lot about work that led to my start in 2022 in Charlotte for him and now Bristol this year.”
Relationships are important in racing, and it’s White’s relationships with fellow veterans that fuels his on-track return.
Partnering with various charities that raise awareness and support veteran suicide, White wants to use his platform to help those who need it. Charities like Healing The Hero, K9 Heroes 4 Heroes and Frontline To Field have backed White’s efforts thus far.
“I’ve got a lot of friends, fellow veterans, that have lost friends to veteran suicide,” he said. “I’ve got a lot of friends that have lost friends and fellow service members in the post-9/11 wars, namely Iraq and Afghanistan.
“I have this opportunity to be on a national stage and to bring a spotlight to issues that is going to help others and I’m going to utilize that to help others.”
His ARCA start at Bristol will symbolically land on September 11, a special day of remembrance for Americans and servicemen and women.
“With it being on 9/11 and being such a significant date, it’s an honor to be out there,” he said. “I’m really wanting to race with purpose, that’s going to be my whole thing moving forward is trying to race for a cause that’s bigger than me. Because it is.
“There are a lot of different resources out there that you know we have available for veterans to get the resources that they need to get help. I’m talking to a new charity now that might be coming on board for my charity initiative through Bristol. So, it’s this evolving thing that is becoming an amazing program.”
Outside the importance of the day itself, White is undoubtedly showing up to win the race.
Being a few years removed from any on-track competition, he is betting on his racing resume to assist in knocking the rust off. Additionally, iRacing has been a primary substitute since 2022, keeping his mind sharp on tracks like Bristol.
“iRacing is extremely detailed,” he said. “I’m sure that some things aren’t going to transition into real life, but at the same time, that’s OK. I feel like a lot of the things will and I’m just going to be that much more prepared.”
White started his own iRacing league, Josh White Racing eSports, in 2020 which has more than 40 players in competition.
“It’s definitely been an asset,” he said. “I wholeheartedly believe that I am ready for Bristol. I’ve practiced literally every day on Bristol on iRacing for the past two months. I feel as if I’m ready and that I’m going to be really competitive.”
Making his ARCA debut in 2013, he ran 17 of 20 races in 2015 for car owner Wayne Hixson. During which, he scored a best finish of 21st for the car owner who gave him his big break.
“I remember being at Toledo in the ARCA Truck Series. I met Wayne Hixson when I was there,” he said. “Me and Wayne just kind of instantly clicked. Wayne was a Vietnam veteran and the thing with veterans is you instantly have that camaraderie, that connection of brotherhood.”
Though the 2015 season was mostly start-and-park races for White, the experience of racing on a variety of tracks that year before starting a Truck Series race at Martinsville in 2016, all surely hold benefit.
“It really taught me a lot about pushing through in times of adversity,” he said. “There were many races in 2015, most of them actually, that I did not have a hotel room. I slept in my SUV, I put a mattress in the back and that’s where I stayed. I just didn’t have the money.
“Some races, I didn’t know if I was going to have the fuel I needed to make it home. That’s how my fan sponsorship program was created. People paid or donated a little bit of money and I put them on the car. And we still continue that today.”
For Bristol, along with sponsorships from Freedom Financial Strategies, Bilson Arms, The Not Alone Society and The Marine Corps League, White is continuing the fan sponsorship efforts to support the team’s start.
“I have a very loyal fan base, and it’s been great,” he said. “I’m very grateful for them, and I’m excited that I can go out here, get back in a racecar and give them a give them a chance to be Team JWR again.
“I have a fan sponsorship program with Ma22 where fans can donate $25 or more to get their name on a racecar and help support veterans.
“It’s an every-week or every-day thing where I’m talking to somebody new or following up with somebody to make a deal happen. It seems like every week I have something new to put out. So, I’m definitely extremely thankful for everybody involved.”
With races at Kansas and Salem also on the table beyond Bristol, White has his eyes set on a full return in 2026 if given the opportunities.
“Right now, I’m in search of a primary sponsor,” he said. “We’re in the middle of building another car for me to run at Bristol, and if we get what I need, we’ll have a good enough piece of equipment to put me in victory lane.
“I’m looking to be in good equipment for Kansas and in contention to win as well. Salem, I’m just going to be out there running laps honestly. I’m just going to be going to run the race and really help with my driver approvals. So that way, in 2026 if I get the funding to do a full season, I can start the race at Daytona and do the full season like we’re expecting and wanting to do.”
Fans can help support Josh White and Clubb Racing Inc. by checking out his Fan Sponsorship Program via Ma22.
And you can check out his partners and supporting charities below:
Freedom Financial Strategies
Bilson Arms
The Marine Corps League
The Not Alone Society
Devildog Canine
DEX FingerLight
Swifts Garage
J&K Lift Service
West Virginia Eye Consultants
Quiver Licker Custom Arrows
The Eagle Rising Foundation
2nd Chance Hunt
MA22