Obituary: Ralph Wilhite Jacksonville Speedway Accident - Hosting Wilhite Memorial Service Saturday, Looking Forward to August for Race Resumption

The Jacksonville Speedway will be honoring a beloved friend of the track this weekend.

Ralph Wilhite, 65, tragically lost his life in an accident at the Speedway on June 28th. Known for his passion for racing, Wilhite was a longtime member of the race crews of Bobby Hawks and Paul Nienhiser. He was renowned for his impeccable work on race engines and his friendship with racers.

Speedway Director Ken Dobson highlighted Wilhite's central role in the local racing community: “Ralph’s loss has deeply affected our entire racing community. He was a pivotal figure, particularly here in Jacksonville, for decades. 

It's been tough for many, especially our younger drivers who may not have faced personal tragedy before. They're dealing with this for the first time.”

A celebration of Wilhite’s life will be held at the track at 2 PM this Saturday under the Grandstand. Everyone is invited to attend and share stories. Nienhiser Racing has created a tribute shirt for Wilhite, with proceeds going into a memorial fund for his granddaughter’s education.

Dobson announced that the track will resume action next month: “We will reconvene on August 9th after Ralph’s memorial service, allowing everyone time to heal. Hopefully, we can return with good spirits and an ability to enjoy the race track again. Frankly, I don’t want it to be a place unless everyone there can have fun.”