---
title: "Hero of the Day: White Knight"
description: "A hero for the ages."
date: "2015-10-27"
modified: "2015-10-27"
authors:
  - name: "Max Prince"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/max-prince"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/vintage/651/hero-of-the-day-white-knight"
categories:
  - "Culture"
  - "History"
  - "News"
  - "Racing"
---

# Hero of the Day: White Knight

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/archive-images/gettyimages-106669057.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com\</em\>*

Dick Trickle, who won more than 1,000 short-track races during his illustrious career. Born in Wisconsin, Trickle became one of stock car racing’s glory-day titans, named NASCAR's rookie of the year in 1989 after notching six top-five finishes. Dubbed the “White Knight” in reference to his SuperAmerica-sponsored car’s paint scheme, he only won a single Cup race, a non-points exhibition event in 1990. But the man hung around for decades, a consistent qualifier and giant of a bygone era. Once, during a caution period at the Winston 500, he flipped up his visor, calmly lit and cigarette and [proceeded to smoke](<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9fB1IcTD48>) while driving an 800-horsepower race car. Dick Trickle died in 2013. He’d be 71 years old today. Hero.

*Want to nominate a Hero? Get at us on Twitter: [@thedrive](<https://www.twitter.com/thedrive>)*

![gettyimages-148578774.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content/archive-images/gettyimages-148578774.jpg>)
**ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images**

### Author social links  
[Twitter](<https://twitter.com/themaxprince>)