Bill Whittington

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Bill Whittington (born September 11, 1949) is a former American racing driver from Lubbock, Texas who won the 1979 24 Hours of Le Mans together with his brother Don Whittington and Klaus Ludwig in a Porsche 935. The German professional Klaus Ludwig, multiple winner at Le Mans and elsewhere, did most of the driving in the heavy rain. Bill's brother Dale also competed in open wheel racing

Together with Randy Lanier they owned the Blue Thunder Racing Team in 1984, with Marty Hinze. Bill also raced in 5 Indianapolis 500s with a best finish of 14th.

Whittington made two NASCAR Winston Cup starts in 1980, earning an 8th in his debut at Riverside International Raceway (besting brother Don by one spot) and then 32nd in the Datyona 500.

The Whittingtons raced aircraft prior to cars and were the owners of the Road Atlanta circuit.

In 1986, Bill plead guilty plea to income tax evasion and conspiracy to smuggle marijuana into the United States from Colombia and was sentenced to 15 years in prison and ordered to surrender $7 million in property and other assets. In 1987, his brother Don Whittington plead guilty to money laundering charges in association with his brother's activities <NY Times> In addition to Bill and Don Whittington, Randy Lanier, John Paul Sr. and John Paul Jr. were part of the IMSA drug smuggling scandal of the 1980s, where a number of drivers financed their racing activities with the proceeds from drug smuggling.<NY Times>

In 2005, Bill's daughters, Nerissa Whittington and Keely Reyes, purchased The Springs, in Pagosa Springs, Colorado where Bill has been working as the manager of the facility which includes a hotel, spa and outdoor hot springs facility.<The Springs>

[edit] Indy 500 results

Year	Chassis	Engine	Start	Finish
1980	Parnelli	Cosworth	27th	30th
1981	March	Cosworth	27th	21st
1982	March	Cosworth	6th	16th
1983	March	Cosworth	15th	18th
1985	March	Cosworth	12th	14th

Preceded by Jean-Pierre Jaussaud Didier Pironi	Winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans 1979 Klaus Ludwig Bill Whittington Don Whittington	Succeeded by Jean Rondeau Jean-Pierre Jaussaud