NASCAR World Mourns the Loss of Legendary Journalist as 81-YO Norris McDonald Loses the Battle Against Time

Today, the racing world woke up to some sad news about the passing of beloved Norris McDonald at the age of 81. Aside from being a former super-modified racer and the first journalist to be inducted into the Canadian Motorsports Hall of Fame, McDonald was known to be a remarkable storyteller. It was apparently “very difficult to get any work done” around him, as per his fellow editor at the Toronto Star, Mark Richardson. And let’s just say, the story about the time he made a major blunder driving to the Indianapolis 500, goes on to show how McDonald was a larger-than-life figure who will remain in people’s memories forever.

NASCAR conveys its condolences to the fallen legend renowned for his encyclopedic knowledge of auto racing

Norris McDonald’s professional ventures, ranging from open-wheel super-modified racing to being a full-time journalist, are the stuff of legends. Though he himself admitted that he was never a great racer, McDonald’s passion for the sport and his journalistic skills came in handy when he was asked to fill in for an absent trackside announcer at Oswego Speedway located on the shores of Lake Ontario in northern New York state.

He did such an exceptional job in interviewing racers and conducting pit reports that he was retained as an active presence at the 5/8 mile track for the next 15 years as an infield announcer. Plus, he was the automotive editor of Canada’s largest circulating newspaper, the Toronto Star. It was his former colleagues, who came forward to tell the world about his half-hour-long captivating stories.

Mark Richardson, former editor of the Star’s Wheels section said, “If Norris was to have one thing written on his tombstone, it would be, ‘Norris McDonald, storyteller.'” He mentioned how the influential Canadian journalist made it very difficult to get any work done. When anyone asked McDonald a question, it inevitably led to a half-hour of captivating stories. “McDonald maintained encyclopedic knowledge of auto racing on the sport in Canada. He was also a generous man with a booming voice, enthusiastic about journalism and gave advice to anyone who asked.” Mark sat behind Norris in the Star newsroom and wishes he could hear him one last time.

In one of his most prominent tales, he was once driving overnight to catch the Indy 500. As he was on his way to the crown jewel race, he was not alone. He also had a couple of friends in the back seat. Funnily, it seems like he only forgot he had company during his road trip. After a break at the rest stop, McDonald hit the road again. However, as he was in his element, singing ‘Back Home Again’, it was only after he had crossed the Indiana state border that he realized he had left his friends back at the stop.

Sadly, the world will no longer hear more of such bizarre and entertaining stories from the man who threw his own 80th birthday, saying it was like a wake before he died. With the news of the veteran’s demise making waves in the community, NASCAR reached out to console his family. “NASCAR is saddened by the passing of Norris McDonald, a true giant in motorsports journalism. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends,” wrote NASCAR Canada in an official statement on X.

The rest of the racing community also came together to celebrate the exceptional life of Norris McDonald.

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His utmost dedication to his craft is what made Norris McDonald stand out from the rest. He had this notion that journalists must have an in-depth knowledge of their field. It was probably this unbridled passion that got him to know everything and everyone in the racing scene, including actor Paul Newman.

Reacting to the saddening demise of the iconic journalist, SiriusXM NASCAR’s host, Dave Moody, put out a tweet sharing the news with the community. He wrote, “Norris McDonald has passed away at age 80. Former Editor of the Toronto Star’s motorsports section, nobody understood Canadian motorsports better. In 2014, he became the first journalist to be inducted into the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame.” 

Many fans assembled in the comments section, paying their homage to the late journalist. “RIP and thank you for being a part of the racing world!” wrote one fan while another commented, “Read him all the time. He was one of the good ones.” 

Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame also issued a statement in tribute to the late veteran, mentioning his significant contributions as the board member and the emcee of the annual Induction Gala events for many years.

It is surely hard to imagine what the sport would have been, had it not been for the contributions of greats like Norris McDonald.

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