Rex White, former NASCAR champion and member of the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame, will serve as grand marshal for the 44th annual Mountain Moonshine Festival this October.

White won the 1960 Winston Cup, and is NASCAR's oldest living champion.

Born in Taylorsville, N.C. in August 1930, White has been named one of NASCAR's 50 greatest drivers.

In his book, "Gold Thunder," White said at the age of 8 he was already working on his family's Model T.

"I was unaware the car on which I labored represented hope to people around me [and] frustration to those trying to stop illegal moonshine," White wrote. "I saw automobiles as transportation, not the symbol of an upcoming billion-dollar sport."

White won more races than any other driver between 1959 and 1963, including other NASCAR greats Richard Petty, Ned Jarrett, Junior Johnson and Buck Baker.

White now makes his home in Fayetteville.

The Moonshine Festival is set to take place Oct. 21-23 in downtown Dawsonville, and begins with the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame induction ceremony at 6 p.m. Friday.

White, who is expected to attend the induction ceremony, will serve as grand marshal for the festival parade, which begins at 9 a.m. Saturday.

Rex White, former NASCAR champion and member of the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame, will serve as grand marshal for the 44th annual Mountain Moonshine Festival this October.