CHANUTE, Kan. -- Officials, drivers, sponsors and fans of the United States Racing Association were shocked and saddened Thursday at the passing of Humboldt Speedway owner Ron Whitworth.

“It’s not fair. It’s unbelievable. Ron was a great personal friend of mine and a great friend to the drivers and fans who visited his awesome racetrack,” said USRA president Todd Staley. “Nobody – and I mean nobody – in this business cared more for his track and the people who supported it. Myself, my family and all of our staff have the utmost respect for Ron, (his wife) Rhenda and their whole family and we will miss him more than words can say.”

Within hours of his passing, messages of condolence for the Whitworth family from drivers and fans in the racing community flooded message boards and social media websites on the Internet. Most took note of Ron’s dedication to his passion, magnetic personality and mission to treat every person he met with the same respect and dignity.

He was 49 years old.

News of Ron’s untimely death occurred while many of his friends and family were Indianapolis for the three-day IMIS hardcore racing trade show. And while the show goes on, it does so with many attendees carrying heavy hearts.

All of us at the USRA – our staff, sponsors, drivers, crewmembers, fans and their families express our condolences to Ron’s wife, Rhenda, and his three children, Ryan, Riley and Ravyn.

The world is better for Ron Whitworth having been in it.

OBITUARY

Ron Whitworth, 49, of Chanute, Kan., passed away Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2012, at the Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center in Chanute.

Ron was born in Chanute on March 11, 1963, the son of Dwaine and Judith (Kustanborter) Whitworth. He attended Humboldt High School. On June 3, 1983, he married Rhenda Griffith in Miami, Okla.

Ron was a member of the USRA (United States Racing Association) and USMTS (United States Modified Touring Series).

He was the owner/operator of Whitworth Construction, Inc., for 32 years and owner/promoter of the Humboldt Speedway for 23 years. Ron loved working at the race track, watching his boys race and was extremely proud of his daughter in college. Ron worked seven days a week and holidays to provide for his family and loved the time he got to spend with his three grandchildren, children and wife.

Ron is survived by his wife, Rhenda; three children, Ryan and Heather Whitworth of Humboldt, Riley Whitworth of Humboldt and Ravyn Whitworth of Pittsburg, Kan.; three grandchildren, Kaydence Whitworth of Chanute, Karson Whitworth of Independence and Braydie Whitworth of Iola; his mother, Judy Whitworth of Chanute; a brother, Jerry Whitworth of Santa Monica, Calif.; a sister, Traci Whitworth of Chanute; his mother-in-law, Connie Griffith of Chanute; his sister-in-law and husband, Rhonda and Dan McMillan of Chanute; along with five nieces, several aunts, uncles, cousins and his entire racing family.

He was preceded in death by his father, Dwaine Whitworth; his grandparents, Chet and Mary Kustanborter, and Raymond and Lena Whitworth; an aunt, Kathy Kustanborter; and his father-in-law, Ronald Dean Griffith.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 10, at the First Baptist Church located at 118 North Forest Avenue in Chanute. The family will receive friends on Sunday, Dec. 9, from 2-5 p.m. at the Penwell-Gabel Gibson Chapel located at 16 North Forest Avenue in Chanute.

Cremation will take place after the service and the family will have a private burial at Memorial Park Cemetery in Chanute.

Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church or the Ron Whitworth Memorial Fund for his grandchildren’s education.

Penwell-Gabel Gibson Chapel is in charge of arrangements.