Cory Witherill is a Navajo professional race car driver from Pacific Palisades, CA who competed in the INDYCAR Series, Indy Racing League, NASCAR, ARCA and ASA series.
He made an incredible bump day qualifying run on a brand new Menard’s engine to qualify for the 2001 Indianapolis 500, becoming the only full-blooded Native American to race in the Indy 500. He finished nineteenth after a flat tire, dropping to 26th and two laps down. Most of the race prior to the flat, Cory was running near the top 10.
In 2002 and 2003, he went to the Indy Racing League’s Infinity Pro Series driving for Ron Hemelgarn Racing. In 2002, he had eight podium finishes and one win at Nashville Super Speedway.
In 2003 while driving for Hemelgarn Racing, Cory almost won, but finished second in the inaugural Freedom 100 race at the famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Cory also competed in other forms of professional motorsports before making it to the Indy 500. He is a six-time Canadian Stadium Off-Road champion, 4 time U.S. Off Road Stadium champion and a professional motocross racer. He also raced in the Shelby Can-Am series, US F2000 series, CART Indy Lights and USAC sprint cars.
Cory was raised and adopted by two loving non-native parents, Carole and Listion Witherill who are both very supportive in Cory for finding his path. He hopes one day to find and meet his biological family.