02/23/2026
Many of you knew Captain Claude Levinge simply as “The Captain. From The Retreat at Canton. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1942 to 1970, earned the honor of “Top Gun” in 1954, and carried a lifelong love of aviation, country, and racing. Last fall, EchoPark Speedway had the chance to meet him and even named him an honorary official for the Autotrader 400, planning a surprise role for him at the race.
Sadly, The Captain passed away in November at the incredible age of 103 — but his legacy is still flying.
In Claude’s honor, his son Charles Levinge — also a retired naval flight officer and aerospace engineer — will serve as Grand Marshal for Sunday’s Autotrader 400. What an incredible tribute to a life of service and a family dedicated to the skies.
We’re proud to have known The Captain, proud to share his story, and grateful to EcoPark for helping honor his memory in such a meaningful way.
If Captain Levinge ever touched your life, we invite you to share a memory or leave a ❤️ below so we can celebrate him together
Last fall, we met Captain Claude Levinge, who served in the U.S. Navy from 1942 to 1970 and earned the honor of “Top Gun” in 1954.
“The Captain” was a longtime race fan. During our visit, we named him an honorary official for the Autotrader 400. We planned to surprise Capt. Levinge with an unforgettable role at the race, but sadly, “The Captain” passed away in November at 103 years old.
In Claude’s honor, his son, Charles Levinge — himself a retired naval flight officer and aerospace engineer — will serve as Grand Marshal for Sunday’s Autotrader 400!