Nascar racing legend Dick Trickle has died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The retired driver committed suicide on Thursday (16May13) at the Forest Lawn Cemetery in North Carolina. He was 71.

Trickle reportedly called emergency services prior to his death and told operators there would be a dead body in the cemetery before killing himself.

Officials attempted to call the star back, but he failed to answer and cops subsequently discovered his remains at the burial site.

Trickle, who was nicknamed the White Knight, competed in 303 Nascar Sprint Cup races in a career spanning 24 years.

He notched up 36 top 10 finishes in Nascar's biggest circuit, the Sprint Cup Series, but never won. He was named the Winston Cup Rookie of the Year in 1989.

He retired in 2002.