David George MacDonald (July 23, 1936 – May 30, 1964) was an American racing driver noted for his successes driving Corvettes and Shelby Cobras in the early 1960s.

At the 1958 National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Western US Drag Racing Championships at Williams Air Force Base in Arizona, MacDonald set two standing start speed records in a stock 1958 Corvette – 104.68 mph in the ¼ mile and 123.11 mph in the 1/2 mile.

MacDonald’s unique style of drifting through turns at full speed made him a crowd favorite and earned him the nickname "Master of Oversteer".

[1] In June 1962, Zora Arkus-Duntov selected MacDonald and Dick Thompson to do shakedown testing during development of Chevrolet's all new 1963 Corvette Sting Ray.

Four days of intensive road testing were performed on a coupe and a convertible at the General Motors Proving Grounds in Milford, Michigan.

MacDonald and Cobra driver Billy Krause exchanged the lead during the first hour of competition, before both vehicles dropped out with mechanical troubles.

On March 1, 1964, MacDonald won the United States Road Racing Championships at Augusta International Raceway in Shelby King Cobra CM/1/63.

[8] After this victory, Chris Economaki - editor of National Speed Sport News (NSSN), wrote that, "Dave MacDonald just stamped himself as one of today's road racing greats.

On May 10, 1964, MacDonald won the United States Road Racing Championships at Kent, Washington, in King Cobra CM/3/63.

[6] In 1964, MacDonald signed to run 20 races on the Grand National circuit for Mercury team owner Bill Stroppe.

MacDonald was to drive one of Thompson's radical low profile rear-engine race cars in that year's event.

This condition was made worse in 1964, after Thompson was forced to redesign the cars to accommodate a new United States Auto Club(USAC) mandated 15-inch (380 mm) minimum tire height.

In addition to MacDonald, a rookie at Indianapolis, Thompson hired veteran road racer Masten Gregory, to drive two of his three cars.

Fifteen-time Indianapolis 500 competitor Eddie Johnson eventually accept Thompson’s offer, joined the team mid-May.

"[17] According to journalist Chris Economaki, MacDonald was never able to practice with a full load of fuel, due to Thompson's focus on high speeds.

[19] On race day, after dropping two positions on the opening lap, MacDonald began passing cars, moving back up the field.

MacDonald slid across the track and hit the inside retaining wall, igniting the 45 gallon fuel load which caused a massive fire.

Eddie Sachs, blinded by flames and smoke, hit MacDonald's car broadside, resulting in an even larger fire.