‘Betty Whiteout’ is tops in Minnesota DOT’s ‘Name a Snowplow’ contest

Here’s another way to honor America’s “Golden Girl.” Minnesota’s residents certainly dig it.

“Betty Whiteout” was the runaway winner in the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s second annual “Name a Snowplow” contest, The Star-Tribune of Minneapolis reported. The name is a nod to Betty White, the beloved television and film star who died on Dec. 31 at the age of 99, a few weeks short of her 100th birthday.

In addition to starring on “The Golden Girls” television show during the 1980s, White also played Sue Ann Nivens on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” the 1970s show that featured a TV newsroom in Minneapolis.

We have a winner! A snowplow in southwest Minnesota will soon be named "Betty Whiteout."

The winning entry amassed more than 40,000 votes in the contest MnDOT held to name to some of its plows. https://t.co/jZDg296hY4
— Star Tribune (@StarTribune) February 3, 2022

The “Name a Snowplow” contest drew more than 60,000 votes this year, as the DOT seeks clever names for eight of its large orange trucks that clear snow and ice from the state’s roads, The Pioneer Press of St. Paul reported.

“Betty Whiteout” pulled in 40,024 votes, nearly twice as many as the runner-up, “Ctrl Salt Delete,” which had 21,372 votes, the newspaper reported.

>> Betty White dies at 99

Last year’s winner was Plowy McPlowface, which currently serves the Twin Cities metro area, WCCO-TV reported.

The ballot had 50 suggestions, which were narrowed down from 22,000 ideas submitted by the public, according to the Star-Tribune.

“Betty Whiteout” soon will be plowing highways in southwest Minnesota’s District 8, according to the Pioneer Press. “Ctrl Salt Delete” will roam District 7 in south-central Minnesota.

Here are the other winners, by district: