To Run The Race: African Americans In Nascar

Do you know who the first African-American NASCAR driver is? Wendell Oliver Scott, was born on August 29, 1921 and passed away on December 23, 1990 from spinal cancer, was an American stock car racing driver. He was one of the first African-American drivers in NASCAR, and the first African-American to win a race in the Grand National Series, NASCAR’s highest level.
NASCAR is short for the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing. It is known to be where professional racers from across the world come together to compete for championships. Freshman psychology major, Paris Johnson, may not pay too much attention to racing. “All I know is that it’s men racing in sports cars.” However, it is important to recognize the achievements of African-Americans in all athletics, not just football and basketball.
Racing full- time from 1963 to 1971 in the top series, Scott won his only NASCAR race in 1963.
Besides being first at the finish line, it appeared that Scott’s only other obstacle was being a black man in a predominantly white sport. Johnson comments, “[Black drivers] have the ability to succeed. I don’t they are [given] the chance to,”
There were no African-Americans in NASCAR until 1973, when Willy T. Ribbs started three races in 1986. Born on January 3, 1955, Ribbs is a retired race car driver, racing owner, and sport shooter known for being the first African-American to have tested a Formula One car in 1986 and the first to compete in the Indianapolis 500 in 1991. Though Willy’s racing career was short lived, his first race was at North Wilkesboro Speedway on April 20, 1986. That was the only race that he finished with 13 laps down in 22nd. Ribbs went on to participate in two more races that year for DiGard racing, but was troubled by engine failure in both.
Another African-American racer wouldn’t make his debut until Bill Lester in 1999. Born on February 6, 1966, Lester was the first African-American to compete in the NASCAR Busch Grand National Series. He was most successful at driving in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck series where he raced full-time. In 2003, Lester was the only African-American race car driver competing in any of NASCAR’s top three divisions and became only the second African-American driver in history to win the pole position in a major NASCAR series. Although Lester had many firsts in his racing and some successful runs, he was not exempt from harsh realities. The racing star was not embraced in the NASCAR culture. He confessed to CNN in an interview that he never felt like he belonged.
“I have been booed, and it was surprising to me because I think that I did a great job behind the wheel… I’ve never made disparaging remarks or offended anybody to my knowledge, but for whatever reason, I wasn’t really embraced”, says Lester.
The three African-American drivers aforementioned who competed in the NASCAR Cup Series are now Hall of Famers; Wendell Scott, Willy T. Ribbs and Bill Lester who paved the way for the fourth African-American Darrell “Bubba” Wallace Jr., who was briefly promoted to the sport’s highest level this summer.
Darrell Wallace won the hearts of NASCAR fans after an emotional historic recap in Daytona 500. Born on October 8, 1993, Wallace started racing cars at nine years old.
The 24-year-old rookie from Mobile, AL., is the first full-time African-American driver in the sport since Wendell Scott in 1971 and was overcome with emotion after his second-place finish. Wallace launched his NASCAR career in 2010 with regional races in the K&N Pro Series East, and nationally in May 2012 with an XFinity Series race at Iowa Speedway in May, where he came in ninth. Along with other career highlights, he is slated to compete full time for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series organization in 2018, making him the first African-American to have a full-time Cup gig since Wendell Scott in 1971.