via Wikimedia
In 1963, NASCAR Hall of Famer Wendell Scott withstood boos and physical attacks to win his historic major series cup.
Sadly, another top winner wouldn’t emerge until rookie Darrell “Bubba” Wallace, Jr. came along more than four decades later.
Wallace and other Black drivers are often introduced to the sport through stories of trailblazers like Scott and family members who are themselves fans.
But for crew member Brehanna Daniels, the path to the mostly white world of racing was not as apparent - until NASCAR came knocking...
Daniels switched from basketball to pit crew when NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity talent development program held recruitment auditions on her HBCU campus.
Her leap of faith earned her a place in history books as the first Black woman pit crew member in a major series race in 2017.
Even beyond the track, there are plenty of exciting and safe opportunities for fast-paced careers. Just ask Jusan Hamilton…
Hamilton, NASCAR’s first Black race director, poured his passion into behind-the-scene logistics such as overseeing emergency response and handing down penalties.
Black NASCAR executives, race event personnel, and team owners - themselves rare - know that the sport has a long way to go before a diverse talent pool is acceptably exposed to, engaged with, and celebrated by the world of motorsports.
But these pioneers are paving the way for future progress.