Wendell scott, nascars first black driver, a pioneer in american sports history. Wendell scott raced into history 46 years ago bleacher. Wendell scott in 1963, the year he became the first african american driver to win in nascars premier series. Wendell scott, the nascar driver who made history the atlantic. He was one of the first africanamerican drivers in nascar, and the first africanamerican to win a race in the grand national series, nascars highest level. But when scott passed petty and later claimed the win, the atmosphere chilled even more. Although scott, one of the first black nascar drivers, finished the race one lap ahead of secondplace driver buck baker, it was baker who was initially declared the winner of the race after top level race officials noticed scorecard errors. Wendell scott was the jackie robinson of nascar, a black. Wendell scott faced discrimination from nascar, but kept winning anyway. Inside our museum, were all about preserving history, and wendell scott is full of it. Well, wendell scott was the first black race car driver in nascar to win a grand national todays cup series race.
Wendell scott, the nascar driver who made history the. Wendell scott fought against inequality in nascar, but injustices still exist in many parts of our world today. His national association for stock car auto racing nascar win occurred in 1963 on the jacksonville speedway in florida. His son and grandson remember what it was like for wendell as one of the first africanamerican drivers.
If you ever saw the richard pryor movie greased lightening that was the hollywood version of wendells life. Though he wasnt able to fully actualize his talenthe had to miss several races a year because of racings racist culturehe still. Wendell scott was one of the greatest drivers of his time. Just last season alone we saw several underdogs like trevor bayne and regan smith win races that no one expected them to win. The true life story of wendell scott, the first black stock.
The first african american to race on the nascar circuit. He was the first africanamerican driver in nascar, and the first africanamerican to win a race in the grand national series now the sprint cup series, nascars highest level. Mar 02, 2018 the nascar community will honor pioneer wendell scott, whose first monster energy nascar cup series start came 57 years ago, this weekend at las vegas motor speedway. He was also an underfunded independent who loved racing but struggled throughout his life. In 2015, wendell scott became the first african american person inducted in the nascar hall of fame. His son and grandson remember what it was like for wendell as one of the first. With richard pryor, beau bridges, pam grier, cleavon little. He debuted in the grand national series on march 4, 1961, in spartanburg, south carolina. Like many of the early nascar drivers, wendell scott started out hauling moonshine in a souped up car he maintained himself. Wendell scott had a lot working against him in his career as a grand national nascar national association for stock car auto racing driver. Wendell scott made history in 1952 at the danville fairgrounds speedway, where he was the first black to compete in the stock car racing competition. Scott began his racing career in local circuits and attained his nascar license in around 1953, making him the first africanamerican ever to compete in nascar. A historical marker near his former shop lists his accomplishments, and the. On december 1st, 1963, scott was the first africanamerican driver to win a nascar premier series race, at speedway park in jacksonville, florida.
This meant he never drove a new car, often buying last. In nascars storied history, fans have watched thousands of races and seen hundreds of winners. He was an independent driver racing against factorybacked drivers. Remembering wendell scotts lone nascar win 51 years later. Wendell scott was issued a nascar license for the first time and allowed to compete at the old richmond speedway in virginia, either in 19521953. Hall of famer wendell scott was nascars first black driver and even won a race on the grand national circuit. The story of wendell scott, the first black driver. Wendell oliver scott was an american stock car racing driver. Wendell scott was a pioneering figure for nascar as the first black driver to earn a nascar license. Thats because wendell scott is known as the man who broke the color. Kyle petty visited danville, a town located 33 miles east of martinsville, to talk with the family of nascar hall of famer wendell scott, the only africanamerican driver to win a premier level. See more ideas about wendell scott, nascar racing and nascar. Wendell scott, nascars africanamerican driver ran his first race in the 1961 spartanburg 200 there have been a lot of underdogs to come and go throughout nascar s history.
Wendell scott was the first african american inducted into the nascar national association for stock car auto racing hall of fame located in charlotte, north carolina. Wendell scott was the first black driver in nascar and the first to win a race at its highest level. Drivers, nascar to honor wendell scott this weekend. Wendell scott began his career, as did many drivers of the era, off the track. Published on mar 7, 2018 wendell scott began his career racing cars in the south during the jim crow era in 1952. His career was a constant struggle with low budgets.
Wendell scott never saw the checkered flag wave after his first, and only, nascar win. After working as a taxi driver and a moonshine runner, wendell oliver scott august 28, 1921december 23, 1990 began racing professionally late in the 1940s. Meet nascars first african american driver and winner. In addition to being the first black driver inducted to the hall of fame, he was also the first black driver to compete on the nascar grand national series and was also the. The nascar crash that ended a career they say nascars heroes of the 1950s and 60s were just everyday men who liked driving a little fast. Wendell oliver scott august 29, 1921 december 23, 1990 was an american stock car racing driver. The nascar community will honor pioneer wendell scott, whose first monster energy nascar cup series start came 57 years ago, this weekend at las vegas motor speedway. Wendell scott, t he only black driver in nascar for virtually all of his career, probably earned more respect than he did money. Wendell oliver scott was the first african american race car driver to win a race in what would now be considered part of the sprint cup series. Wendell scott began his career racing cars in the south during the jim crow era in 1952. The true life story of wendell scott, the first black stock car racing driver to win an upper tier nascar race. Wendell scott by ned jarrett information on collecting cars.
His son and grandson remember what it was like for wendell as one of the first africanamerican drivers in. Acting as a driver and his own mechanic he gained the admiration of fans and fellow drivers through his grit and determination to be successful in a sport deeplyentrenched in the jim crow south. If theres one thing to know about wendell oliver scott, its that he was born to drive scott was born in danville, va. Wendell scott raced into history 46 years ago bleacher report. At this race in 55, our heroes team up with wendell scott, who in a roughly decadelong career as a driver, raced to 20 topfive finishes and one firstplace win. Wendell scott embodied that persona and more on his way to becoming one the sports trailblazing drivers who was involved in an infamous 1973 nascar crash. Wendell scott raced stock cars in 506 winston cup grand nationals from 1961 to 1973 as the first black man to do so at that level and only one of three to race before 1990. In january 20, scott was awarded his own historical marker in danville, virginia. See more ideas about wendell scott, race cars and nascar. The story of wendell scott, nascars first black hall of. His father worked as a mechanic and driver in segregationera virginia, and was known as a man who loved pushing vehicles to their limits. Scotts accomplishments on the racetrack will finally be recognized after he was announced as the first black nascar hall of fame inductee for its 2015 class.
Jun 27, 2010 wendell scott never saw the checkered flag wave after his first, and only, nascar win. Thats because wendell scott is known as the man who broke the color barrier in stock car racing and he did so in 1963 when he became the first and still the only black driver to win a race in. Other career highlights include finishing sixth in the xfinity series 2016 season opener at daytona and making four starts for richard petty motorsports as a relief driver in 2017 in the monster energy cup series. The group promoted black driver development and also honored black drivers, mechanics and others in auto racing. By steven thompson it was a cold reception that race car driver wendell scott received on that unseasonably cold day of dec. Scott wasnt the first africanamerican to compete in nascars premier division, but he was the first to be a fulltime competitor. He learned about cars at a young age from his automechanic father. Scott, the first black driver to compete in nascar, was an honorary chairman. Wendell scott was the jackie robinson of nascar, a black pioneer. He made 23 starts that season, posting five topfive finishes.
Martin luther king blvd, charlotte, north carolina 28202. Albertsons became the teams new sponsor and after a change to toyota they end the year strong with five toptens in the last seven races, including a secondplace finish at. Scott made his first start in nascars premier series on march 4, 1961 at piedmont interstate fairgrounds in spartanburg, s. Wendell scott, who broke nascar racial barriers, gets sports ultimate honor the danville, va. For nascar driver wendell scott, 46 years ago on december 1, 1963 he won his first nascar race and his only. Nascar wendell scott raced into history 46 years ago. He was one of the first africanamerican drivers in nascar, and the first. In addition to being the first black driver inducted to the hall of fame, he was also the first black driver to compete on the nascar grand national series and was also the first black driver to win on nascars highest level. Acting as a driver and his own mechanic he gained the admiration of fans and fellow drivers through his grit and determination to be successful in a. Wendell scotts road to nascar immortality andrew sheldon february, 2020 wendell scott poses for a portrait in his car as he became the first africanamerican driver to win in the nascar cup division with a victory in 1963 at jacksonville speedway park in jacksonville, florida. Nascar driver wendell scott began his career in the south during the jim crow era in 1952. Wendell scott by ned jarrett information on collecting.
Jan 16, 2018 hall of famer wendell scott was nascar s first black driver and even won a race on the grand national circuit. If so, you should know a bit about the sports history, even if some parts arent so pretty. Dec 07, 2010 wendell oliver scott was the first african american race car driver to win a race in what would now be considered part of the sprint cup series. Jan 30, 2020 2015 wendell scott was inducted into the nascar hall of fame on january 30, 2015. His father worked for wealthy white families as a driver and automechanic, and started teaching his son about cars at a very young age. The markers statement will be persevering over prejudice.
Scott was born august 29, 1921 in danville, virginia. Nearly every driver was white, with the notable exception of danville, virginias wendell scott, who compiled. Wendell scott was a pioneer in the sport of auto racing as the first black fulltime driver on the nascar circuit. Wendell inherited his fathers need for speed, and combined with a desire to avoid a career in a cotton mill, it drove him to become the first african american driver in nascar historyand the first to. Hall of famer wendell scott was nascars first black driver and. Scott was raised by his father in danville, virginia, who worked as a mechanic and a driver for the wealthy whites in the community. Mar 07, 2018 wendell scott began his career racing cars in the south during the jim crow era in 1952. In october 20, he broke wendell scotts record with a nascar camping world truck series win at martinsville speedway. May 24, 2019 in october 20, he broke wendell scott s record with a nascar camping world truck series win at martinsville speedway.
Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, he poured his heart, soul, and all of his earnings into maintaining his own race car. Only this one winner is about one driver, who for a moment in. Wendell scott poses for a portrait in his car as he became the first africanamerican driver to win in the nascar cup division with a victory in 1963 at jacksonville speedway park in jacksonville. The incredible story of wendell scott, nascars first. Owners of the danville raceway approached scott about racing, with hopes of increasing african american attendance at their events. Scott then made his nascar debut at the smiths las vegas 350 and in 2008 moved to the trucks fulltime to run for and eventually finish second for the rookie of the year. Scott, who broke the color barrier on the speedway in a time of searing racial prejudice and upheaval. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, he poured his heart, soul. Apr 06, 2010 thats because wendell scott is known as the man who broke the color barrier in stock car racing and he did so in 1963 when he became the first and still the only black driver to win a race in. Jan, 2015 wendell scott was a pioneer in the sport of auto racing as the first black fulltime driver on the nascar circuit. Scott was the first african american driver to compete in nascar, and today, the organization is more diverse than ever.
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