Wendell oliver scott, sr 19211990 find a grave memorial. Wendell scott is the only african american driver who has been inducted into the nascar hall of fame 2015. 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. Feb 02, 2016 on december 1st, 1963, scott was the first african american driver to win a nascar premier series race, at speedway park in jacksonville, florida. May 26, 2011 with african american race car driver bill lesters historic win at the grandam road racing, the light has now been shined on other black racers who have been blazing trails in the whitewashed. Stock car racing driver wendell scott posthumously became the first african american inducted into the nascar hall of fame in 2015. On may 21, 2014, his accomplishments were recognized as he. Wendell scott race car driver africanamerican driver nascar. For a sport, like all others, that was finding its way through color barriers, his win was an important historical marker. Nascar media groups docudrama about the first african american to win in nascar. May 23, 1952, the next day, scott became the first african american driver in a stock car race similar to what we know today as the sprint cup series.
Jan 16, 2018 therefore, he will be the first black driver to have a significant shot at winning a cup race since the late wendell scott became the only one to visit a cup victory lane in december 1963. Scott made history as the only black driver to win a race in a nascar grand national now spring cup division. Announced last may, the news finally became official. Racecar driver wendell scott helped break the color barrier. Get the best deals on wendell scott when you shop the largest online selection at. Therefore, he will be the first black driver to have a significant shot at winning a cup race since the late wendell scott became the only one to visit a cup victory lane in december 1963. Wendell scott drove during the jim crow era, and he was the first africanamerican to win a race at nascars elite major league level. Then, in 1961, scott took over the auto racing license of. The carolina vintage stock car racing association appeared in the film. Wendell scott is regarded as the most prolific africanamerican racecar driver to ever hit the track.
On may 21, 2014, his accomplishments were recognized as he became the first african american driver elected to. May 24, 2019 in early 2018, bubba wallace became the first african american to race in the daytona 500 since wendell scott in 1969. Scott drove during the jim crow era, and he was the first africanamerican to win a race at nascars elite major league level. The first african american to race on the nascar circuit, scott was the victim of a lot of rough racing throughout the 1950s and 60s. Timeless races back to the 50s in darlington history.
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. Memorial highway in danville, virginia, his hometown. Wendell oliver scott was an american stock car racing driver from danville, virginia. This date marks the birth of wendell scott in 1921. Wendell oliver scott blended driving talent and determination into a long career on the otherwise allwhite nascar grand national tour. Nascar halloffamer helped open the track for black drivers. Get the best deals on wendell scott when you shop the. May 21, 2020 racecar driver wendell scott helped break the color barrier throughout his career.
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. Born in danville, virginia, he scrimped and saved to buy his first car, a model t, at age fourteen. On sunday at the daytona 500, wallace will start in seventh. Wendell scott drove during the jim crow era, and he was the first african american to win a race at. During most of his career he was the only africanamerican driver in. Wendell scott race car driver africanamerican driver nascar old postcard. Jan 30, 2015 the nascar hall of fame inducts an african american driver for the first time friday night. Even mainstream media outlets have come to speak to him, nascars first fulltime africanamerican driver since wendell scott in 1971. Scott became the first africanamerican fulltime driver in nascar history when. In 2012, scott was also the first black race car driver on the nomination ballot for the nascar hall of fame. His most infamous wreck, a multi car pileup at the talladega speedway, left scott with fractures to his pelvis, leg. This week, nascar posthumously honored the late wendell scott by inducting him into its hall of fame. His most infamous wreck, a multicar pileup at the talladega speedway, left scott with fractures to his pelvis, leg, knees and ribs and forced him out of the sport forever.
Racecar driver wendell scott began his career in the southern u. 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. Wendell oliver scott august 29, 1921 december 23, 1990 was an american stock car racing driver from danville, virginia. He was an independent driver racing against factorybacked drivers. Wendell scott was a pioneer in the sport of auto racing as the first black fulltime driver on the nascar circuit. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, he poured his heart, soul, and all of his earnings into maintaining his own race car. 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 was the jackie robinson of nascar, a black pioneer.
Meet the influential africanamerican drivers in nascars. As you can imagine, scott s career wasnt made easy. Hall of famer wendell scott was nascars first black driver and even won a race on the grand national circuit. Nascar drives diversity with black history milestones nbc news. He is the only black driver to win a race in what is now the sprint cup. Wendell scott becomes first africanamerican driver elected to. Racecar driver wendell scott helped break the color barrier throughout his career. Wallace is set to become the first fulltime africanamerican driver to race in the nascar cup series since wendell scott in 1971. Wendell scott, t he only black driver in nascar for virtually all of his career, probably earned more respect than he did money. Black history month auto racer scott wendell of danville, va. Scott was the first fulltime african american driver to run the. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, he poured his heart, soul. Scott, the first and only africanamerican driver to win a nascar cup series race, was honored with the wendell o. This week, the commonwealth of virginia honored black race car driver wendell scott with his own highway marker in danville.
Wendell scott race car driver africanamerican driver. With african american race car driver bill lesters historic win at the grandam road racing, the light has now been shined on other black racers who have been blazing trails in. 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 scott began his racing career in local circuits and attained his nascar license in around 1953, making him the first africanamerican. The incredible story of wendell scott, nascars first. That was in 1963, when pervasive racial prejudice repeatedly thwarted his efforts. Wendell scotts road to nascar immortality your aaa network. They asked the local police who was the best, and all fingers pointed to scott. Richard pryor starred in a 1977 movie called greased lightning that loosely chronicled. The incredible story of wendell scott, nascars first black.
In 1963, wendell scott became the first african american to win a race in nascars top division. Wendell oliver scott was from danville, virginias crooktown section. He was one of the first africanamerican drivers in nascar, and the first africanamerican to win a race in the grand national. In 1973 len founded the black american racers association bara with wendell scott, ron hines, and malcolm durham, to unify african americans involved in all types of motorsportsstock car, openwheel, and drag racing. Wendell scott faced discrimination from nascar, but kept winning anyway. He is the only black to win a majorleague nascar race. 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. In 1952, scott became the first africanamerican to compete in an official stock car race.
On december 1st, 1963, scott was the first africanamerican driver to win a nascar premier series race, at speedway park in jacksonville, florida. Jan 28, 2011 wendell scott was the first african american driver to win a nascar race. 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. Scott was born august 29, 1921 in danville, virginia. With richard pryor, beau bridges, pam grier, cleavon little. His career was a constant struggle with low budgets.
Inside our museum, were all about preserving history, and wendell scott is full of it. Wendell scott is the only africanamerican driver who has been inducted into the nascar hall of fame 2015. Bubba wallace to be first africanamerican driver at. The true life story of wendell scott, the first black stock. The true life story of wendell scott, the first black stock car racing driver to win an upper tier nascar race. Wendell scott was the jackie robinson of nascar, a black. He was the first african american driver in nascar and the first. At the time, the race car business was slow in danville when track owners decided to hire an african american driver. May 23, 1952, the next day, scott became the first africanamerican driver in a stock car race similar to what we know today as the sprint cup series. At the same time, he became the first fulltime africanamerican driver in the top nascar series since 1971. Wendell scott was the first africanamerican driver to win a nascar race.
At the same time, he became the first fulltime african american driver in the top nascar series since 1971. Nascar drives diversity with black history milestones. Wendell scott becomes first africanamerican driver. Scott was the first african american driver in the history of nascar to win a race in what would become its sprint cup series nascars top level of achievement. 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. Meet the influential africanamerican drivers in nascars cup. This meant he never drove a new car, often buying last. Wendell oliver scott august 29, 1921 december 23, 1990 was an american stock car racing driver. Pages in category african american racing drivers the following 22 pages are in this category, out of 22 total. Africanamerican nascar driver raced like a great artist.
His father worked for wealthy white families as a read more wendell oliver scott 19211990. Wendell scott race car driver african american driver nascar old postcard. The daytona 500 on sunday will be his first race in that. Scott began his racing career in local circuits and attained his nascar license in around 1953, making him the first africanamerican. 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. The indy 500 didnt allow a black driver to enter the race until 1991. Scott was from danville, virginias crooktown section. Scott was the first fulltime africanamerican driver to run the. Wendell scott was the first africanamerican nascar driver to race at the cup level on a longterm basis, but historical sources which dig a little deeper typically list charlie scott no relation to wendell, as the first africanamerican driver ever to compete in a cup race. He would go on to win 120 races in lower divisions, all while continually being denied entry into the nascar circuit because of his race.
Jan, 2015 wendell scott was a pioneer in the sport of auto racing as the first black fulltime driver on the nascar circuit. His father worked for wealthy white families as a driver and automechanic, and started teaching his son about cars at a very young age. In 2015, wendell scott became the first african american person inducted in the nascar hall of fame. At the time, the race car business was slow in danville when track owners decided to hire an africanamerican driver. He was the first african american stock car racer, beginning racing in nascars winston cup division in 1961. Richard pryor portayed him in motion picture greased lightening. No other black driver has won a top nascar race since, but the sport is starting to diversify. In 1953, wendell scott became the first african american to obtain a nascar racing license. Feb 24, 2011 nascar media groups docudrama about the first african american to win in nascar. Jan 16, 2018 hall of famer wendell scott was nascars first black driver and even won a race on the grand national circuit.