*Post by Race Review Online historian Jim Smith

The first half of 2020 will go down in history as the year of the coronavirus and the ugly results of racism in the United States. All sports including auto racing came to a standstill because of the coronavirus. NASCAR has been the leader in the reopening of auto racing before empty grandstands and everything has been positive. Then a few weeks ago because of an incident involving a policeman and a black man there have been nation wide protests that eventually affected NASCAR. 

  The history of racism is not new to NASCAR and its race teams. When NASCAR was first formed in 1949 Big Bill France disliked the bootleggers that ran moonshine whiskey and what they stood for. He wanted NASCAR to distance itself from them and he tried to discredit their accomplishments as great race car drivers. Also, black race drivers were forbidden to race in a NASCAR sanctioned event.

 

   There are only eight black men that have started at least one NASCAR event. They are Randy Bethea, Elias Bowie, Bill Lester, Willy T. Ribbs, Charlie Scott, Wendell Scott, George Wiltshire and today Bubba Wallace. Wendell Scott was one of the first African- Americans to start a NASCAR event and the first African-American to win a NASCAR event.

 

   Wendell Oliver Scott of Danville, Virginia was born on August 29, 1921 and died on December 23, 1990 of spinal cancer. After the war he ran an auto repair shop in Danville and as a sideline he took up running moonshine whiskey. He was only caught once in 1949 and put on three years probation. He continued to run moonshine whiskey and on weekends he attended auto races in Danville.

 

   He began racing at local tracks around Danville, but when he towed his race car to Winston-Salem, North Carolina NASCAR officials refused to let him race. He was told black race drivers were not allowed to race in NASCAR events. A few days later he towed his race car to High Point, North Carolina and the scene was repeated. He continued to race at local non- NASCAR tracks. Those were the first of many incidents of racism that would plague him for the rest of his career.

 

   He eventually received his NASCAR license from a steward at the old Richmond Raceway, who had the authority to issue a NASCAR license. He asked Wendell if he knew what he was getting into and Wendell said “I can take it.” The officials at NASCAR headquarters were not pleased, but the decision stood.

 

   He eventually met Big Bill France in 1954. It was after a NASCAR event where the promoter paid all the white race driver’s $15.00 tow money and refused to give Wendell any tow money. When he met Big Bill he informed him of what had happened. Big Bill immediately pulled money out of his pocket and informed him that he was a NASCAR member and his skin color had nothing to do with anything. He then gave Wendell $30.00 instead of $15.00.

 

   He moved up to the Grand National Series (now called NASCAR Cup Series) in 1961 and in 1963 finished 15th in points. That year on December 1, he won at Speedway Park in Jacksonville, Florida to become the first and only to date, African-American to win at NASCAR’s premier level. In 1964 he finished 12th in points, 1965 11th, 1966 6th, 1967 10th, and 9th in 1968 and 1969. He was forced to retire because of injuries suffered at Talladega in 1973. He made one start in 1974 at Charlotte and finished 12th.

 

   He was exposed to racism and racial slurs throughout his career, but his struggles as an under financed race driver won him thousands of white fans as well as his fellow drivers. His determination to overcome all the adversity that he faced won the admiration and recognition of many top racing officials.

 

  A movie called “Greased Lightning” starring Richard Pryor as Wendell Scott was based on Scott’s biography.

 

   In 2000 he became a member of The Virginia Sports Hall of Fame and Museum. He was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2015 along with Bill Elliot, Fred Lorenzen, Joe Weatherly and Rex White. 

 

  In a 13 year career he had 1 win, 20 top five and 147 top ten finishes in 495 career Grand National starts. He broke racial barriers in NASCAR and overcame racism and prejudice by using his own driving talent and mechanical skills.

 

   Today NASCAR is faced with racism and they are making a statement by their actions and press releases by telling the world that they will not tolerate it. What many people don’t realize is that real race fans don’t judge race drivers by their skin color. Race drivers are judged by their talent level and many times their personalities both on and off the track.

 

   All race cars have one thing in common. They do not know a race drivers age, skin color, sex, sexual preference or nationality. They only recognize driving talent. Treat them kindly and they will be a driver’s best friend. Treat them badly and they will bite back and sometimes the consequences can be severe. The choice is up to the driver.