Trailblazing driver Wendell Oliver Scott, the first African-American driver elected to NASCAR’s Hall of Fame, was honored posthumously this week.
Saluted in the sixth class of inductees, Scott, the first African-American driver to win a race in what is now the Sprint Cup Series, was born in 1921 in Danville, Va. He died there in 1990.
In the movie “Greased Lightning,” Richard Pryor played Scott. The film was loosely based on Scott’s biography.
At the induction ceremony in Charlotte, N.C., Scott was introduced by racing legend Jeff Gordon, who announced last week this season will be his last.
“His is a story of perseverance and determination in the face of unimaginable obstacles,” Gordon said. “He fought through any and all hardships, and tonight he reaches NASCAR’s pinnacle.”
Scott was represented by his sons, Wendell Scott Jr., and Franklin.
“I would like to thank NASCAR for making this night possible, and their effort to improve diversity in NASCAR racing,” Franklin Scott said. “Wendell Scott fulfilled his destiny, and now we can proudly say that he is the first African-American inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. We must carry his legacy to even greater heights.”
Only six other African-American drivers are known to have started at least one race in what is now the Sprint Cup Series: Elias Bowie, Charlie Scott, George Wiltshire, Randy Bethea, Willy T. Ribbs and, most recently, Bill Lester, who made the field for races at Atlanta and Michigan in 2006. Those drivers have made a combined nine Cup starts.
Scott competed in NASCAR’s top series from 1961-73. In 1963 at Speedway Park in Jacksonville, Fla., he won his only race, taking the checkered flag in the 100-mile feature. He started 495 Sprint Cup events, racing to 147 top 10 finishes.
The first African-American driver to race full-time in NASCAR’s top series, Scott won more than 100 races at local tracks before making that step.
He dropped out of high school, became a taxi driver, married Mary Coles and served in the segregated Army in Europe during World War II. While running an auto-repair shop after the war, Scott – as a sideline – ran moonshine whiskey, an illegal trade that gave early stock car racers such as Junior Johnson and Big Bill France their education in building fast cars and outrunning the police.
In 1949, the police caught up with Scott. Sentenced to three years probation, he continued making his late-night whiskey runs. On weekends, he would go to the stock car races in Danville, sitting in the blacks-only section of the bleachers, and he would wish that he too could be racing on the speedway.
Inducted with Scott, were: Bill Elliot, NASCAR’s 1988 champion; Fred Lorenzen, one of NASCAR’s first superstars; Rex White, champion in 1960; and two-time champion Joe Weatherly, 1962 and 1963.
(This story includes an Associated Press report and research by The New Tri-State Defender staff.)
https://tsdmemphis.com/news/2015/jan/31/nascars-hall-fame-makes-room-wendell-scott/
Saluted in the sixth class of inductees, Scott, the first African-American driver to win a race in what is now the Sprint Cup Series, was born in 1921 in Danville, Va. He died there in 1990.
In the movie “Greased Lightning,” Richard Pryor played Scott. The film was loosely based on Scott’s biography.
At the induction ceremony in Charlotte, N.C., Scott was introduced by racing legend Jeff Gordon, who announced last week this season will be his last.
“His is a story of perseverance and determination in the face of unimaginable obstacles,” Gordon said. “He fought through any and all hardships, and tonight he reaches NASCAR’s pinnacle.”
Scott was represented by his sons, Wendell Scott Jr., and Franklin.
“I would like to thank NASCAR for making this night possible, and their effort to improve diversity in NASCAR racing,” Franklin Scott said. “Wendell Scott fulfilled his destiny, and now we can proudly say that he is the first African-American inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. We must carry his legacy to even greater heights.”
Only six other African-American drivers are known to have started at least one race in what is now the Sprint Cup Series: Elias Bowie, Charlie Scott, George Wiltshire, Randy Bethea, Willy T. Ribbs and, most recently, Bill Lester, who made the field for races at Atlanta and Michigan in 2006. Those drivers have made a combined nine Cup starts.
Scott competed in NASCAR’s top series from 1961-73. In 1963 at Speedway Park in Jacksonville, Fla., he won his only race, taking the checkered flag in the 100-mile feature. He started 495 Sprint Cup events, racing to 147 top 10 finishes.
The first African-American driver to race full-time in NASCAR’s top series, Scott won more than 100 races at local tracks before making that step.
He dropped out of high school, became a taxi driver, married Mary Coles and served in the segregated Army in Europe during World War II. While running an auto-repair shop after the war, Scott – as a sideline – ran moonshine whiskey, an illegal trade that gave early stock car racers such as Junior Johnson and Big Bill France their education in building fast cars and outrunning the police.
In 1949, the police caught up with Scott. Sentenced to three years probation, he continued making his late-night whiskey runs. On weekends, he would go to the stock car races in Danville, sitting in the blacks-only section of the bleachers, and he would wish that he too could be racing on the speedway.
Inducted with Scott, were: Bill Elliot, NASCAR’s 1988 champion; Fred Lorenzen, one of NASCAR’s first superstars; Rex White, champion in 1960; and two-time champion Joe Weatherly, 1962 and 1963.
(This story includes an Associated Press report and research by The New Tri-State Defender staff.)
https://tsdmemphis.com/news/2015/jan/31/nascars-hall-fame-makes-room-wendell-scott/
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