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Posts tagged as “Darrell Wallace Jr.”

Teen Making History as 4th Black Driver in NASCAR

By goodblacknews on February 19, 2013
Darrell Wallace, Jr., driver of the #18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, poses with the Coors Pole award after qualifying for pole position for the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East American Real TV 150 at Dover International Speedway on September 28, 2012 in Dover, Delaware. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Darrell Wallace, Jr., driver of the #18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, poses with the Coors Pole award after qualifying for pole position for the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East American Real TV 150 at Dover International Speedway on September 28, 2012 in Dover, Delaware. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images for NASCAR)

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Darrell Wallace Jr., is set to make history as only the fourth black driver with a full-time ride in a NASCAR series.  Wallace takes the wheel for the Truck Series race Friday at Daytona International Speedway. He is signed with Joe Gibbs Racing and will drive the No. 54 Toyota for Kyle Busch Motorsports.
Wallace joins Wendell Scott, Willy T. Ribbs and Bill Lester as the only full-time black drivers in the 65-year history of NASCAR. Scott, one of the original pioneers, is the only black driver to win a race.  Wallace, the son of a white father and black mother, openly talks of becoming the Tiger Woods of NASCAR. He wants to become a star who can transcend the sport and prove people of all colors can race.
Copyright 2013 Dan Gelston, The Associated Press via thegrio.com

Darrell “Bubba” Wallace Jr. Becomes First African-American And Youngest Driver To Win NASCAR Event

By goodblacknews on March 28, 2010
NASCAR driver Darrell “Bubba” Wallace Jr. at the Road America 180.

History was made Saturday night in NASCAR—though most people may not know of it and who the subject of it is.

Darrell “Bubba” Wallace Jr. was brought into NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity program and on Saturday, made his debut in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East in the Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet 150 at Greenville Pickens Speedway.

Wallace Jr. ran well all night long and on the final lap of the race, he made the move and took the lead from fellow rookie Cole Whitt to cross the finish line first and win the race.

With this win, Wallace Jr. became the first African-American to win in series history and the youngest winner ever in the K&N Pro Series East (16 years, 5 months, and 19 days).

The previous youngest winner with Brett Moffitt (16 years, 9 months, and 27 days) with his win last season at South Boston Speedway.

Wallace Jr. also gave the Drive for Diversity program its first East victory in history. The program had accomplished two wins previously in the K&N Pro Series West, yet this marked on the East side.

Wallace Jr. started racing when he was nine years old and in 2005, he won 35 of the 48 Bandolero races he entered. He won the championship that year and became the first driver in history to win all six races of Charlotte Motor Speedway’s Winter Heat on the way to the title.

In 2006, he moved up to the Late Models and registered 11 wins and 34 top 10s in 38 races.

In 2007, he moved up to the late model division and competed in a variety of tracks. In 2008, his late model career took off as he became the youngest Late Model feature winner at Franklin County Speedway. His 2009 season included three wins and 11 top fives in 23 starts, nine of which were UARA Late Model races.

In 2010, he was pinned to be one of the Drive for Diversity Program drivers and is also a development driver for Joe Gibbs Racing. Joe Gibbs Racing has already pulled talents like Joey Logano and Matt DiBenedetto from the K&N Pro Series in the past.