Finally! A black man is today's Nascar!

[dirtybird91]

I'm sure some of you have heard that Dodge has a black driver in Nascar now! It's about time someone sponsored a minority. I just hope that he can hang on out there, and that the rest of the crowd dosn't gang up on him. This type of racing does not have a lot of minorities around, but I hope this will "break the ice". I detest racism and this should open some eyes around Nascar. I live near Bristol Motor Speedway and I run into the stares and crap like that everytime I go around a race being that i'm black. It's quite unfortunate, and too bad that racism exists among different creeds, and colors. My hat off to DODGE!
I even feel guilty for using the term "riceboy" due to my differences with imports. I will not be doing that anymore. I was wrong for making those statements. :mad:
Does anyone know the driver's name?

[tbirdsc35th]

If I'm not mistaken, you are talking about Bill Lester. Here is a link to an article about him. He was mentioned last night on national news, or was it my local? Can't remember.

http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/sports/columnists/mark_story/3647655.htm

Have a great weekend.

[dirtybird91]

Yeah that's the guy! I appreciate the link. I don't usually keep up with Nascar, but I think I will follow this guy to see what happens!

[SC Ward]

I think you're referring to Bill Lester,
in Craftsman Truck Series Dodge #8.

http://www.nascar.com/drivers/dps/blester00/ct/bio.html

Willie T Ribbs drove the #4 Dodge CTS for Bobby Hamilton team for the '01 season, but was replaced by Lester for 2002.

Dr Pepper was a major sponsor of the Busch series team owned by Joe Washington and Julius Erving back in 97, but it didn't hold together into the next season.

I heard Jackie J Kersey was putting together a minority owned Busch team, but don't know how far it's gotten.

Nascar has become a huge sport, and should reflect more diversity. But it's a long and expensive road to work up to Winston Cup level, and hard to make a name and recruit sponsors, even at lower levels. Dodge deserves credit for its Nascar Diversity Program.

[SC Ward]

Haha,
Lance beat me to it while i was searching around. :-)

[dirtybird91]

Man, you are sure right about that. Dodge deserves major credit for that move because black people buy lots of thier cars!;) Dodge will be rewarded for doing that. I am wondering which Dodge I would like to have. Hmmmm.... now a Viper would be nice! Also I heard that the GTO will be here soon. Or was it the Charger??? :D I will always keep my SC but i'm really vibing with Dodge right now!
Also thanks for the additional link and have a great weekend!;)

[Mike Puckett]

Let's not forget Wendel Scott from the 60's. He was the pioneer and raced despite what was against him and won once, too. He epitomized what Nascar was all about in those days. Check out the movie starring Richard Pryor if you haven't seen it yet.

[90sc35thann]

Nascar isn't racist. I think that the reason we don't see more diversity is because of the amount of money it takes to get involved in a sport like that. For example in order to get involved in any type of racing you need lots of money. Unfortunately there aren't many minority families with lots of disposable income laying around to help their children get involved in such an expensive sport. TO think of it there aren't many non-minorites with that kind of cash either. Most of these drivers come from long lines of racing in their families histories and they have that cash to help them get established. You don't see many parents in urban areas buying their children race cars and saying go out there son/daughter and see what you got. It's just way too much money for any race of people. Take a look at any racing and minorities really aren't that well represented. I look at James Stewart (motocross racer, very young and bright, has a great future in front of him) and that sport doesn't require any where near the amount of money that Stock car racing does to get in to. I don't think that the minorities that have enough money(I may be wrong) to get involved in racing are interested in getting involved. I may be wrong, but I know that there are many high profile athletes of other sports with the money to burn and I don't see them getting involved. I am sure they have the clout with the press and their agents if they were to want to get involved they could do it. There is no way Nascar would want to deal with all of that bad press. I am sure nascar would love to have a minroty showing because it would only help their ratings in the long run. My .02 worth but I just think there are so many factors involved that we could have a 2-3 hour long conversation about it and still have more ideas and suggestions to discuss.

[dirtybird91]

Of couse everyone that is in or around the world of Nascar is not racist, and it would take someone who is very ignorant to suggest that. I am simply stating that there has been little participation by minorities, and I hope the presence of this new "black" driver will help to break the ice some.
It's also easy to ignore racism when you are not a minority, so as a "black" man I can tell you first hand how I was treated at some races. I am definately not implying that all of Nascar is racist, because that would be dumb man.
Minorities are a factor in most major sporting events, and it's not all about money when it comes to Nascar either. It's about a good Company like Dodge stepping up to the plate and sponsoring a minority. How many companies have even thought of taking a chance like that in Nascar??? NONE!:eek: We don't need rich families, we just need sponsorship from humanitarians like those Dodge guys.
I once watched a program on TV where Dale Earnhart Jr. was irritated because some "good ole boys" were talking negativity about black people and how they could never compete in Nascar. What a crock! I wish I had a chance.:mad:

[GreenBirdLX]

I feel it is culture thing....you don't see many black race drivers or hockey players, just as you don't see very many whites with a slammed 60's chevys that have a chainlink steering wheel, crushed velvet interior, and gold wire wheels.

Just as you don't see very many riced out T-birds

[dirtybird91]

I sort of agree with that. It is mostly a culture thing. I think that it's kind of different than the way you are comparing it though. There are lots of minorities who dream of racing for Nascar. I don't personally know many that want to be hockey players.(too violent!) just joking!:D
Also, I think white people can vibe with a slammed Chevy! My friends love that kind of thing, and they are all white. But they will drive about anything with wheels on it.:p
Ricing out an SC would be like defacing a national monument, but I have seen that too.:(

[tbirdboy]

It's great to see honest feelings and opinions presented here on this thread. Makes my proud to be part of a 1st class website like this here SCCOA. Won't really give my racial breakdown because I'm mixed with a few but I've always being a racing fan since I was a small punk building cheap wooden go-karts from busted up Big Wheels and Mean Green Machines. Now I'm a building a Super SC from other busted SC's just to go faster. When I turn on the Box and catch Jeff Gordon or Lil' E going at it the last thing on my mind is racial demographics. I love speed. I thrive on it. NASCAR, INDY, CART, F1 all get my blood pressure going. And thats why if a black person joins the ranks of those racing elite, he(or she) aren't there to fill some quota or affirmative action request. Their there due to exceptional skill level and ability and I wouldn't watch if it were otherwise. I wish this fella lots of luck.

[dirtybird91]

Well stated man. Very well stated. However; it does make me curious that you wish to keep your race a secret.:confused: I think that one should be proud of his or her background/race. Not saying that you are not, but that just sounded strange.:confused: Anyway, your reply was well stated and you have a good point. I wish everyone was so open minded.:cool:

[90sc35thann]

The sponsors don't pick up the entire tab in racing especially if you are new to the sport. it takes quite a bit of caiptal sponsor or not. My belief on why you don't see many minority racers is because most of the minority population is in the big cities. Since it is near impossible to get into racing living in the big cities most minorities focus their attention to sports that they can participate in such as football, basketball, baseball, etc. I think the same holds true why you don't see many minorities playing nhl ice hockey. The places to play are far too limited and minorities just aren't as interested in playing due to this reason. There aren't many race tracks inside big cities and the ones that do exist are there for major events not amateurs just learning how to drive. YOu just can't wake up one day and say I am going to race in NASCAR. You need to go to driving schools and build your own car and supply your own resources when you are just starting out and this requires quite a bit of capital. No major sponsor is going to shell out cash for someone with an unproven track record. You need to start out racing midgets and support yourself. Look how much money it costs just to make our cars fast. We don't race them day in and day out. If we did it would break our banksn just to keep up on them. Like anything else disposable capital is required. On another note we can't put racism behind us unless we let go of the past. it's like anything else you just can't move forward with any relationship without doing so. There will always be racist people out there. If we think otherwise we just might as well bury our heads in the sand. Racism exists all over the world. People like us need to look toward the future abd learn how to treat each other better. This is what it is all about. There is so much bad in the world that I think this is why we are all here. To learn how to treat each other. No matter how many minority athletes there are in pro sports, no matter how many minorities hold political office, and etc. will not change the past. We have all been victim from racism over time, the jewish people, the polish people, the chinese, the list goes on and on. The challenge for all of us is to move forward and ignore all of the racist biggots and realize that the only way to make them lose their voice is to not listen to them. If we all stop listening then they will have no reason to speak. Don't get me wrong I am not as dumb to think we should ignore idiots like this but I do believe the higher minded people shouldn't listen to people like this. None of us will be able to move forward unless we can let go of the past. It has to start somewhere with someone and it is our generation who will have to hold this torch if our future generations are to not have to deal with this as we do now. We all need to stop living in the past and the future and just concentrate on where we are right now.

[dirtybird91]

Right on man. I also don't want this post to lean totally on the rasism subject because it is a very good thing that a black man now drives a Nascar. This post is positive being that this news is good news. I think that this is a very good move in the right direction for all races.
dirtybirdie;)

[SC Ward]

I agree with most everything in this post,
but i just wanted to point out:

Since there is no genetic or cultural pre-determination
for poor taste and judgement in modding cars,
It's still perfectly acceptable to make fun of Rice-boys!
:D :D :D


The new Dodge Charger looks promising;
sexy looks, rear-wheel drive, and a small-block HEMI.
Here's a few links:
http://www.geocities.com/nathan7264/
http://www.edmunds.com/news/autoshows/articles/44460/page021.html
http://www.allpar.com/mopar/new-mopar-hemi.html

The GTO is a Pontiac nameplate.
Lacking any rearwheel-drive performance sedan,
[since it killed the fine 96 Impala SS,
after Ford killed our beloved SCs, :rolleyes:]
GM has decided to import a sport sedan from their Aussie
division, and it sounds like it might actually live up to its legendary namesake.
[So GM will probably screw it up.]
Got a ton of links searching Google for "new GTO", here's one:
http://www.motortrend.com/news/stories/020620.html

[dirtybird91]

I can relate to what you are talking about, but it still has racial undertones if you think about it seriously. "Riceboy" sounds like an attack on someones race whom is Asian to me. I will resort to referring to all the foriegn car lovers as "ricers". I don't mean that offensive to foriegn car lovers either, it's just a way to poke fun at them sometimes since my hobby is American cars. Foreign cars are some great pieces of work, and they seem to last forever.
"Ricers" does sound better being that I would be pissed if someone refered to me as "black-boy","boy", "colored boy", "the infamous "N" word, ect.
Get what I mean.:eek:

[tbirdboy]

Just for DB:eek: 1/2 rican,1/4 white,1/4 black. I am very proud of my hertiage as diverse as it is. As long as the pretty chicks keep hopping in my car brother, everything is alright. By the way RIP Adam. Looked like a really cool fella.

[dirtybird91]

Man, not that it matters, but I can't help but to wonder how diverse the SC world is???:confused: :confused: :confused:
Don't get me wrong, because I have love for you all!!;)
dirtyb:eek: