Figure 1 NASCAR has not always been regarded as inclusive in the past – Source: Unsplash
It is probably fair to say that when it comes to NASCAR, most non-fans have a somewhat stereotypical view of the kinds of people who enjoy attending events, as well as who are involved in the sport itself. NASCAR may be one of the biggest sports organizations in the US but it has a particular image that it has been largely unable to shake over the years.
It is not as if NASCAR has not tried to change the way it is seen though. Individual motorsports companies introduced their own inclusion directives in the 1990s and NASCAR followed with their own Drive for Diversity program, which was eventually implemented in 2004. The aim of the program was to introduce more minority and women involvement in the sport and ultimately produce a more diverse range of drivers. Like anything worth doing, it has taken time to bear fruit. But there is no doubt now that the program has been a success.
With the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series now underway, fans are enjoying seeing their heroes in action once again. It promises to be another exhilarating year of high-octane action and the best NASCAR betting sites are already doing a roaring trade. We thought it would be an excellent time to remind old and new fans alike of some of the African-American drivers who have transformed NASCAR over the years.
Elias Bowie
He may have only ever started one NCS race but Elias Bowie made history in 1955 when that involvement meant that he is now credited with being the first African-American to race in NASCAR. Discovery of his exploits just 20 years ago meant that Bowie beat Charlie Scott – who was previously believed to be the first – by just six months.
Bowie was a fun-loving character by all accounts and certainly made the most of his time in the spotlight. He apparently brought along the largest pit crew to the Bay Meadows Racetrack in San Mateo, California on July 31, 1955. He finished in 28th place and never got to race in NASCAR again. His exploits have gone down in history, however, and his love of driving carried on throughout his life.
Wendell Scott
Growing up in 1920s Virginia, Wendell Scott promised himself that he would avoid the back-breaking work of many of his contemporaries and used a love of cars to train himself as a mechanic. It was his expert knowledge that allowed him to enter a different world from his peers and he soon became interested in racing cars as well.
He towed his own car to NASCAR races in the 1950s but was refused admission on a number of occasions before finally being allowed to race in 1961. He had become the first African-American to receive a NASCAR license eight years earlier. Scott’s talent was undeniable and in just two years he became the first Black driver and team owner to win at NASCAR’s elite level when he finished first in a Grand National Series race at Speedway Park in Jacksonville, Florida.
Although he didn’t ever win another top-ranking race – and suffered all kinds of racist abuse during his career – Scott went on to start 509 National Cup Series races and was posthumously inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2015.
Bill Lester
When it comes to cars, Bill Lester was an experienced professional but only ever started two National Cup Series races in NASCAR. But it was in the Truck Series where Lester really made his mark, starting over 140 of them in a nine-year career. During that time, he was the only African-American driver in the field.
Lester began racing professionally at the beginning of the 1990s and competed in a number of organizations as well as in the 24 Hours of Daytona three times before the end of the decade. It was in the 2000s that he switched to trucks and became a familiar face around the racetracks. He may not have won a truck race but he did manage to be in the top ten a few times and continued racing into his 50s before working for NASCAR.
Figure 2 Diversity programs have really helped open NASCAR to all – Source: Pixabay
Bubba Wallace
William Darrell Wallace Jr., better known as “Bubba”, is the best-known African-American driver in NASCAR today. He started racing entry-level competitions when he was just nine and progressed through the system, becoming part of NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity program in 2010.
Wallace continued to impress in the Xfinity and Craftsman Truck Series throughout the 2010s and became the first African-American driver since Bill Lester to compete in a National Cup Series race when he replaced the injured Aric Almirola for the Richard Petty Motorsports team at the Pocono Raceway in 2017.
Wallace has since raced in over 360 races in all levels of NASCAR, winning eight – including two National Cup Series race victories. He has been a vocal critic of some of the out-of-date activities still present in the sport and acts as an inspiration to any young driver – no matter what their color – starting off in motorsports.
Drivers of the Future
The men profiled here are just some of the drivers who have changed the face of NASCAR, with some using the important Drive for Diversity program to make the sport more inclusive. There are now other young African-American men competing at Xfinity and Truck Series level, continuing on the tradition and showing the world that NASCAR is for everyone.
