Bill Lester Makes NASCAR History
Kahne wins NASCAR pole at Atlanta, but Bill Lester scores a big win as well
By DAVID POOLE - The Charlotte Observer
HAMPTON, Ga. - If Bill Lester had been born in 1981, he might very well be among the big stories in NASCAR these days.
In the days of increased diversity efforts in the sport, a young, college-educated African American driver with a healthy dose of talent and determination would almost certainly be among racing's hottest commodities.
But even though Lester is 45, not 25, he still made headlines Friday at Atlanta Motor Speedway by earning a spot for Sunday's Golden Corral 500, becoming the first African-American driver in nearly 20 years to qualify for a Cup race.
"This is essentially the culmination of a very long dream I've had to race at the top level of professional motorsports," said Lester, who will be the sixth African American all time to race in NASCAR's top series, the first since Willy T. Ribbs ran at Michigan in June 1986. "There have been a lot of doubters and nay-sayers along the way. I'm happy that I stuck to my guns.
"This night means a lot to me."
Lester's lap at 190.502 mph was the 19th fastest overall lap on an evening in which Kasey Kahne also denied Ryan Newman a seventh straight pole at this 1.54-mile track.
Kahne ran 192.553 mph and his lap was two thousandths of a second faster than the lap at 192.540 mph turned in by Newman, who had last been topped in qualifying here since October 2002.
"Atlanta is one of my favorite race tracks, and it always has been," said Kahne, who won his seventh career pole. His last No. 1 qualifying effort came last May at Richmond, where he scored his only career Cup series victory that weekend.
For Lester, meanwhile, with the challenge of qualifying for his first Cup race now behind him he is hoping that Sunday's race is only a beginning.
His No. 23 Dodge team, owned by Bill Davis and sponsored by Waste Management, plans to enter at least two more Cup races this year, at Michigan in June and at California in September. Lester hopes that will lead to more races down the road.
"Maybe this will shake the branches a little bit and get more money from corporate America to come out and support the program," said Lester, who was fastest among 17 cars needing to make the field on speed, with eight making the cut.
"We definitely have an eye toward next year," Lester said. I would hope to be considered and that everything will line up for an opportunity to race in 2007, hopefully with Toyota."
Bill Davis Racing, for which Lester drives a Toyota truck now, will field two of Toyota's six Cup teams in 2007.
Lester was born in Washington, D.C., but lives in Atlanta. He got a bachelor of science in electrical engineering and computer science from the University of California and went to work for Hewlett-Packard in 1984. He raced sports cars on the weekends and, in 1988, said he and his wife, Cheryl, agreed he could become "gainfully unemployed" for three years as he chased his dream of being a full-time driver.
"I wasn't complete because I wasn't doing what I wanted to do with my life," Lester said.
Near the end of that window, he got a full-time ride in the Truck Series with Bobby Hamilton Racing. He made his 106th career Truck Series start Friday night at Atlanta Motor Speedway, and now he'll make his Cup debut in his adopted hometown.
Lester said he was relieved after his two-lap run made history. He had tested his car at Kentucky Speedway last week and was confident he'd be fast enough.
"But you just never know until you do it," Lester said. "I was just hopeful that my prayers and dreams would be answered. I hope this is just a beginning and that this will open a lot of eyes and a few more doors."
Jeff Burton continued his strong early season qualifying efforts with a third fastest lap at 191.973 mph, putting him on the inside of Row 2 alongside Bobby Labonte in the No. 43 Dodge. Rookie J.J. Yeley and Kevin Harvick, Burton's Richard Childress Racing teammate, will be on Row 3, with Denny Hamlin, Greg Biffle, Kurt Busch and Casey Mears rounding out the top 10.
By DAVID POOLE - The Charlotte Observer
HAMPTON, Ga. - If Bill Lester had been born in 1981, he might very well be among the big stories in NASCAR these days.
In the days of increased diversity efforts in the sport, a young, college-educated African American driver with a healthy dose of talent and determination would almost certainly be among racing's hottest commodities.
But even though Lester is 45, not 25, he still made headlines Friday at Atlanta Motor Speedway by earning a spot for Sunday's Golden Corral 500, becoming the first African-American driver in nearly 20 years to qualify for a Cup race.
"This is essentially the culmination of a very long dream I've had to race at the top level of professional motorsports," said Lester, who will be the sixth African American all time to race in NASCAR's top series, the first since Willy T. Ribbs ran at Michigan in June 1986. "There have been a lot of doubters and nay-sayers along the way. I'm happy that I stuck to my guns.
"This night means a lot to me."
Lester's lap at 190.502 mph was the 19th fastest overall lap on an evening in which Kasey Kahne also denied Ryan Newman a seventh straight pole at this 1.54-mile track.
Kahne ran 192.553 mph and his lap was two thousandths of a second faster than the lap at 192.540 mph turned in by Newman, who had last been topped in qualifying here since October 2002.
"Atlanta is one of my favorite race tracks, and it always has been," said Kahne, who won his seventh career pole. His last No. 1 qualifying effort came last May at Richmond, where he scored his only career Cup series victory that weekend.
For Lester, meanwhile, with the challenge of qualifying for his first Cup race now behind him he is hoping that Sunday's race is only a beginning.
His No. 23 Dodge team, owned by Bill Davis and sponsored by Waste Management, plans to enter at least two more Cup races this year, at Michigan in June and at California in September. Lester hopes that will lead to more races down the road.
"Maybe this will shake the branches a little bit and get more money from corporate America to come out and support the program," said Lester, who was fastest among 17 cars needing to make the field on speed, with eight making the cut.
"We definitely have an eye toward next year," Lester said. I would hope to be considered and that everything will line up for an opportunity to race in 2007, hopefully with Toyota."
Bill Davis Racing, for which Lester drives a Toyota truck now, will field two of Toyota's six Cup teams in 2007.
Lester was born in Washington, D.C., but lives in Atlanta. He got a bachelor of science in electrical engineering and computer science from the University of California and went to work for Hewlett-Packard in 1984. He raced sports cars on the weekends and, in 1988, said he and his wife, Cheryl, agreed he could become "gainfully unemployed" for three years as he chased his dream of being a full-time driver.
"I wasn't complete because I wasn't doing what I wanted to do with my life," Lester said.
Near the end of that window, he got a full-time ride in the Truck Series with Bobby Hamilton Racing. He made his 106th career Truck Series start Friday night at Atlanta Motor Speedway, and now he'll make his Cup debut in his adopted hometown.
Lester said he was relieved after his two-lap run made history. He had tested his car at Kentucky Speedway last week and was confident he'd be fast enough.
"But you just never know until you do it," Lester said. "I was just hopeful that my prayers and dreams would be answered. I hope this is just a beginning and that this will open a lot of eyes and a few more doors."
Jeff Burton continued his strong early season qualifying efforts with a third fastest lap at 191.973 mph, putting him on the inside of Row 2 alongside Bobby Labonte in the No. 43 Dodge. Rookie J.J. Yeley and Kevin Harvick, Burton's Richard Childress Racing teammate, will be on Row 3, with Denny Hamlin, Greg Biffle, Kurt Busch and Casey Mears rounding out the top 10.
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