History being made at Atlanta Nextel Cup Race
African American steps into Nextel spotlight
By MIKE BRUDENELL
Bill Lester never has trumpeted his unusual role in racing. He's a black driver competing in NASCAR, which traces its roots to Southern white boys who spent a lot of nights in the hills of North Carolina running booze.
But for the rest of this week, the Craftsman Truck regular will attract lots of attention. He will become the first black competitor in 20 years to run a NASCAR Nextel Cup race if he qualifies for Sunday's Golden Corral 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
A news conference announcing Lester's attempt will be held today at the Omni in Atlanta. Lester, a graduate of the University of California, will find himself in the hot seat when it comes to diversity in racing, like it or not.
Lester, 45, will drive the No. 23 Waste Management Dodge this weekend for Bill Davis Racing. Calls to his Toyota truck team Monday were not returned.
The flamboyant Willie T. Ribbs was the last black driver to compete in a Cup event, in June 1986, at Michigan International Speedway.
Driving the Red Roof Inns/Digard Chevrolet, Ribbs started 37th and finished 39th after blowing an engine.
Coincidentally, Lester, a former engineer with Hewlett-Packard, took over Ribbs' Craftsman Truck ride with Dodge in 2001. Since then, he has established himself as a strong qualifier, recording back-to-back poles at Kansas and Kentucky last year, and a solid all-around racer, finishing 14th in points in 2003 and 17th in 2005.
In 1999, Lester became the first black driver in a NASCAR Busch Grand National race, finishing 21st at Watkins Glen.
Ribbs became the first black to start in the Indianapolis 500 in 1991. He was charismatic and confrontational -- a major force in Formula Ford in the late '70s' and Trans-Am in the mid-'80s. But he never carved out a significant career in open-wheel or stock car racing.
Ribbs was prone to lashing out and making excuses. Lester, perhaps less gifted as a driver, has been willing to sacrifice a lot to go racing and deserves his shot at NASCAR's premier series at Atlanta.
Qualify or not, it would be a surprise to hear him blame someone else for not making the grade, even if true.
By MIKE BRUDENELL
Bill Lester never has trumpeted his unusual role in racing. He's a black driver competing in NASCAR, which traces its roots to Southern white boys who spent a lot of nights in the hills of North Carolina running booze.
But for the rest of this week, the Craftsman Truck regular will attract lots of attention. He will become the first black competitor in 20 years to run a NASCAR Nextel Cup race if he qualifies for Sunday's Golden Corral 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
A news conference announcing Lester's attempt will be held today at the Omni in Atlanta. Lester, a graduate of the University of California, will find himself in the hot seat when it comes to diversity in racing, like it or not.
Lester, 45, will drive the No. 23 Waste Management Dodge this weekend for Bill Davis Racing. Calls to his Toyota truck team Monday were not returned.
The flamboyant Willie T. Ribbs was the last black driver to compete in a Cup event, in June 1986, at Michigan International Speedway.
Driving the Red Roof Inns/Digard Chevrolet, Ribbs started 37th and finished 39th after blowing an engine.
Coincidentally, Lester, a former engineer with Hewlett-Packard, took over Ribbs' Craftsman Truck ride with Dodge in 2001. Since then, he has established himself as a strong qualifier, recording back-to-back poles at Kansas and Kentucky last year, and a solid all-around racer, finishing 14th in points in 2003 and 17th in 2005.
In 1999, Lester became the first black driver in a NASCAR Busch Grand National race, finishing 21st at Watkins Glen.
Ribbs became the first black to start in the Indianapolis 500 in 1991. He was charismatic and confrontational -- a major force in Formula Ford in the late '70s' and Trans-Am in the mid-'80s. But he never carved out a significant career in open-wheel or stock car racing.
Ribbs was prone to lashing out and making excuses. Lester, perhaps less gifted as a driver, has been willing to sacrifice a lot to go racing and deserves his shot at NASCAR's premier series at Atlanta.
Qualify or not, it would be a surprise to hear him blame someone else for not making the grade, even if true.
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