March 11, 2023 Auto Racers

Wendell Scott: the first black driver in NASCAR

He also was the first to win a Grand National race

Auto racer Wendell Scott of Danville, Va., stock car racing’s only African American driver, is shown May 24, 1972, with the maroon Chevrolet Monte Carlo he will drive in the World 600 at the Charlotte , N.C., Motor Speedway. The car was prepared by Junior Johnson and is owned by Richard Howard, who owns a string of furniture stores and also operates the track. 

Born: Aug. 29, 1921

Died: Dec. 23, 1990

His story: Scott was born in Danville, Virginia. He learned to be an auto mechanic from his father and opened a shop after serving in the Army during World War II. He started racing on the Dixie Circuit because blacks were not allowed to race in NASCAR. He won his first race in Lynchburg, Virginia, and would compete up to five times a week. 

He persuaded Mike Poston, a NASCAR steward, to grant him a NASCAR license during an event at Richmond Speedway in 1953. He spent almost nine years at the regional level before moving up to the Grand National division in 1961. He debuted in the Spartanburg 200 and two years later won the Jacksonville 200 to become the first black driver to win a race in NASCAR’s top division. But Scott, who faced racism throughout his career, was not initially declared the winner, as second-place finisher Bud Baker received the checkered flag. Scott was later given the victory after officials sorted through an alleged clerical error. 

Scott competed in 495 Grand National races, with 147 top-10 finishes, before he retired after an accident in 1973. Smith did not live to see his induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2015. He died of cancer in 1990.

Fast fact: Richard Pryor starred in Greased Lightning, a 1977 movie about Scott’s life.

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Celebrating Iconic Black Race Car Drivers in Motorsports

Whether we’re racing forward into the future, or driving reverse into the past to learn about where we’ve come from, there’s no shortage of notable names in Black History in the automotive racing circuit.  As part of our Black History Month celebrations, we’re pleased to highlight the men and women who have worked hard and proven themselves to be incredible drivers and stars of the industry.

Bubba Wallace

William Darrell “Bubba” Wallace Jr is a 28 year old professional stock car driver who made his Cup Series Debut in 2017.  He is the first full-time racer fo color in the NASCAR Cup Series since the early 1970s.  In 2021, he became the second Black Driver to win the NASCAR Cup Series at Talladega Superspeedway. (Image from Forbes.)

Tia Norfleet

Shauntia Latrice “Tia” Norfleet is the daughter of NASCAR driver Bobby Norfleet, and the first and only African American Woman driver to hold a NASCAR license.  In addition, she is the first Black Woman to be licensed by the Automobile Racing Club of America.  She made her debut in August of 2012 at the Motor Mile Speedway in Virginia. (image from thesource.com)

Cheryl Linn Glass

Cheryl Linn Glass was the first ever African American woman professional race-car driver in the US!  She became a professional driver at age 18, and continued her storied career through 1991.  Glass was not only a great race driver, but she was also an entrepreneur.  When she wasn’t in the race circuit, she was busy running a successful fashion business, “Cheryl Glass Designs” where she created bridal and evening gowns for special occasion wear.  She also ran a full catering and event planning service, as well as co-founded the Minority Engineering Retention Program at University of Washington.  (Image credit The Seattle Times)

Wendell Scott

Wendell Oliver Scott was one of the earliest African American drivers in NASCAR racing, and the first African-American to win a race in the NASCAR Cup Series in 1964 (and the only one until Bubba Wallace’s recent win.)  He was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1999 and in 2015 he became the first African American driver to be inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. (Image via BBC.)

Jesse Iwuji

Jesse Ekene Iwuji is a full-time NASCAR stock car racing driver.  He is the first active duty officer in the US Navy Reserves to compete in NASCAR.  He is partnering with Emmitt Smith of NFL fame for an Xfinity Series Racing team in 2022.  (Image from VFW.)

Elias Bowie

Elias Abraham Bowie Jr was the first Black driver to start in a race in the top level NASCAR series; he raced in the Grand National Race in July of 1955.  It was his first and only NASCAR Cup appearance, during which he placed 28th of 34 cars on a 1-mile dirt track in San Mateo.  (Image from African American Racers Association)

Randy Bethea

In 1973, Randy Bethea knocked driver Darrell Waltrip out of pole position at the Nashville Fairgrounds.  In 1975, he was the fourth African-American driver to start a race for NASCAR.  Bethea also qualified 39th out of 40 in the World 600, and he finished 33rd. He raced two seasons in 1991’s NASCAR Slim Jim All Pro Touring Series. (Image from Timesnews.net)

Rajo Jack

American racecar driver Dewey Gatson also known as Jack DeSoto and Rajo Jack was one of the first African American race car drivers in America.  He was inducted into the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame in 2003, commemorating his notable wins in 1920s racing history. (Image from Pamplin Media Group.)

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More notable names in racing history:

Willy T. Ribbs the first African American driver to qualify for the Indy 500.


Bill Lester, the first African American to race in NASCAR’S Busch Series.


Lewis Hamilton, seven time world champion F1 race driver for Mercedes.


Antron Brown, first Black American Champion in drag racing.

Morty Buckles, the first driver for NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity class.

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