Darrell Wallace Jr., the driver of the #98 Nickelodeon Green Slime Ford, stands on the grid during qualifying for the NASCAR XFINITY Series TheHouse.com 300 at Chicagoland Speedway on September 16, 2017, in Joliet, Illinois. Photo – Biran Lawdermilk/Getty Images
The historical and social significance of his move to Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series racing is not lost on Darrell “Bubba” Wallace Jr., who was announced on Wednesday as the driver of the iconic No. 43 car fielded by Richard Petty Motorsports.
Wallace will be the first African-American driver to compete fulltime at NASCAR’s highest level since NASCAR Hall of Famer Wendell Scott posted the final four of his 147 career top-tens in 1971.
Does that add pressure to Wallace’s ascendance to the Monster Energy Series level? The simple answer is
“Yes.”
“There’ve been a lot of people who’ve come up through the ranks and tried to carry on the legacy that Wendell Scott had laid down for us, and for me to step in that realm and take on that role is a lot of pressure,” acknowledged Wallace, a product of NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity and NASCAR Next programs.
“But we’re going to go out there and continue to do what we do on and off the race track, and that’s to represent the brand of myself and (team co-owner) Richard Petty and his image the best way I can and continue to grow together.”
A general view of the 2015 NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at NASCAR Hall of Fame on January 30, 2015 Photo – Lance King/Getty Imagees
Bill Elliott (R) speaks with Joe Gibbs (L), owner of Joe Gibbs Racing, prior to the 2015 NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at NASCAR Hall of Fame on January 30, 2015 Photo – Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
NASCAR Hall of Famer Rex White walks the red carpet prior to the 2015 NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at NASCAR Hall of Fame on January 30, 2015 Photo – Lance King/Getty Images
Fred Lorenzen(C) is escorted by daughter Amanda (L) and son Chris (2L) as host Mike Joy (R) looks on during the 2015 NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at NASCAR Hall of Fame on January 30, 2015 Photo – Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
The Wendell Scott family reacts on stage after receiving the NASCAR Hall of Fame jacket in honor of the late Wendell Scott during the 2015 NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at NASCAR Hall of Fame on January 30, 2015 Photo – Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Jeff Gordon, driver of the #24 Chevrolet, speaks during the 2015 NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at NASCAR Hall of Fame on January 30, 2015 Photo – Lance King/Getty Images
Franklin Scott, son of NASCAR Hall of Famer Wendell Scott, speaks during the 2015 NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at NASCAR Hall of Fame on January 30, 2015 Photo – Lance King/Getty Images
NASCAR Hall of Famer Fred Lorenzen (L) looks on as his son Chris speaks during the 2015 NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at NASCAR Hall of Fame on January 30, 2015 Photo – Lance King/Getty Images
Tony Stewart, co-owner of Stewart-Haas Racing and driver of the #14 Chevrolet, speaks during the 2015 NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at NASCAR Hall of Fame on January 30, 2015 Photo – Lance King/Getty Images
NASCAR Hall of Famer Rex White speaks during the 2015 NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at NASCAR Hall of Fame on January 30, 2015 Photo – Lance King/Getty Images
ranklin Scott (L) and Wendell Scott Jr.(R), sons of NASCAR Hall of Famer Wendell Scott, speak during the 2015 NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at NASCAR Hall of Fame on January 30, 2015 Photo – Lance King/Getty Images
Franklin Scott, son of NASCAR Hall of Famer Wendell Scott, speaks during the 2015 NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at NASCAR Hall of Fame on January 30, 2015 Photo – Lance King/Getty Images
Driver Kasey Kahne introduces inductee Bill Elliott during the NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at NASCAR Hall of Fame on January 30, 2015 Photo – Bob Leverone/Getty Images
Bill Elliott makes his acceptance speech during the NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at NASCAR Hall of Fame on January 30, 2015 Photo – Bob Leverone/Getty Images
Lesa France Kennedy, CEO of International Speedway Cooperation, speaks during the 2015 NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at NASCAR Hall of Fame on January 30, 2015 Photo – Lance King/Getty Images
Elliott, Lorenzen, Scott, Weatherly, White Officially Enshrined
Five legendary drivers with distinct styles and contributions to NASCAR were enshrined into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, North Carolina tonight during the Induction Ceremony held in the Crown Ball Room at the Charlotte Convention Center.
Those who added their names to the list of now 30 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductees, included: Bill Elliott, Fred Lorenzen, Wendell Scott, Joe Weatherly and Rex White.
The group makes up the Hall’s sixth class in its history. Continue reading →
Wendell Scott poses for a portrait in his car as he became the first African-American driver to win in the NASCAR Cup division with a victory in 1963 at Jacksonville Speedway Park in Jacksonville, Florida. Scott was NASCAR’s first black competitor, starting in the sportsman class in 1953. Photo – Getty Images Archive
HAMPTON, GA — 1973: Wendell Scott of Danville, VA, at Atlanta International Raceway during his final year of competition on the NASCAR Cup circuit. During his career, Scott started 495 Cup events, won once, and finished in the top 10 position 147 times. Photo – Getty Images Archive
1968: Wendell Scott ran in 48 of the 49 NASCAR Cup races during the 1968 season, taking 17 top-10 finishes and ninth in the season-long Cup standings. Photo – Getty Images Archives
1955: Wendell Scott poses with his young son at a Modified race. Photo – Getty Images Archives
Wendell Scott checks over the engine of his 1966 NASCAR Cup Ford at a race in the mid-1960s. Photo – Getty Images Archives
Wendell Scott of Danville, VA, was NASCAR’s first black American competitor, starting out in the modified ranks on the dirt tracks of the South. Photo – Getty Images Archives
Wendell Scott got his dream ride at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Charlotte, North Carolina on May 28, 1972. Driving for race promoter Richard Howar, Wendell finished 22nd in the World 600 in the 1971 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. Photo – Getty Images Archives
Wendell Scott with sons Wendell Jr. (C) and Frankie (L ) work on enging in Danville, Virginia. Photo – Getty Images Archives
DANVILLE, VA – 1954: Wendell Scott began his racing career driving homebuilt Modifieds such as this one. Scott was the first full-time African-American driver to run the NASCAR circuit, recording a Grand National win in 1963 at Jacksonville Speedway Photo – Getty Images Archives
Wendell Scott won only one NASCAR Grand National race during his 40-plus year career. His lone victory came in the 200-mile event at Jacksonville Speedway in Jacksonville, Florida on December 1, 1963. Photo – Getty Images Archives
Wendell Scott poses for a portrait in his car. He was the first African-American driver to win in the NASCAR Cup division with a victory in 1963 at Jacksonville Speedway Park in Jacksonville, Florida. Scott was NASCAR’s first black competitor, starting in the sportsman class in 1953. Photo – Getty Images Archive
Scott’s Legacy a Story of Perseverance, Excellence
Note: This release is part of a series in advance of the 2015 NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Jan. 30, broadcast live at 8 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network, Motor Racing Network Radio and SiriusXM Satellite Radio. Bill Elliott, Fred Lorenzen, Wendell Scott, Joe Weatherly and Rex White are the five 2015 inductees.
During a 13-year premier series career, Wendell Scott likely never considered he was making NASCAR history. The Virginian’s sole concern was getting to the next race on a miniscule budget.
Scott wasn’t the only driver to struggle financially. The odds of making a good living racing stock cars were long in the 1960s and early 1970s when purses were small, large sponsors unheard of and manufacturer support came and went with the turning of the calendar’s pages.
But Scott faced a challenge not shared by his fellow competitors: that of an African-American battling to succeed in a still-segregated society. Continue reading →
A view of the #34 2015 NASCAR Hall of Fame Inductee Wendell Scott Toyota, driven by Darrell Wallace, Jr., in the garage area during practice for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Kroger 200 at Martinsville Speedway on October 24, 2014 Photo – Ranier Ehrhardt/Getty Images
Darrell Wallace, Jr., driver of the #34 2015 NASCAR Hall of Fame Inductee Wendell Scott Toyota, leads Ben Kennedy, driver of the #31 Heater.com Chevrolet, during practice for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Kroger 200 at Martinsville Speedway on October 24, 2014 Photo – Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images
Darrell Wallace, Jr., driver of the #34 2015 NASCAR Hall of Fame Inductee Wendell Scott Toyota, laughs before practice for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Kroger 200 at Martinsville Speedway on October 24, 2014 Photo – Ranier Ehrhardt/Getty Images
(L-R) Sybil Scott, Janis Davis, Wendell Scott, Cheryl Ashley and Frank Scott pose with Darrell Wallace, Jr. (3rdL), driver of the #34 2015 NASCAR Hall of Fame Inductee Wendell Scott Toyota, during pre-race ceremonies for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Kroger 200 at Martinsville Speedway on October 25, 2014 Photo – Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images
Darrell Wallace, Jr., driver of the #34 2015 NASCAR Hall of Fame Inductee Wendell Scott Toyota, poses with the Keystone Light Pole award after qualifying for pole position for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Kroger 200 at Martinsville Speedway on October 25, 2014 Photo – Sarah Glenn/Getty Images
Darrell Wallace, Jr., driver of the #34 2015 NASCAR Hall of Fame Inductee Wendell Scott Toyota, stands on the grid during qualifying for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Kroger 200 at Martinsville Speedway on October 25, 2014 Photo – Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
David Ragan, driver of the #34 Wendell Scott Hall of Fame Tribute Ford, and Darrell Wallace, Jr., driver of the #34 2015 NASCAR Hall of Fame Inductee Wendell Scott Toyota, speak with the media prior to the NASCAR Camping World Trucks Series Kroger 200 at Martinsville Speedway on October 25, 2014 Photo – Robert Laberge/Getty Images
Darrell Wallace, Jr., driver of the #34 2015 NASCAR Hall of Fame Inductee Wendell Scott Toyota, and Timothy Peters, driver of the #17 Red Horse Racing Toyota, lead the field to the green flag to start the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Kroger 200 at Martinsville Speedway on October 25, 2014Darrell Wallace, Jr., driver of the #34 2015 NASCAR Hall of Fame Inductee Wendell Scott Toyota, and Timothy Peters, driver of the #17 Red Horse Racing Toyota, lead the field to the green flag to start the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Kroger 200 at Martinsville Speedway on October 25, 2014 Photo – Sarah Glenn/Getty Images
Darrell Wallace, Jr., driver of the #34 2015 NASCAR Hall of Fame Inductee Wendell Scott Toyota, takes the checkered flag to win the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Kroger 200 at Martinsville Speedway on October 25, 2014 Photo – Sarah Glenn/Getty Images
Darrell Wallace, Jr., driver of the #34 2015 NASCAR Hall of Fame Inductee Wendell Scott Toyota, celebrates with a burnout after winning the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Kroger 200 at Martinsville Speedway on October 25, 2014 Photo – Sarah Glenn/Getty Images
Darrell Wallace, Jr., driver of the #34 2015 NASCAR Hall of Fame Inductee Wendell Scott Toyota, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Kroger 200 at Martinsville Speedway on October 25, 2014 Photo – Sarah Glenn/Getty Images
Driving a No. 34 Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota painted and numbered as a tribute to NASCAR Hall of Fame nominee Wendell Scott—and with Scott’s family in attendance at Martinsville Speedway—polesitter Darrell Wallace Jr. held off Timothy Peters to win Saturday’s Kroger 200 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race.
