As NASCAR continues the tradition of fast cars and constant innovation, it also remains committed to fostering an environment where everyone, especially African-American fans and professionals, feels welcomed and excited to be part of the action. With more and more diverse faces joining its workforce, it’s a perfect time to go behind the scenes to uncover the stories of the sport’s unsung heroes: folks like track services personnel, digitals services team members, producers, and sustainability specialists who help keep the ship running smoothly. These are the technical wizards who help keep the wheels turning, and their journeys are proof that NASCAR is, indeed, a place for everyone. Dr. Kendra Cooper is pushing boundaries in both education and sustainability. As the STEM Education and Sustainability Senior Manager at NASCAR, Cooper has a unique role in integrating STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) learning with the high-octane world of racing. Boasting a doctorate,...

In 1963, a Virginia native named Wendell Scott became the first African-American man to win a race at NASCAR’s highest level of competition. That feat was not repeated for another 58 years, when Bubba Wallace took home his first NASCAR Cup Series title at Talladega Superspeedway in 2021. Yet somehow, Scott’s legacy isn’t nearly as well known as that of other pioneering athletes like Jackie Robinson or Arthur Ashe. Even for those who grew up with NASCAR in the background of their childhood like Lion Forge Entertainment founder and filmmaker Dave Steward II, who vividly remembers the time in the 90s and early 2000s when the racing world saw a boom in popularity. (Photo by Jeff Curry/Getty Images) As Dave Steward II entered adulthood, his father, businessman David L. Steward, was developing a professional relationship with NASCAR, supporting and spearheading a number of diversity and inclusion initiatives. That relationship eventually led to the elder Steward’s company World Wide...

Floyd Mayweather is on a new wave. Floyd Mayweather welcomes a new stage and can celebrate becoming an official NASCAR owner of The Money Team Racing. He joins Michael Jordan who also added the shared title to his billion-dollar resume in September of 2020. “I love fast cars and I love to compete. I know NASCAR will not be easy, but anything easy isn’t worth doing to me,” Floyd Mayweather said, according to NASCAR. “With that being said, this move into auto racing seems to be a perfect fit for the Mayweather brand.” The Money Team Racing will make its debut on the Daytona 500 speedway by the end of this month. Twenty-three-year-old Kaz Grala has been selected as the team driver who will compete in the No. 50 Chevrolet, coined after Floyd Mayweather’s boxing record. “It’s an honor to be behind the wheel for Floyd Mayweather’s entrance into NASCAR,” Grala said in the team release, NASCAR reports. “It’s a really exciting time in our sport as it globalizes and reaches new audiences. I...

NASCAR’s pit crew has a new woman on the block! According to Simple Most, Brehanna Daniels is NASCAR’s first Black woman in its pit crew as a tire changer. The HBCU grad says the opportunity to audition for the pit crew came out of nowhere. “I was sitting in the cafeteria, mid-bite of my Chick-fil-A sandwich, when my friend from the school’s athletic department, Tiffany, tapped me on the shoulder and said, ‘Hey, NASCAR is holding tryouts for their pit crews on Wednesday, you should go,’ shared Daniels. “I looked at her like, ‘Girl, I don’t even watch NASCAR.'” As a point guard for Norfolk State University’s women’s basketball team, Daniels went for the opportunity and was eventually invited to join as a NASCAR pit crew member upon her graduation in 2016. No more not wanting to join NASCAR because you don’t see anyone in the sport who looks like you. Look at me! I’ve been there and had to start it out. I took that risk. All you beautiful black girls and boys come join our sport. WE...

Veteran sports executive Erik Moses was named the president of Nashville Superspeedway on Saturday (Aug. 22), making him the first Black president of a NASCAR track. Prior to the announcement , Moses served as the president of the XFL’s DC Defenders during the 2019-2020 season. In addition, he was Senior Vice President at Events DC for more than a decade, the CEO of DC Sports & Entertainment Commission, and Director of D.C. Department of Small & Local Business Development. In this new role, Moses will oversee activities on the speedway, which had been closed to NASCAR races since 2011, says The Grio . “I am excited to join the team at Dover Motorsports to lead the reopening of the Nashville Superspeedway and bring the excitement of Cup Series racing to Middle Tennessee,” Moses said. “I have long admired NASCAR for its commitment to the fan experience and am thrilled to have the opportunity to create the optimal race day experience that NASCAR fans deserve in a market that has such a...