But since then there has been an increase of well-known black drivers: Antron Brown (NHRA Top Fuel), JR Todd (NHRA Top Fuel), Tom Hammonds (NHRA Pro Stock), Peggy Llewellyn (NHRA Pro Stock Bike), James ‘Bubba' Stewart (AMA/FIM Motocross), Lewis Hamilton (FIA Formula One), Bill Lester (IMSA/NASCAR) and up and coming development drivers like Marc Davis (NASCAR), Auston Harris (IMSA/USAC), and Chase Austin (NASCAR). Other drivers that have been somewhat active include Bert Jackson (IHRA/ADRL Pro Stock), Sylvester Barnes (IHRA Pro Stock) and Candyce Marsh (IHRA Pro-Modified), Michael Phillips. Of the veterans, Martin is still active in the ADRL, Downes is still involved with testing and driving. Washington has retired and Ribbs has left the sport entirely.
With the number of blacks involved in racing slowly increasing, the question is what future is there for blacks in racing as in drivers, ownership and involvement. How about the black media? Other than from OnWheels, Inc., and a few black papers, there isn't much exposure for these drivers and their accomplishments.
"It's absolutely wonderful that the folks mentioned here are successful," said Downes. "Their impact is equivalent to that of the Williams sisters and Tiger Woods in their respective sports, not only putting on a spotlight on a sport blacks had never considered before, but impressing on young minds that they can achieve in these ‘new' arenas.
But in order for blacks to grow from where they are now, there must be an effort for the number to grow much more than the current involvement. Even in this day and age black racers still have obstacles to overcome and conquer. Two main ones are racism and opportunity.
"I think an active supportive hand from those who have gone before is needed," Downes said. "That hand should be offered to those with talent, and who better to spot the aforementioned talent than the ones who have it.
"If I had a dollar every time I was told to go play one of ‘my' sports (football, basketball, baseball, etc.) I'd be a millionaire. We have a history of being our worst enemy. The ‘Crab Barrel' works in auto sports, too."
"Both Chase Austin and Marc Davis will be at the crossroads in 2009," said black car owner and racing expert Leonard Miller. "There's no real commitment to Marc's development at Joe Gibbs Racing. There are many obscure ways to evaluate his position.
"Both Marc and Chase would get ample testing and practice time at the team's expense. Both drivers were only sponsored by black entities this past season. black corporations or companies don't have deep pockets.
"Although Lewis Hamilton is loved by the British fans, he has faced overt racism from track to track on circuit as bad as some NASCAR incidences. At the 2007 Spanish Grand Prix hundreds of fans called him nigger and three of the fans dressed up in monkey and gorilla suits and harassed him, others wore demeaning t-shirts, and others wore black face. The situation was so bad the F1 committee threatened to cancel the 2009 Spanish Grand Prix if the problem wasn't straighten out.
Exposure from the media has been another problem for the black motorsport driver. When it comes to other non-traditional sports like tennis, golf, and swimming the exposure is immediate into the general media, but when it comes to motor racing the black media is spinning it's wheels.
"The attention of the black press, news and TV are a must," Downes explained. "Why do we have to wait for the White power structure to say it's OK before we acknowledge or pay attention to something?
"Minorities are the leaders and innovators in fashion, entertainment, and other fields, yet we're never the driving force that actually makes the really big money off these ventures."
"When it comes to motor racing, the black media is on life support," Miller said. "When black drivers win races, they have to transmit the results to the black press immediately and they will publish the articles.
"This isn't happening because black drivers don't have control of their budgets. It takes a minimum of $50,000 per year to get articles and pictures to the black press in a timely matter. Because of multi-million dollar PR budgets, Tiger Woods and Williams sisters generate enough information that black papers can generate articles instantly. Except for Lewis Hamilton in Great Britain, American black drivers don't have real internal or external PR support."
Next: blacks and NASCAR Diversity: Is It Really Working?
