If you're a racing fan, you should be familiar with the name, Wendell Scott.
Scott broke the color barrier in stock car racing in 1952 and for years represented African Americans while breaking records and navigating imposed racial barriers.
Recently, NASCAR announced its first Hall of Fame class, which consisted of 25 nominees. Unfortunately, in a sport that has been criticized immensely for its lack of diversity, Scott did not make the cut.
Many consider Scott to be the Michael Jackson or Jackie Robinson of NASCAR. Just like Jackson and Robinson helped to integrate MTV and baseball, Scott did the same for NASCAR. He was the first black driver ever to win a NASCAR race. ...
The committee deciding the list consisted of 47 members, probably not a diverse team. Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Richard Petty were just two of the inductees that you may be familiar with.Some critics believe since this is the first NASCAR Hall of Fame class, there will be many more opportunities ahead for Scott and others to make it in.
Brian Donovan knows the story all too well. In 2008, he wrote a book about Scott's life entitled "Hard Driving: The American Odyssey of NASCAR's First Black Driver."
Donovan told the Bristol Herald Courier that the latest snub is consistent with the way Scott was treated during his 13-year Cup career.
"Wendell Scott's pioneering accomplishments certainly deserve recognition in NASCAR's Hall of Fame. But it's not surprising he's not on the list," Donovan said. "NASCAR doesn't seem ready to admit that powerful officials in the sport repeatedly did him wrong."
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Comments: (97)
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By: jason merica on 7/09/2009 8:16PM
welll the news is trying to make news again segeration and black -white is so far gone but the news media has to keep to knife in the wound
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By: Judy B on 7/09/2009 8:43PM
It's not the media who is doing the damage. As a 47-year old, white, female fan of NASCAR it's things like this that make me not want to admit my passion for racing. The first group of inductees was supposed to be those who started NASCAR & those who created the groundwork. It is for this reason that Wendell Scott SHOULD be included & Dale Earnhardt Sr. should NOT. Yes, he was a fan favorite & yes he won 7 championships. But a founder? No. He should have been included in the 2nd round of inductees. Please don't blame the messenger for delivering a much-needed message.
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By: chuck on 7/09/2009 8:29PM
So true, so true in many cases not just NASCAR!
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By: Dale on 7/09/2009 8:44PM
I have been watching NASCAR all of my life. The names that were submitted thus far were voted on by the Public. Not NASCAR!!! I agree with Brian. It is what you do, not what you look like that should matter in any Hall of Fame! I enjoy all of the history of motor sports. Wendell Scott was a true pioneer in the sport. He showed remarkable courage in the pursuit of his passion for racing. Unfortunately he did not make the list for this year. There will be other years. Some of my all time favorites did not make the list either. For Mr. Scott and others, there will come a day when they are members of the Hall of Fame. Just be patient!
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By: Judy B on 7/09/2009 9:21PM
Where do you get your info?? The public had nothing to do with it. The public has 1 out of 51 voices to elect IF you sign up to vote in advance. That's the extent of the public's pull.
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By: Meta Hairston on 7/13/2009 4:40PM
If you were an African American you would not have even used the P word. Try over 300 years of P(ee)
Then tell me about other years and other chances...
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By: sieben13 on 7/15/2009 7:16AM
My skin crawls when I see or hear these remarks "Be Patient" That is nothing , but american B.S.
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By: Greg on 7/09/2009 8:45PM
I agree, that we should not inshrine some one because of the color of their skin. I think that maybe it should be noted some where at the hall that he was the first, but he should be elected to the hall only on his driving capabilities. He was a good racer and did break down barriers, but the hall of fame is for the very best drivers.
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By: Headwind on 7/09/2009 8:47PM
Is the point of this story to suggest we need someone of every race represented? Ever been to a NASCAR race? It is not a sport Blacks have an interest in. If they did have an interest they would be more represented. This is nothing more than a setup for another Jesse Jackson/Al Sharpton shakedown of NASCAR. More blacks in basketball than the population reflects. You have your black pres. now quit whining. No more quotas. Discrimination is a thing of the past.
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By: Chuck on 7/12/2009 1:06PM
Discrimination is still alive. Only a person who has not experienced it will say something as naive as it is over. I do believe in time that Mr. Scott will be in the NASCAR Hall of Fame. One should never forget that this USA was build on the backs and blood of Africans (in American ) and they were worked hard, relentless and received no compensation at all. I honestly do not care if NASCAR is all green-people or orange-people. It doesn't give back anything to most communities black or white. The rich sponsors make great money and i guess certain drivers make great money also. Behind the scenes NASCAR has a large amount of women being used sexually, good for some and bad for others. Everyone White is not a Racist and everyone Black is not crying about Racism.
Racial hatred is alive a well unfortunately, but we are all human beings regardless of our skin color, but how we treat each other is the most important. I care more about children education health-care and jobs than about NASCAR, but i had to express my thoughts, and i hope my words are understood rather than being attacked by someone who is ignorant. This is the Country my ancestors died for in war, and yet we are still looked at in some places as less than humans. Until we all learn to live together with our differences, we will always repeat the past things and situations that have divided us so much. I am an African American living in Mississipp[, and i hope we can all (at least most of us) learn to be more respectful of each other. Peace to you all, even if you have great disdain for other people with differnt skin colors or cultures.
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