Auto racing has never been among the most diverse sports, with NASCAR in particular not having a great record for attracting or recruiting either Black drivers or audience. For decades the other Black driver to have any impact in NASCAR was the late Wendell Scott, who was both their first full-time African American driver and first to win a Cup series race in 1963. Scott dealt with racist treatment and fan indifference throughout his lifetime, but was recognized for his importance to the sport with induction into the Hall of Fame in 2015. His life was also dramatized in the 1977 film “Greased Lightning” starring Richard Pryor and Pam Grier.
Scott, who died at 69 in 1990, didn’t live to see NASCAR make much progress in terms of diversity, but the organization has begun making moves in that direction. The latest occurred last month, when former boxing champion Floyd Mayweather became the official owner of the Money Team Racing car. He became NASCAR’s second Black owner, joining legendary former NBA star Michael Jordan.
According to NASCAR, Mayweather said, “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. With that being said, this move into auto racing seems to be a perfect fit for the Mayweather brand.”
The Money Team Racing car made its first public race appearance Feb. 20 on the Daytona 500 speedway. One of NASCAR’s emerging talents Kaz Grala was chosen as team driver. The car, a Chevrolet, was given No. 50 in recognition of Mayweather’s undefeated professional boxing record.
“It’s an honor to be behind the wheel for Floyd Mayweather’s entrance into NASCAR,” Grala said per NASCAR. “It’s a really exciting time in our sport as it globalizes and reaches new audiences. I know Floyd is here to win, and I absolutely feel that everyone involved in this program is capable of making that happen. We know we will need some time to grow together as a new organization, but I couldn’t be more thrilled to be a part of building this team from the ground up.”
According to Stardom101mag.net, Mayweather’s team also landed a sponsorship from sunglass company Pit Viper and investments from StarCom Racing’s Michael and Matt Kohler and Bill Woehlemann, who reportedly hold a minority stake in the team.
Simultaneously, the outlet disclosed The Money Team Racing reportedly “does not have a charter that would guarantee it a spot in the field. It had to make the Daytona 500 as an open car.
Their final results in the 500 were mixed. Grala made it into the race by winning one of the two Duels that determined the starting order and final field. But things didn’t go so well during the race. The #50 car lost the right rear wheel during Stage 1 of the season-opening event, requiring a trip to pit lane for an unscheduled stop. It didn’t finish among the Top 50.
Bubba Wallace, driving for Jordan, did much better. Wallace, who after the first couple of races going into Sunday’s Ruoff Mortgage 500 in Phoenix is 10th in Cup standings, finished second just 0.06 seconds behind winner Austin Cindric. It was Wallace’s second Daytona 500 second place finish, but he won his first race last year at Talledega. Wallace is also featured in a Netflix docuseries that debuted at the end of January.
Wallace became the first Black regular NASCAR driver since Scott in 2017. He, Jordan and Mayweather continue to make their presence felt and also help change the impression and perception of NASCAR as an organization either indifferent or hostile to Black fans.
