NASCAR AFTER MAGIC

NASCAR AFTER MAGIC

The headlines read, Magic Johnson to Co-Chair NASCAR Diversity Council, Magic Johnson to play leading role in NASCAR diversity, Basketball Legend Magic Johnson signs on with NASCAR. Stop the presses, interrupt the regularly schedule program on Speed TV for this historic news, this is major news, a real, meaningful, substantial Black effort comes to NASCAR in over 50 years.....NOT!!!!!!

Yes, it was news, for the moment, but after a little time, like most Black efforts that NASCAR supports, they quickly and quietly fade into the sunset. Like King Richard Petty says of NASCAR, it was like the circus coming to town. I would say, NASCAR and Magic pulled a disappearing act. But they didn't fool us true race fans.

Why do the folks who run NASCAR resort to garments, marketing games, and misguided judgment in trying to gain a foot hold in the Black Community? Maybe because they truly don't want us there. These failed attempts at reaching out make them look like, "hey, we're trying", but are you really?

Many people in position in NASCAR, local track managements, and others have expressed a belief for Black Efforts to gain success in NASCAR, you need a star, a role model, a notable personalities to help you in drawing attention to your effort.. Well, history shows that doesn't work either.

NASCAR has no shame.

NASCAR reportedly paid or donated $250,000 to Jesse Jackson and his Rainbow/PUSH organization around 2003 in appeasement money. NASCAR wanted to quiet the negative public pressure it was receiving from his organization. Many concluded it was hush money.

In 2001, I and many other Black Racers were invited by Jackson's Rainbow/Push Sports Division to come to Washington, DC for what was entitle a "Motorsports Summit". There were several topics, seminar, programs designed to give us a chance to gain information and air our frustrations with all of the major forms off racing, NHRA, IRL, not just NASCARMany Black Racers attended though our own expense including Malcom Durham, Doc Watson, Bill Lester and myself. Even the Wendell Scott Family was represented.

Panel members include Black Racer Willy T. Ribbs, past car owner, now ESPN commentator Brad Daugherty, Jackson, and NASCAR President Brian France.

Little did we know somewhere in a smoke filled, darken room, decisions were made, money was exchanges, souls were bought and paid for. At the time we did not realize we were being used and taken advantage of by Jackson, France, and NASCAR.

In the long run no one benefited from this Motorsport Summit, but Jackson and his Sport Division of Rainbow/PUSH. However their agreement and celebration was short lived. After wind of this agreement reached race fans and Jackson criticizers, NASCAR quickly disassociated themselves with Jackson, but the damage was already done.Time after time, ships of African-American promise raise from the horizon. With sails open wide and full of the winds of opportunity, optimism, dream of profit, and winning races.. Soon their hopes are dashed on the rocks of financial limitation, no support from their community, and an invisible force called racial discrimination that kills all chances of success. In the end, all their hard work and materials, cars, equipment and other stuff is put on the auction blocks and sold to the highest bidder, again.Efforts like NFL star Tim Brown, Olympicons Jackie Joyner Kersee and her Husband, Atlanta Falcon's wide receiver Terrance Mathis never get pass the planning stage. I believe they were just overwhelmed by all it takes to start a NASCAR race team.There are those like rappers 50 Cents and Nelly who only used NASCAR's billboards on wheels to promote their careers, as advertising was the most they would do in NASCAR Sears Craftsmen Truck Division. The Wayan Brothers also showed limited interest in NASCAR trucks, with a small involvement with Star Motorsports.The African-American effort that I thought was truly on their way was the Washington Redskins Running Back Joe Washington and NBA Hall of Fame Dr. J Julia Erving with sponsorship from Dr. Pepper formed a Busch Grand National Team in the late 1990s. But could only muster a year and a half before closing their door.It is so sad to me that efforts like Wendell Scott, Charlie Scott (no relation to Wendell), George Wiltshire, Doc Watson, and Randy Bethea have all but faded away. No torch was passed, no foundation formed, no race team to build on. The Black Community has let us racers down.

By the way, I'm not forgetting about you Sam Belnavis. The major force in getting Wiily T. Ribbs his Sprint Cup starts back in the 80s and the only Car Owner/Partner in Sprint Cup racing.Today, NASCAR has no African-American identity, no modern day history for future interest to grow from and with only African-American Boys and no men to bank the future on. When most people I ask what Black person they think of when the think NASCAR, they either can't come up with anyone or relate it to Richard Pryor and Greased Lightning, but not Wendell Scott.

Les Montgomery
Atlanta, GA
www.ulterior.net/Les/