History was made today when Darrell Wallace Jr. became the first African American to win the Camping World Truck Series race and the first one to win a Nascar race since 1963, over 50 years. Wallace gained the lead from Ty Dillion after a restart and held on to take the win.
“Oh my God, I’m speechless,” an emotional Wallace said in victory lane after high-fiving his entire pit crew. “God, I couldn’t even hold it together coming off (turn) 4 with the checkered. I still can’t.”
Wallace who just turned 20 on October 8 is in his rookie season and is just the fourth African-American to drive full time in one of NASCAR’s top three national series.
Nascar chairman Brian France has some encouraging words for Wallace Jr. after his victory.
“We congratulate Darrell Wallace Jr. on his first national series victory, one that will be remembered as a remarkable moment in our sport’s history,” NASCAR chairman Brian France said in a release. “Darrell’s success, following fellow NASCAR Drive for Diversity graduate Kyle Larson’s win earlier this season, is indicative of a youth and multicultural movement that bodes well for NASCAR’s future growth.”
Congratulations to Darrell Wallace Jr. It is always great to see barriers being broken in a predominantly white sport.