NASCAR honors anniversary of Scott's first race

Commemorative decal to run on race cars during Las Vegas race weekend

By Official Release 
March 03, 2011 12:29 PM, EST

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- In honor of the 50th anniversary of Wendell Scott's first Cup Series start, all Nationwide and Sprint Cup cars competing this weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway will display a commemorative decal bearing Scott's image.

Scott made his first start in NASCAR's premier series 50 years ago -- March 4, 1961 -- in Spartanburg, S.C. On Dec. 1, 1963 in Jacksonville, Fla., Scott became the first black to win a Cup Series event.

drive for Diversity is a NASCAR-led initiative aimed at developing and introducing minority and female drivers and crew members to competitive opportunities in the sport."What an amazing way to honor my father," said daughter Deborah Scott. "Knowing that every car in both national series will roll onto the track this weekend with a decal honoring our father makes me smile and makes me proud."

Drive for Diversity drivers Michael Cherry, who last season became the first black to win at Tri-County Speedway, and Ryan Gifford, who in 2010 became the first black driver in NASCAR K&N Pro Series history to win a pole, will join Deborah Scott at LVMS to further recognize this special occasion.

"Drive for Diversity, and the young men and women who are benefiting from it today, owe much to Wendell Scott," said Marcus Jadotte, NASCAR's managing director of public affairs. "Wendell was a racing trailblazer who opened the door for people like Ryan Gifford and Michael Cherry, and it's an honor to be able to celebrate this anniversary in such a special way."

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Scott's story one of triumph over adversity