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Minority contributions to motorsports span many decades. The list is long and storied. We at Racing for Change have compiled a list of those contributions and arranged them in timeline form, in order to give our audience an up close and informative look at what these great people have accomplished. We are always looking for improvements and additions to our timeline. If you have general comments or would like to update us on any history-making events, please contact us here at Racing for Change.
History of minorities in motorsports:
 Charlie Wiggins - In the Early 1920’s formed a racing association with other black drivers and competed among themselves. Gained reputation as the top black driver.
Elias Bowie- (1955) The first African-American compete in a NASCAR event.
 Joie Ray – First African- American racer to hold AAA license.
 Sara Christian - ”NASCAR” Credited as being the first woman to start a Cup Series race. Photo courtesy of Georgia Automobile Racing Hall of Fame.
 Charlie Scott- Former NASCAR driver from College Park, GA. Completed one race in 1956.
 Wendell Scott – First and Only African-American to win an event at NASCAR’s top- Level.
 Nellie“Nitro ”Goins – First African-American female to driver funny cars.
Photo from the Goins family, courtesy of Bob Gibson; info from Bob Gibson, Bret Kepner, Dennis Doubleday, and Draglist files)
 Randy Bethea – Competed in one NASCAR Cup Series event at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in 1975. Photo courtesy Randy Bethea.
 George Wiltshire – Competed in two NASCAR Cup Series event.
 Barbara Hamilton - First female to receive an NHRA license, 1964.
 Shirley Shahan - First woman to win an NHRA national event, 1966, Stock at the Winter-nationals, Pomona, Calif.
 Shirley Muldowney - First female to win in Top Fuel, 1976 at Columbus, Ohio. She earned 18 career victories. Also, first driver “either gender” in NHRA history to repeat as Top Fuel champion.
Sam Belnavis - First African-American owner in NASCAR Sprint Cup series.
 Harold Mills- First African-American Hydroplane national champion of the American Power Boat Racing Association (APBA).
 Lyn St. James - (1992) First women to win the Indianapolis 500 rookie of the year.
 Willy T. Ribbs - First African-American to qualify and compete in the Indianapolis 500.
 Larry Nance - Former NBA player turned drag racer.
 Frank Pedregon
 Tony Pedregon
 Tom Hammonds
 Cruz Pedregon - “NHRA” 1997 First Motor sports athlete to receive the “Primeo De Oro,” the only award for Hispanic athletes.
 Brad Daugherty- Former NBA player. Presently an ESPN analyst for NASCAR.
 George Mack - Second African-American after Willy T. Ribbs to drive in the Indianapolis 500 in 2002.
 Janet Guthrie - “Indy-Car and NASCAR” First woman to compete in both the Indianapolis 500 and the Daytona 500.
 Patty Moise - Broke the one lap closed course record at the Talladega Super Speedway. “217.498mph”
 Jutta Kleinschmidt - “Off Road” In 2001 became the first woman to win the Dakar Rally.
 Shawna Robinson - Last Female to start a NASCAR Cup series race.
 Carlos Contreras
 Rickey Gadson - 8-time AMA drag bike champion.
 Tim Shutt - Crew Chief for Mike Bliss and Mike McLaughlin at Joe Gibbs Racing in 1999
 Phil Horton - Long-time pit crew coach and trainer in NASCAR’s top three divisions.
 Bill Lester -1999 First African-American to run NASCAR Busch series race
 James “Bubba” Stewart
 Antron Brown- Began career in NHRA Prostock Motorcycles. Currently racing in NHRA Top Fuel division.
 Angelle Sampey - First female to win a championship in NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle.
 Sarah Fisher - “Indy Car and NASCAR” ?In 2001, Fisher scored the best finish by a woman in major open-wheel racing, at that time.
 Chris Bristol - First African-American to win at Hickory Motorspeedway
 Melanie Troxel - Quickest woman in NHRA history, clocking a time of 4.458 seconds (Oct. '05, Dallas).
 Peggy Lewellyn - First black woman to win an NHRA event
 J.R. Todd - First African-American to win an NHRA Top Fuel race.
 Milka Duno - First Latina to qualify and race in the Indianapolis 500..
 Max Siegel - Named President of Global Operations for Dale Earnhardt, Inc by CEO Tereasa Earnhardt in January 2007.
 Lewis Hamilton - First black driver to compete in Formula-1.
 Marc Davis - Second African-American driver to win at Hickory, Motorspeedway. Photo courtesy Joe Gibbs Racing.
 Hillary Will - Fastest woman in NHRA history, posting a speed of 334.65 mph.
 Danica Patrick - First woman to win major open wheel race.
 Ashley Force - First woman to win a race in NHRA Funny Car history.
Chrissy Wallace - First Female to win Late Model race at hickory Motor Speedway.
 Juan Pablo Montoya - (Sprint Cup & Nationwide) First victory for a Hispanic driver in NASCAR’s top series.
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