16 replies to this topic

[Jim Thurman]

With all the coverage here stateside of Bill Lester qualifying for the Atlanta Cup race, I want to put something out there that's bothered me for some time...

For many years, Wendell Scott was listed as the first black driver to start a race in NASCAR's top series. Then it became Joie Ray. There seems to be some dispute over Joie Ray's status. To the point where the Atlanta Journal-Constitution even reported in a series on black racing drivers, that Charlie Scott was the first to make a NASCAR start (in 1956), going so far as to point out that Joie Ray was an error that has become widely reported and has been disputed by racing historians. Or this is localism striking since Charlie Scott was from the Atlanta area?

The Joie Ray that ran a Henry J at Daytona on the beach course in 1952 was listed as being from Portland, Oregon. The Joie Ray that was the open wheel driver was from Louisville, Kentucky. Is this part of the error? Were there two different drivers with similar names? Brian Pratt, in doing your research, have you run across a Joie Ray - or similar spelling, racing in the Northwest U.S.?

I realize that in this forum, this is probably just thinking out loud, but it's the sort of issue I feel should be brought up.

Unsurprisingly, I've noticed greatly varying accounts in U.S. media as to how many black drivers have made Cup starts. USA Today has Lester being the 4th (definitely not correct), Bill Center of the San Diego Union-Tribune has Lester being #6 and lists everyone from Charlie Scott on. A Los Angeles sportscaster (Rob Fukuzaki KABC 7) had Lester being "only the second black driver" - and first since Willy T. Ribbs. Terribly wrong. I urge anyone concerned with racing history to contact KABC at (abc7la.com or via phone - listed on the web site) and point this out, with the rain out Mr. Fukuzaki will be the one reading highlights tomorrow. The more people that contact, the more the point is made.

For the record...

Drivers - year they made first start

Joie Ray - 1952 Daytona
Charlie Scott - 1956 Daytona
Wendell Scott - 1952 Spartanburg (495 starts - last: '73 Charlotte)
George Wiltshire - 1971 Islip (+ '75 Pocono)
Randy Bethea - 1975 Charlotte
Willy T. Ribbs - 1986 No. Wilkesboro (+ 2 more '86)

Wiltshire also ran several NASCAR PCLM races in the Western U.S. in the late 60's when he was based in Oakland, California.

[rgsuspsa]

Jim: Thank you for posting about black drivers in NASCAR. As a southerner born in 1951, as a child I witnessed the horror of racism against blacks in every aspect of southern society.
My respect extends to any discriminated against person/group who refuses to be held back from participation in society, wherever they may live on this planet.

Ron Sparks

[ensign14]

Was there not another driver in the late 50s/early 60s? One wonders about drivers with nicknames like "Burrhead" Nantz, which ISTR was a racial slur.

[bpratt]

Jim,
For those who didn't see my post to your question on the Yahoo groups Racing History site I didn't find any Joie/Joey Ray running at Portland from the information I have. Looked at stock car racing -- Pacific Stock Car Racing Association and NASCAR and even some hard top racing -- from 1946 through 1957.

[Ralliart]

Rob Fukuzawa? Typical local TV sports reader. Knows baseball, basketball and football. Urging people to contact misinformed/unimformed sports readers reminds me of two examples - not motor racing - In 1996 I was watching CNN when there sports reader announced that Bailey Donovan (should have been Donovan Bailey) had won the Olympic 100 meters, and then continued to report it that way the rest of the night. CNN, also, when Jimmie Reese, the long-time California Angels baseball coach (and one-time teammate of Babe Ruth) passed away several years ago, accompanying footage was shown of... Pee Wee Reese. This time, I called them and then didn't run the footage after that. George Michaels of "Sportsmachine" fame used to cover NASCAR really well but I think his producers lost the plot when they brought in a partner so I don't know anymore. But he might've been as misnformed as Fukuzawa. Gets down to respective researchers doing their job.

[HDonaldCapps]

Although this question is being posed as to the first in the Grand National Division, I was under the impression that the first African American to run in NASCAR did so in the modified division -- or one of the other divisions of the time -- prior to 1952, as early as the 1940s. As for the Grand National Division, I always thought it was Joie Ray, but my materials and I are separated by a few thousand miles, so....

[Jesper O. Hansen]

Slightly OT, but..

Seing that Willy T. Ribbs is mentioned, I seem to half remember a story about US TV-personality Walter Cronkite sponsered Ribbs' first NASCAR Winston Cup start in the late 1970's. Willy got caught up (in Atlanta?) with other businesses and was prevented from making his debut, which left a free seat for one Dale Earnhardt Sr. Any thruth to this story?

Jesper

[conjohn]

From Fielden vol 4:

About the World 600 at Charlotte May 28, 1978.

"Earhardt, who brought out the sixth and final caution flag, was in a Ford owned by Will Cronkite (my bold). The ride had been made available to Willy T. Ribbs, noted 23 year-old road racing driver, who was brought in by track promoter Humpy Wheeler. Ribbs failed to show for two designated practice sessions, and he was arrested for driving the wrong way on a one-way street in Charlotte."

This was The Intimidator's fifth Cup start, having debuted at the 1975 World 600 in a Negre Dodge.

/Conny

[RS2000]

I wasn't reading "Grand National Scene" until later in 78 and I only arrived in the USA in June 78 but I'm sure I read about Ribbs' test at Charlotte, set up by Humpy Wheeler, as current "news". Could it have been a year later?

[Jim Thurman]

Update:

I should have posted this earlier in the week, but I've had a busy week and I'm now just beginning to catch up...

As Brian Pratt mentioned, I also posted this in the Racing History group and it can now be confirmed that Joie Ray was not the first black/African-American driver to compete in NASCAR's top series (then known as Grand National). So, those listing Charlie Scott as the first and Bill Lester as the sixth overall, are correct.

The response to my question at RH was outstanding. Historian Don Radbruch, who occasionally posts here, mentioned he has a photo of Joie Ray at Daytona Beach in 1952, standing alongside his Henry J - and he is definitely a caucasian man.

Tom Williams, who has written on racing in the Indiana/Kentucky area, and is personally well acquainted with the Sprint Car racer Joie Ray, contacted him via phone and Joie told Tom that he did race Stock Cars, but with AAA and USAC and never raced with NASCAR. Tom also added that confusion between the two caused problems, as the Louisville Joie Ray was threatened with suspension by the AAA for competing in an unsanctioned race - a race he had not competed in. Apparently, the officials went by solely by name, instead of further checking.

Then Allan E. Brown contacted premier Stock Car historian Greg Fielden who added that he originally had Joie Ray as the first in early editions of his books, but has since made a correction in later editions.

And Don, I loathe shortening and complain of it in media usage and I realize Modifieds and Strictly Stock racing came before Grand National in NASCAR, but I didn't think "Joie Ray - first black driver in NASCAR's top series...or not?" would quite fit. And to be blunt, at the time, my brain couldn't come up with it and I was anxious to get the question posted. If Stuart can make the change, by all means. Perhaps "First African-American driver in NASCAR's Top Series?"

Now, this leaves me wondering about the white "Joie Ray" listed as from Portland, Oregon. No one seems familiar with him. It's possible there was another Joseph/Joe/Joey Ray, but to also use the same uncommon spelling of Joie seems highly unlikely. It comes off like someone using an alias - albeit borrowing an existing driver's name.

One situation clarified and sorted, now, who was this other Joie Ray?

Thanks for the reply Brian.

[Jim Thurman]

Originally posted by RS2000
I wasn't reading "Grand National Scene" until later in 78 and I only arrived in the USA in June 78 but I'm sure I read about Ribbs' test at Charlotte, set up by Humpy Wheeler, as current "news". Could it have been a year later?

No, because in '79 Earnhardt was driving for Rod Osterlund.

And Jesper, Walter Cronkite was quite a racing fan, doing coverage for CBS at an early Daytona International Speedway event, driving at Sebring and IIRC, doing some practice laps around the Daytona oval (I want to say in a Pontiac Tempest).

[Jim Thurman]

Originally posted by ensign14
Was there not another driver in the late 50s/early 60s? One wonders about drivers with nicknames like "Burrhead" Nantz, which ISTR was a racial slur.

I can't confirm it, but I have reason to believe a driver in one of the 1950's NASCAR GN races held on the West Coast might have been black/African-American.

I'm not aware of anyone else, and sadly ensign14, nicknames far worse than "Burrhead" were sometimes applied perjoratively to white drivers due to perceived physical resemblances/stereotypes.

This was something that went on not just in racing, as I'm aware of several baseball players similarly nicknamed.

[flat-16]

As a side-note, am I correct to assume that Willy T Ribbs is the only black driver ever to be granted a "superlicense", thus making him the only black person that's ever been eligible to compete in Formula One?

Justin

[RS2000]

Originally posted by Jim Thurman

No, because in '79 Earnhardt was driving for Rod Osterlund.

Then did Ribbs actually get to run a test at Charlotte in 79 (and wasn't quick enough and ruffled some feathers with outspoken comments?). Or am I completely off the planet?
I know Earnhart ran his full rookie year with Osterlund in 79 because I saw David Pearson substitute in that car and win at Darlington in September (a crowd-pleasing result , as he was sacked from the Woods brothers ride after the pits mix up there in April).

[Graham Clayton]

Here is an interesting article about the African-American Stock Car Association based at Atlanta, Georgia in the late 1940's and early 1950's:

http://www.racintoda...m/archives/8574

[m.tanney]

It appears that there was more than one racing driver named Joie Ray. One was African-American. He did not race in NASCAR. The other, who was apparently caucasian, did. This webpage may help to clear things up.

It seems that Elias Bowie was the first black driver in NASCAR's premier series.

Edited by m.tanney, 05 March 2012 - 23:32.

[Jim Thurman]

It appears that there was more than one racing driver named Joie Ray. One was African-American. He did not race in NASCAR. The other, who was apparently caucasian, did. This webpage may help to clear things up.

It seems that Elias Bowie was the first black driver in NASCAR's premier series.

Yes, this was a thread that evolved from popular thought to accurate. See post #10, where this was sorted out.

And, Elias Bowie is exactly who I was looking at when I posted the following. http://forums.autosp...a...t&p=2317653

Edited by Jim Thurman, 06 March 2012 - 03:53.