That view of the sport is certainly changing beginning with brehanna daniels. Now, theres bubba wallace, the first black driver to drive at the daytona 500 in almost 50 years. Wendell scott, who was entered into the nascar hall of fame in 2015, was among the first african american nascar drivers in history, as was elias bowie. Norfleet, who lives in augusta, ga, is often hailed as the worlds first female, africanamerican nascar driver shes the first to be licensed by. May 24, 2019 africanamericans comprise just 8 percent of nascar s fan base. And she is the first black woman to be licensed by nascar. The 25yearold is the daughter of racing veteran bobby norfleet. Tia norfleet, whose father was also a racer, is one of the few female drivers in nascar. Over the past year, tia norfleet has gotten significant publicity centered around being the only licensed africanamerican female nascar driver. Melissa harvillelebron is the first africanamerican woman to own a nascar racing team which happens to be the first multicultural team in the sport.
Nascar 1st black female driver tia norfleet is really a. The adrenaline and skill of driving at high speeds resides in the bloodline of the norfleet family, and the love and passion for the sport has been. Scott was the first africanamerican nascar driver and the first africanamerican to win a. Dec 27, 2012 tia norfleet was recently licensed as nascars first africanamerican female driver.
Stone enterprises and owner of e2 northeast motorsports, and her racing. Jun 03, 2018 melissa harvillelebron is the first africanamerican woman to own a nascar racing team which happens to be the first multicultural team in the sport. Tia norfleet is racing to become first black woman driver in nascar tia norfleet, the daughter of driver bobby norfleet, is ready to make tracks of her own in the most segregated sport. Tia norfleet on being first african american female nascar. But it wasnt the breakthrough moment it might sound like.
Jun 06, 2018 theres even a story as far back as 2015 about harvillelebron being the first black woman team owner in nascar, yet it curiously omits any reference to an actual team like, you know, competing. Scott was entered into the nascar hall of fame in 2015. Mar 07, 2018 according to a representative from nascar, while harvillelebron is the first black women to be the sole owner of a nascar team, jennifer satterfieldsiegel is the first women of color to coown a. Meet tia norfleet, a suffolk, va native who is the worlds first black, female nascar driver.
Jan 21, 20 tia norfleet is the 1st african american female nascar driver. When i first started in formula 1, i tried to ignore the fact i was the first black guy ever to race in the sport. The incredible story of wendell scott, nascars first black. Suffolk, va bornaugusta, ga residing auto racer, tia norfleet, sits down with dj smallz and reflects on being the first african american female. In 2004, norfleet became the first black woman to gain a nascar late model series racing license. Mar 07, 20 over the past year, tia norfleet has gotten significant publicity centered around being the only licensed africanamerican female nascar driver. The road to nascar has not been fast for tia norfleet. The adrenaline and skill of driving at high speeds resides in the. Nascars 1st black female tire changers inspirational message.
His secondplace finish at daytona was the highest finish ever by an africanamerican in the daytona 500, and it was the highest finish by an africanamerican in a nascar top series in 47 years. Nascars first female african american driver tia norfleet. He is the first black race director in nascar history. Shauntia latrice tia norfleet born may 1, 1986 in suffolk, virginia is an africanamerican drag racing and stock car racing driver. Feb 21, 2018 norfleet, who lives in augusta, ga, is often hailed as the worlds first female, africanamerican nascar driver shes the first to be licensed by both nascar and arca, the automobile racing club. Jun 17, 2011 tia norfleet is racing to become first black woman driver in nascar tia norfleet, the daughter of driver bobby norfleet, is ready to make tracks of her own in the most segregated sport. Mar 23, 2018 but shauntia latrice norfleet, better known as tia norfleet, is an african american and a woman. The first black woman to own a nascar team completed her first official race feb. Meet tia norfleet, the first ever licensed black woman racer. May 31, 2012 tia norfleet, the first african american female nascar driver.
Oct 26, 2018 in 20, christmas abbott became nascar s first fulltime female member of a pit crew. This black history month, we honor the game changers. First black woman to own a nascar team is ready to race the. Programs like drive for diversity, which started in 2004, aim to expand the reach of historically underrepresented groups in the sport through a series of internships, pittraining programs, and driver courses through rev racing. Meet tia norfleet, the 1st black female nascar driver. May 03, 2018 cheryl white was first out of the gate. Tia norfleet first female africanamerican nascar driver. First black female nascar owner rolls out team black. Meet nicole lyons, first black female race car driver.
Cheryl white was first out of the gate the undefeated. This outing was the first of two scheduled probationary rides for. Meet tia norfleet, the first africanamerican female nascar driver and daughter of legendary nascar driver bobby norfleet. Jun 15, 2010 move over danica patrick, there is a new female race car driver in town and her name is nicole lyons and shes black and gorgeouslyons is a second generation drag racer. When we think of women in nascar we often think of internationally celebrated danica patrick, however theres one woman in particular we should be paying more attention to. How tia norfleet, the first black, female nascar driver, is shattering barriers by keandreashelby posted on march 2, 2018 0 2 m read in a sport where females are still a rarity, tia norfleet has become the first africanamerican female driver to be certified by nascar and arca the automobile racing club of america. The career of nascars first black female driver has been. The daughter of nascar driver bobby norfleet, she has competed on a limited basis in late model racing, but claims regarding her racing career have become the subject of controversy.
Theres even a story as far back as 2015 about harvillelebron being the first black woman team owner in nascar, yet it curiously omits any reference to an actual team like, you know, competing. Dec 27, 2012 meet tia norfleet nascars first black female racer tia is the daughter of bobby norfleet, a former nascar driver who was first spotted at the age of 14 racing karts and is now moving on to. The official site of the 1st african american female nascar racing star tia norfleet. Tia norfleet was recently licensed as nascars first africanamerican female driver. Meet tia norfleet nascars first black female racer tia is the daughter of bobby norfleet, a former nascar driver who was first spotted at the age of 14 racing karts and is now moving on to. Before that, she was an aerospace engineer, but by 1972, she raced fulltime. First africanamerican female nascar driver embellishing. Tia norfleet, the first african american female nascar driver. Scott was the first africanamerican nascar driver and. For years, stock car driver tia norfleet was heralded as a shining example of diversity in the historically notsodiverse nascar. Meet tia norfleet, nascars first black female driver. Suffolk, va bornaugusta, ga residing auto racer, tia norfleet, sits down with dj smallz and reflects on being the first african american female nascar driver, discusses females in the male. Woman claims to be first black female nascar owner. According to a representative from nascar, while harvillelebron is the first black women to be the sole owner of a nascar team, jennifer satterfieldsiegel is the first women of color to coown a.
Jun 08, 2018 a 2016 story by a local news outlet in charlotte states that harvillelebron is the first black woman to have a nascar owners license and that her team would make its truck series debut in 2016. I think my story is still being written from when i started, to now, i think that what i stand for is so much bigger than me, said norfleet. A 2016 story by a local news outlet in charlotte states that harvillelebron is the first black woman to have a nascar owners license and that her team would make its truck series debut in 2016. Tia norfleet nascars first female african american driver. First africanamerican female nascar driver embellishing her racing level.
How tia norfleet, the first black, female nascar driver. Norfleet, who lives in augusta, ga, is often hailed as the worlds first female, africanamerican nascar driver shes the first to be licensed by both nascar and arca, the automobile racing club. But, as ive got older, ive really started to appreciate the implications. When you think of nascar, the first words that come to mind typically arent african american, or female. Tia norfleet, nascars first africanamerican female driver. In 2012, despite the myriad of records and firsts for africanamericans in sports, one franchise has yet to see its first africanamerican female member. Sep 23, 2011 but now that hes retired from the sport, tia is looking to fill his patchcovered racing jumpsuit and helmut as the first african american female nascar driver. Feb 27, 2018 last nascar season, brehanna daniels made history when she became the first africanamerican woman to pit a car in one of the sports national series races. Norfleet is a history maker because she is the first africanamerican woman to be licensed by both nascar, national association of stock car auto racing, and arca, the automobile racing club of america. At just 24 years old, brehanna daniels holds the title of the first african american female nascar pit crew member. Mar 01, 2018 at just 24 years old, brehanna daniels holds the title of the first african american female nascar pit crew member. Patrick would record a major milestone by clinching the pole position in the 2012 drive4copd 300, being the first female driver to clinch it since shawna robinson. The daughter of nascar driver bobby norfleet, she has competed on a.
Is melissa harvillelebron nascars first black female owner. Tia norfleet is racing to become first black woman driver in. The official website of tia norfleet the official site. Feb 02, 2016 on december 1st, 1963, scott was the first africanamerican driver to win a nascar premier series race, at speedway park in jacksonville, florida. Meet nascars first black woman pit crew member teen vogue. She was on pit road the next day in the xfinity series as well. To be the first black woman to own a nascar team is an amazing accomplishment.
Mar 20, 2016 the norfleet family has deep connections to trailblazing, legendary racer no. Lebron said, our goal is to impact all forms of motorsports worldwide. She has been touted in the media as the first black woman to race. Nascar drives diversity with black history milestones. He became the first black driver to earn a cup win when he raced at a small track called speedway park in 1963. Meet tia norfleet, the first ever licensed black woman. Nascar history was made in 1961, when wendell scott became the first black driver to race at the sports top level. Jun 06, 2017 nascar history was made in 1961, when wendell scott became the first black driver to race at the sports top level. Sep 11, 2016 suffolk, va bornaugusta, ga residing auto racer, tia norfleet, sits down with dj smallz and reflects on being the first african american female nascar driver, discusses females in the male. At the same time, he became the first fulltime africanamerican driver in the top nascar series since 1971. Now, theres bubba wallace, the first black driver to. First black woman to own a nascar team is ready to race.
Being f1s first black driver is important lewis hamilton. Nascar 1st black female driver tia norfleet is really a fraud. Wendell scott was the first black driver in nascar and the first to win a race at its highest level. Shauntia latrice tia norfleet is an africanamerican drag racing and stock car racing driver. This outing was the first of two scheduled probationary rides for the 5foot3, 107pound. Everyday heroes whose actions make life better for the. First black female nascar owner rolls out team daytona the subway jalapeno 250 at daytona international speedway last friday, was the inaugural race for one of the most unique teams and causes ever to come to the nascar nationwide series. Her aspirations of dominating one of americas fastestgrowing sports as the first africanamerican female driver has been slowed. Its a pretty cool feeling to be the person to knock down a barrier just like the williams sisters did in tennis or tiger woods in golf. The huffington posts jordan schultz has profiled the woman who just might become the first africanamerican female nascar driver. Tia norfleet broke barriers last year becoming the first female africanamerican to get licensed as nascar driver, but shes recently coming under fire for what level of racing she is actually licensed for. Mar 07, 20 tia norfleet, daughter of bobby norfleet, who broke into nascar in the 1990s, has become sort of a media sensation for being the first and only licensed africanamerican female nascar driver. The following is a list of female nascar drivers who have participated in a national.
During a nascar truck series race back in june, brehanna daniels made history at dover international speedway when became the first africanamerican woman to pit a car in one of nascars national series races. Is tia norfleet really the first africanamerican female. Ribbs competed in many forms of auto racing, including the transam series, indycar. First and only africanamerican female licensed by nascar. But now that hes retired from the sport, tia is looking to fill his patchcovered racing jumpsuit and helmut as the first african american female nascar driver. Meet shauntia norfleet, nascars first africanamerican female driver. Daniels played basketball at norfolk state before being. She was heralded as a pioneer as nascars first and only africanamerican female driver. Tia norfleet is the first black female to be licensed by nascar. Tia norfleet, the 24yearold daughter of a professional racer. Africanamerican single mom is first black woman to own. In 1976, she came in 15 th during the nascar winston cup race. Tia norfleet is the 1st african american female nascar driver. Be next sat down with the suffolk, virginia, nativeand the first woman to ever be issued a license by nascarto discuss her plight as she looks to move beyond drag racing and qualify for the longer distance tracks, such as daytona and talladega.
Tia norfleet is racing to become first black woman driver. Oct 26, 2019 janet guthrie was the first female nascar driver to qualify and compete in the indianapolis 500 and daytona 500. Meet tia norfleet nascars first ever african american female driver. Not only had she never imagined making history, she also never aspired to work. Be next sat down with the suffolk, virginia, nativeand the first woman to ever be issued a license by nascarto discuss her plight as she looks to move beyond drag racing and. Last nascar season, brehanna daniels made history when she became the first africanamerican woman to pit a car in one of the sports national series races. Africanamericans comprise just 8 percent of nascars fan base.
Jan 31, 2012 in 2012, despite the myriad of records and firsts for africanamericans in sports, one franchise has yet to see its first africanamerican female member. Melissa harvillelebron never imagined that her entrepreneurial pursuits and ambitions would lead her to make history as. The release announced tia norfleet as the first and only africanamerican female driver in nascar and arca, and said she had signed to be represented by platinum sports entertainment group. Meet tia norfleet nascars first ever african american. The 20something from georgia was featured in numerous national publications, including espn, the washington post, the huffington post, and our own bso. In 20, christmas abbott became nascars first fulltime female member of a pit crew. The norfleet family has deep connections to trailblazing, legendary racer no.