NASCAR changing for the better

where are his creditials? where has he raced and at what levels? when did he start racing, what tracks, who backed him? Did somebody just all of a sudden say lets get a black guy and put him up in front of everybody else that have busted there asses all they're life trying to make it!!! I know for a fact that the only reason wendell scott made what noise he did, was because fireball roberts, curtis turner and other top drivers gave him they're hand me down parts and tires; therefore he had more than a lot of the other racers had even though they were used! you see fireball, turner and the rest of those guys were giving him factory equipment, even used it was twice as good as what the rest had!!! take that and chew on it!! I see a marquee black guy being promoted up the ranks based soley on race! How long is it going to take for the black people to do anything on their on without having to rely on the long time ago (what the white man did to us) thing! this is 2006- 1964 was 42 years ago 2 generations are working and yet i still hear the same excuses!!!!!!!!

Here is a link to Bill Lester website,
http://www.billlester.com/bio.php... ,
you can read all about him and his BIO as to how he got started. I hope this will enlighten you on this man. Please, do not make assumptions about anyone until you know the facts. By me reading his BIO, it DID NOT appear to me that this man has in NO WAY used his race as an excuse to get him were he is today. He is EDUCATED and has WORKED HARD to obatin a level of success in his life.
I hope that this will be of some help to you.

Rodney H.

once again, i say, where are his stats?, Did he ever drive carts or open wheel?, did he he ever build his own car?, did he ever drive dirt?, who gave him his very first ride?! did he suffer through the hard times of racing like i know, or did he get favoritism cause he's black like he's getting now! I'm so sick of people continueing to say the blacks have been deprived!!!!!!!! Dammit this is 2006!!!!!!!!

Here is a link to my understanding of what nascar used to be and how I see it going the way of the dinosaur! I was at the columbia speedway every thurs. night starting in 1959. All the great drivers that started this sport came through there; I saw the petty's, jr. johnson, bobby issac, curtis turner, ned jarrett, and I still to this day, remember the crowd murmuring; uh oh!, there comes earnhardt. you see he always got to track late cause he had to drive down from nc., no interstates then!, but he would usally win the race! So see, I'm from when you had earn your way up! Nascar has sold out to the very same people that just 10 years ago said nascar is not a sport, just a bunch of rednecks going round and round!!!!

tommy wrote:

Here is a link to my understanding of what nascar used to be and how I see it going the way of the dinosaur! I was at the columbia speedway every thurs. night starting in 1959. All the great drivers that started this sport came through there; I saw the petty's, jr. johnson, bobby issac, curtis turner, ned jarrett, and I still to this day, remember the crowd murmuring; uh oh!, there comes earnhardt. you see he always got to track late cause he had to drive down from nc., no interstates then!, but he would usally win the race! So see, I'm from when you had earn your way up! Nascar has sold out to the very same people that just 10 years ago said nascar is not a sport, just a bunch of rednecks going round and round!!!!

First off you start off this paragraph by saying “how NASCAR used to be” Well for all intents and purposes, who cares. It’s not that way anymore. If you’re worried about the sport selling out, it did that years ago. I still enjoy my Saturday night local races better and I consider them two different types of sports. But for you to make the claim that he’s getting special treatment because he’s black is just unfounded. This isn’t some stereo typical black urbanite who most white people equate to someone on BET. This isn’t a man who is on a mission for equal rights. He’s simply a guy, who like you and me loves racing. Oh and he happens to be black. This doesn’t mean that the media won’t run this into the ground like they did with Tiger Woods. Who after years is finally a great golfer, not a golfer who’s a minority. If we want to talk about special treatment then let me ask you a couple questions. What did Dale Jr. do before he got into the BGN? If you follow the sport you would understand that some of these guys were champions in prior racing leagues, not all. My other question, does a father who buys a go kart for his kid constitute as “hard work” for the kid? Just because some kids dad live vicariously through their children and spend their college fund on go-karts at the age of 6, doesn’t mean that the kid “worked” their way up. It has lot to do with money and eventually who you know. Bill Lester is smarter than a lot of people. He is educated and self made. He left a really good job to peruse a racing career. If you have ever raced at a local events you would know how expensive it is to run a full year. So to me this guy earned it. He gambled and it payed off. He sacrificed his living to do this. Dale Jr. was set for life, what did he have to lose. I know Dale Sr. says he was hard on him, but it’s way harder for an outsider to make it in the sport. It’s even harder if your name isn’t Wallace, Labonte, Earhhardt, and any future Stewart Jr’s or Gorden Jr’s. Look how many people are related right now! So don’t wine about how unfair it is for this guy to make it. In NASCAR it takes a lot of help from a lot of people to even get near the pits for one of these teams. Look how bad Michael Waltrip was in NASCAR, if wasn’t for his FRIEND Dale Sr. he would have never had a chance to race on a competitive team, and he even had the help of a famous last name. Black of white it’s tough for everyone. Yes it’s a little optimistic for a team to take a black guy over a white guy, but one cannot judge NASCAR or the team for trying to market themselves by getting a little free P.R, after all these cars are billboards. I’m sure if he starts racing well we’ll be hit with a media barrage ala Danica Patrick. However if one is to blame a league for helping some one unfairly then they should start with these names, Kyle Petty, Dale Earnhardt Jr. There are plenty more, but I don’t think we need to go farther.

You are telling me he should get a free ride because of somebody else? What does that make us all want to do?, sit back and say it's my turn! This is excatly why America and all it's funtions including Sports are so out of whack!!!! Ya'll continue to have fun watching the deteriation of sports as it is! I'm just so glad I had the chance to see it in it's purest form before tv took hold; telling you and showing you what they want you see!!! Oh yes peace to all; I'm not mad or angry!

tommy wrote:

You are telling me he should get a free ride because of somebody else? What does that make us all want to do?, sit back and say it's my turn! This is excatly why America and all it's funtions including Sports are so out of whack!!!! Ya'll continue to have fun watching the deteriation of sports as it is! I'm just so glad I had the chance to see it in it's purest form before tv took hold; telling you and showing you what they want you see!!! Oh yes peace to all; I'm not mad or angry!

Tommy, why don't you just sit back and let us "ENJOY THE RIDE"...If you don't want to see progress being made, then shame on you, but please, don't spoil it for others! Generations from now will marvels at the advancement of this century...why can't you?

tommy wrote:

where are his creditials? where has he raced and at what levels? when did he start racing, what tracks, who backed him? Did somebody just all of a sudden say lets get a black guy and put him up in front of everybody else that have busted there asses all they're life trying to make it!!! I know for a fact that the only reason wendell scott made what noise he did, was because fireball roberts, curtis turner and other top drivers gave him they're hand me down parts and tires; therefore he had more than a lot of the other racers had even though they were used! you see fireball, turner and the rest of those guys were giving him factory equipment, even used it was twice as good as what the rest had!!! take that and chew on it!! I see a marquee black guy being promoted up the ranks based soley on race! How long is it going to take for the black people to do anything on their on without having to rely on the long time ago (what the white man did to us) thing! this is 2006- 1964 was 42 years ago 2 generations are working and yet i still hear the same excuses!!!!!!!!

Hes been in Craftsman Truck for two years that his credentials you f**king moron. Why do you care theres 42 spots to fill on the track so what if he hasnt done a cup race thats why the feild is so big so different people can try their hand n racing.Your just a sorry racist bastard

tommy wrote:

You are telling me he should get a free ride because of somebody else? What does that make us all want to do?, sit back and say it's my turn! This is excatly why America and all it's funtions including Sports are so out of whack!!!! Ya'll continue to have fun watching the deteriation of sports as it is! I'm just so glad I had the chance to see it in it's purest form before tv took hold; telling you and showing you what they want you see!!! Oh yes peace to all; I'm not mad or angry!

So let me get this straight, the Black guy can't get the free ride, but Earnhardt Jr. can. Just checking. Oh and by the way Bill Lester never got a free ride! The only thing that he will get more of for free is PR. And that's only because of people like you never let minorities like him into your little club. So you will be bombarded with Bill Lester stories for a long time. Do you get it. It's only a big deal because of racists like you never let minorities partake in events like this. I just want to warn you, you probably shouldn't watch any Buffalo Sabres games either, did you hear they have a black guy on the team. That might not be "pure" enough for you!

First off I don't consider myself a moron and I've never stated that anyone who disagrees with me to be one! Also you have shown your immaturity by cursing! Why do you let conversations get you that mad?

To: youknow; all you know about lester is he was in trucks for two years? Second, there are 43 spots to fill in cup racing! established in honor of Richard Petty # 43, and third, I had, and loved, and knew my Father!!! Did you??

Accomplishments and experience by date

2003

Top 10 finish at Kansas Speedway.
Earned first Pole Position at Lowe's Motor Speedway on May 20th
14th place finish in Drivers' Championship (#8 Dodge)
2002

NASCAR Raybestos Rookie of the Year Runner-up
17th place finish in Drivers' Championship (#8 Dodge)
2001

Raced NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series - October 26th - Phoenix, AZ
Raced NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series - September 28th - South Boston, VA
Raced NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series - August 10th - Nashville, TN
Tested Bobby Hamilton Racing NASCAR truck - August 1st - Atlanta, GA
Raced NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series - May 20th - Pikes Peak, CO
Raced NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series - May 6th - Gateway, St. Louis
Raced Grand-Am Cup Series sports car - April 21st - Phoenix, AZ
Tested Bobby Hamilton Racing NASCAR truck - April 16th - Nashville, TN
Raced Grand-Am Cup Series sports car - March 4th - Homestead, FL
Raced Grand-Am Cup Series sports car - February 2nd - Daytona, FL
Raced Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona - February 3rd - Daytona, FL
2000

Tested Bobby Hamilton Racing NASCAR truck - October 12th - Nashville, TN
Raced Motorola Cup Series sports car - September 17th - Alton, VA
Raced Motorola Cup Series sports car - August 27th - Watkins Glen, NY
Raced NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series - April 22nd - Portland, OR
Raced Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona - February 5th - Daytona, FL
1999

Tested Team Kool Green Indy Lights car - December 1st - Firebird, AZ
Tested PPI Team Formula Atlantic car - October 26th - Buttonwillow, CA
Tested Cicci-Welliver NASCAR BGN car - October 12th - Concord, NC
Tested SpecterWerks Grand-Am sports car - September 9th - Gingerman, MI
Raced NASCAR Busch Grand National - June 27th - Watkins Glen, NY
Tested Team Rensi Motorsports ARCA car - May 8th - Anderson, IN
Raced Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona - January 30th - Daytona, FL
1998

Raced Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona - January 31st - Daytona, FL
1996

Raced SCCA World Challenge Series - October 5th - Sonoma, CA
Raced SCCA World Challenge Series - September 21st - Reno, NV
Raced SCCA World Challenge Series - August 25th - Watkins Glen, NY
Raced SCCA World Challenge Series - August 17th - Elkhart Lake, WI
1993

Tested Bondurant SCCA World Challenge car - March 12th - Firebird, AZ
1990

Raced SCCA Trans-Am Series - September 15th - Lexington, OH
Raced SCCA Trans-Am Series - June 23rd - Portland, OR
1989

Raced IMSA GTO Series - September 10th - Sonoma, CA

Again I have to ask the question what kind of dues did Dale Jr. pay to get into the sport. All I found was that he raced in a streetstock car in Concord N.C when he was 17. Then he shot right to BGN, only people with famous lasts names make that jump. So it actually seems as if Lester has payed more "racing" dues, not to mention the fact that he had to take a gamble on a career.

I did exactly what I had in mind; I stirred the pot and got people talking! I don't know bill lester anymore than any of you do, I never said he can't drive or he's dumb or any other innuendoes that I've been accused of! I am not a rascist and if you knew me personally I think you would agree! Case in point! You don't know me, You don't know bill lester, but the media has swayed you in his favor! Good night All and GOD Bless!!!!!

tommy wrote:

I did exactly what I had in mind; I stirred the pot and got people talking! I don't know bill lester anymore than any of you do, I never said he can't drive or he's dumb or any other innuendoes that I've been accused of! I am not a rascist and if you knew me personally I think you would agree! Case in point! You don't know me, You don't know bill lester, but the media has swayed you in his favor! Good night All and GOD Bless!!!!!

The media did their job, they reported on an event, something that hasn’t happened in 20 years. It didn’t sway me. I’m educated enough to understand the importance of an African American racing in a sport where there were only two other blacks have raced before. He was the underdog, and America loves the underdog. It’s not rocket science! As far as you getting people “talking” welcome to 2006 buddy. Don’t try to paint your self as the patron saint of equality. Everyone that wrote into this thread quickly acknowledged your short sidedness. It’s obvious in your rhetoric that you have an ax to grind, and although we may not “know you”, it doesn’t take a genius to decipher your views. In fact judging from your undeveloped views that you have scribed, it is blatantly obvious what you think of Blacks in society. I think Bill Lester is a perfect example of a self made African American man, not a poor man looking for a hand out. Maybe you’re the one who is influenced too much by the media.

Darrell, you win!!!!!!!!

I did not read it but what does this have to do anything about Dale H Jr

YOUKNOW wrote:

<quoted text>Hes been in Craftsman Truck for two years that his credentials you f**king moron. Why do you care theres 42 spots to fill on the track so what if he hasnt done a cup race thats why the feild is so big so different people can try their hand n racing.Your just a sorry racist bastard

we,, he old school we hear stay in school ??????

Tommy, the guy who started this is a very interesting fellow. He is obviously an expert on every black driver in the history of the sport. He's even an expert on Wendell Scott because he saw him race.

Oh, goodie!

Dude, you don't know spit about Scott. I know people in Danville, VA, who know the real deal on Wendell Scott. And by the way, if you are not a black man who felt the sting of being a soldier in World War II, who ran moonshine better than any white boy in Virginia, and who single-handedly made it to the top division in NASCAR with thousands of white people hoping that you would stuff it in the wall every week that you raced, you don't qualify to tell me or anybody else about Wendell Scott.

WENDELL SCOTT IS A MEMBER OF THE INTERNATIONAL MOTORSPORTS HALL OF FAME.

His life speaks for itself and you hardly qualify to put your slant on it. Just because you are a spectator, does not make you an expert, I don't care how long you've been a fan. So what other teams gave Scott parts, they gave James Hylton parts too! Does that make him less deserving too?

You get to the NEXTEL Cup level ANYWAY YOU CAN. There is no book on it, there is no manual to follow. It takes hard work, and it takes a lot of phone calls, a lot of handshakes and a lot of personal contact to get a chance to race in NASCAR's top three divisions.

And get this...

Once you are there, the job just begins. You have to prove you deserve to be there to stay there. You have to make sponsors happy, you have to make the fans happy. You have to sacrefice time with your family. NASCAR becomes not just your job, it becomes the reason you live, so don't tell me what it takes to qualify for the job because NOBODY is there that has not put in the work and sacreficed something else in their own life to be there.

Lester gave up a six-figure income as a computer engineer with a fortune 500 company to pursue NASCAR. Have you ever made a personal sacrefice like that?

Probably not.

Most people would have the stones to do that, especially when he's got a family to support. Dale Earnhardt Jr's sacrefices pale in compairison. Thanks Darrell for putting down Lester's accomplishments. For some reason Mr. Tommy thought that Lester just woke up one morning as said "Ima go NASCAR racin'!

It don't work like that Tommy.

When you make statements like "What has he done?" That means that you did not care to go to his website and look it up. You did not care to look at the fact that he's won over a million dollars in career truck series earnings. That he beat out a group of drivers for the right to drive in Dodge's Diversity Truck Program. Earned, earned, earned, and earned.

The people who look up Lester's accomplishments and qualifications are those who CARE ABOUT HIM. Those who don't, say things like you do. That does not make you look very smart because what you say comes from a place of ignorance that we passed up when we got into junior high school.

Please spare us that.

Johnson I hope you win the championship race ok! Try your hardest to get in the top 5.