Posted on 03/20/2006 5:29:43 PM PST by freepatriot32
HAMPTON, Ga. - Bill Lester was proud of his accomplishment, though a little embarrassed by all the attention.
"I'm looking forward to when it's about racing instead of race," he said.
Lester became the first black driver to compete in NASCAR's top series since Willy T. Ribbs in 1986, finishing six laps off the pace in 38th place Monday at the Golden Corral 500, won by Kasey Kahne.
The 45-year-old Lester, a regular in NASCAR's Craftsman Truck Series since 2002, accomplished one of his stated goals, avoiding a crash and racing to the end of the 500-mile race, postponed on Sunday because of rain.
"It was a very significant learning experience for me," Lester said. "It was fun to be out there with them. This is just the beginning and we have two more (Nextel Cup) races to go.
"I got a late start in my career and I'm trying to catch up as quick as I can."
Lester said he hopes he earned some respect from the other Cup drivers.
"I was able to bring it home in one piece and able to build up my database of knowledge," he said. "There were some opportunities for me to take some chances and I could have gotten in the way. But I'm not trying to do that."
Lester, scheduled to drive two more Cup races this year _ at Michigan International Speedway in June and California Speedway in September _ said, "I'm eager. I can't hardly wait until June."
Asked who he was representing on the racetrack, the smile Lester had been wearing since the end of the race disappeared.
"I represented myself," he said. "I'm doing this for myself and for my family.
"I'm glad so many people, especially from the minority community, have taken note of what it is I'm doing, but I drive for Bill Lester. At the end of the day, if it wasn't for my self belief, I wouldn't be here."
The top Cup rookie in 2004, Kahne slumped last year. But he's started this season with four strong performances, including an 11th-place run at Daytona and two fourth-place finishes before earning the second victory of his career.
His first win came last May in Richmond and was the highlight of a difficult sophomore season.
"We had momentum," said Kahne, who also finished second to Jeff Burton in Saturday's Busch Series race here. "We've had momentum all weekend long.
"Man, to win at Atlanta, one of my favorites racetracks, is so cool."
It was the first victory at Atlanta for a Dodge in 29 years, since Richard Petty won here in 1977. It was also only the fourth win by a Charger since the model was introduced at the start of the 2005 season.
Struggling with a balance problem, only Kahne, his Evernham Motorsports teammate Jeremy Mayfield and Penske Racing South driver Ryan Newman won with Chargers last year. The car has been such a handful that two Dodge teams, Penske and Petty Enterprises, have gone back to the 2004 Intrepids for some races.
Kahne said Monday's victory was significant because he was able to overcome early handling problems with adjustments by his crew during the race.
"Everything that's gone on has been a plus for us," Kahne said. "The Chargers they've built for us at Evernham Motorsports and the engines, everything is running really well. It just took us a little time today to get it right."
Mark Martin made a late run at Kahne, driving his Ford alongside and nosing ahead of Kahne's No. 9 Charger 12 laps from the end of the 325-lap event. But Martin had to back off when his car began to slide and he was not able to challenge the leader again.
Kahne, who led 85 laps, including the final 80, finished 1.929 seconds _ about 20 car lengths _ ahead of Martin.
We just couldn't beat Kasey," Martin said. "He was strong there at the end and really got up on the wheel when I got up with him there at the end. Man, I thought I was going to have a win here."
Dale Earnhardt Jr. was third, his best finish of the year. He was followed by Jeff Gordon, reigning series champion Tony Stewart, Jimmie Johnson and Paul Menard, making only his third Cup start.
Johnson, who won two races and finished second in the other heading into Monday's event, will go to Bristol, Tenn., next weekend holding a 50-point lead over new runner-up Kahne in the standings.
Matt Kenseth, who came into the race in second, was one of several drivers who had tire problems Monday and, after running near the front several times, finished 13th and now trails Johnson by 78 points.
Monday, with fewer than 20,000 of the estimated 80,000 spectators returning after sitting in the rain hoping in vain for the race to start Sunday, the race was run under a blanket of gray clouds with temperatures in the low 50s. But the predicted rain held off.
NASCAR driver Bill Lester runs in his #23 Waste Management Dodge in his first Cup Series race during the NASCAR Golden Corral 500 auto race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, in Hampton, Ga., Monday, March 20, 2006. ">Lester, 45, is the first black driver to race in NASCAR's top series since Willy T. Ribbs in 1986. (AP Photo/John Amis)
rumour has it your a nascar fan so i thought id ping you to this thread :-)
nascar ping
"I represented myself," he said. "I'm doing this for myself and for my family.
Good answer!
This is one thing I like about racing you have to make it on your own merits....I wish him continued success.....
"Bill Lester was proud of his accomplishment, though a little embarrassed by all the attention.
"I'm looking forward to when it's about racing instead of race," he said."
I'm a long time NASCAR fan (Go!! Dale Junior!! Go!!), and I really respect this guy and his attitude. I hope to see him in the winners circle soon. I just wish that he were driving a Chevy as opposed to a crappy Dodge.
Too bad it's Dodge. He's still driving a garbage truck (car). How stereotypical of those NASCAR racists!/sarcasm for those of you in Rio Linda.
rumour has it your a nascar fan so i thought id ping you to this thread :-)
Thanks for the ping! Yes, huge NASCAR fan here. Huge Dale Junior fan here. :)
I saw the interviews they gave Lester. Pretty neat!
He drives a Toyota (truck)...so thats cool.
"He drives a Toyota (truck)...so thats cool."
This is one thing that's happening in NASCAR that I am completely opposed to. Toyotas or any other foreign brand just don't belong, in my opinion. I understand why they are being allowed, however. I just don't like it.
I dont mind.
+ I've always owned Toyotas.
I think it'll be good for the sport.
As for Bill Lester being newsworthy, unfortunately there's historical reasons for that. The last time a black man won a top-line NASCAR race, a white driver was announced as the winner so that ignorant racists wouldn't riot.
Whether or not that is relevant 40+ years later is open to debate, but historical fact is historical fact.
-Eric
He for all practical purposes finished dead last, those who finished behind him were the rolling wrecks. But I give him credit he made it without incident and given the hoopla over his entry that is a major accomplishment. He does have a great screen persona and he is a competent driver so I think he is a good choice for a second tier team to take on as a driver. It will be good when he can put the "diversity" crap behind him and get a little racier.
When it comes to the cars running in the Winston.....err....the Nextel Cup Series, you can bet your bottom dollar that I am a purist. Ford, Chrysler, or GM.....Toyota, Honda, BMW, Pugeot, Nissan, Mercedes, KIA, need not apply. They might have factories here, but they are NOT AMERICAN.
I'm not turing this into an argument so dont take it that way, I just have a couple questions/comments.
Isnt NASCAR about racing cars that you find on the street?
Sure in the beginning of the Winston cup there were only American cars but today the street is full of foreign mfcturers...whether they are built in the USA or not.
So why not give them a chance to compete?
I dont see it as that only USA cars are allowed...I see it as its based on what manufacturers have sedans driven on the street.
"I'm not turing this into an argument so dont take it that way, I just have a couple questions/comments.
Isnt NASCAR about racing cars that you find on the street?
Sure in the beginning of the Winston cup there were only American cars but today the street is full of foreign mfcturers...whether they are built in the USA or not.
So why not give them a chance to compete?
I dont see it as that only USA cars are allowed...I see it as its based on what manufacturers have sedans driven on the street."
As stated earlier: I am a "purist" of sorts. I remember when you could basically walk into a dealership and buy a car off the showroom floor and take it to the track and race.
I was very disappointed when Ford was allowed to run the Taurus in the Cup Series because there has never been a Taurus two-door. Same for the Intrepid/Charger, since they are also 4 door sedans.
If anything, I think that allowing foreign name plates should be restricted to a different series such as Busch or some such. That's just my opinion.
I'm a die-hard Chevy guy and will be for life. I've owned three "rice-grinders" and don't like them and wouldn't think about buying another. Again, that's just my opinion.
Along the same lines, I'm the kind of guy that would have a very difficult time voting for someone that "jumps" party affiliation. There are enough former members of the RAT party now in the GOP that I think that the GOP has been bastardized. Again, just my opinion.
ok, cool.
I look fwd to seeing what that Toyota Camry ("rice-grinder" as you say) can do.
:)
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