AFRICAN-AMERICAN DRIVER MAKES HISTORY AT DAYTONA 500
(Sporting News excerpts)
After 60 years of the Daytona 500, the iconic No. 3 and No. 43 cars finished 1-2 in the Great American Race, bringing the rich history of the sport full circle.
Austin Dillon took Dale Earnhardt Sr.’s famed No. 3 back to victory lane with a last-lap pass Sunday, but the most surprising finish might have been Darrell Wallace Jr. in Richard Petty’s ride. . . .
Wallace’s finish was the highest for a black driver since Wendell Scott was 13th in 1966. Before the race, Wallace received a telephone call from Hank Aaron and was wished good luck from Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton.
“That makes you feel good. It definitely pulls on your heartstrings a little bit, just to know that you’re being watched by so many greats,” . . .
“So, I kind of get that little girl feeling in me, or little boy feeling, or whatever it is. But it was just a great day and a great week for our Click n’ Close team. The new Chevy Camaro ZL1 is in victory lane and the RCR alliance is one-two, so it’s pretty good. It’s good to see the No. 3 back in victory lane here in Daytona with the No. 43 at the top of the board as well.”
Wallace was making just his fifth career Cup Series start after taking over for Aric Almirola in Petty’s No. 43 Chevrolet. The race team transitioned from Ford to Chevy this offseason and moved its race shop to Welcome, N.C. amid downsizing its team.
“Thank you to the King (Petty) for giving me this opportunity putting them second-place, putting Click N’ Close in second place,” Wallace said. “We know how much stress this team has been through in the last three or four months just trying to get this program together.” . . .
DLH
