Drag racing sees no race just who can

The National Hot Rod sees no color, only speed and as a result has more successful minority racers than any other motorsport.

In January during the twelfth annual Urban Wheels Awards held in Deroit, Mich. NHRA was awarded the Urban Wheel’s 2008 Diversity in Motorsports Award honoring diversity and excellence in the automotive industry.

“Drag racing has always been a diverse sport,” Michael Vaca a La Verne resident and dedicated NHRA fan and follower said. “The stands, the pits and the tracks are full of people from all sorts of backgrounds, races and religions.”

Today racers come from many different backgrounds and ethnicities thanks to those that dedicated their lives to the sport and broke the so-called color barriers.

“The drags aren’t about race, they are about who can race,” Christopher Santana a La Verne resident and dedicated NHRA fan and follower said.

African-American racers have been a part of NHRA’s Top Fuel and Funny Car classes for over five decades beginning with nitro-fueld racers such as Malcolm Durham, John Kimble, Rodney Flournoy, Clarence Bailey, Leon Cain and Barry Kelly. Racers such as Tony MacCallum, Maurice DuPont and Steve Hamilton followed them.

Today there are two African-American competitors in the Top Fuel class. J.R. Todd who drives the Torco/Lucas Oil dragster, became the first African-American to win an NHRA Top Fuel race at the 2006 Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals at the Bandimere Speedway in Denver, Colo.

“J.R. has always been one of my favorite drivers,” Santana said. “When he won (2006) everyone was just so excited that he did it. He made history.”

Antron Brown, driver of the Matco Tools dragster became the first NHRA driver to win both Top Fuel and Pro Stock Motorcyle with his first Top Fuel victory at the 2008 O’Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals at Houston Raceway Park in Houston, Texas.

“Brown is just a great competitor and a great role model,” Vaca said. “It doesn’t matter that he is colored, he is good and everyone loves him.”

NHRA’s Pro Stock classes have also features multiple African-American competitors. Some of the competitors included former NBA players Larry Nance and Tom Hammonds. Others include Ronald Lyles, Paul Gant, Stacy Shields and Clarence Thomas.

African-American’s have excelled the Pro Stock Motorcycle class more than any other NHRA class. Brown had collected 14 wins and 27 final-round appearances in the Pro Stock Motorcycle class before switching to Top Fuel this season. He also won the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals in 2000.

African-American competitor Reggie Showers, a double amputee below the knees won the U.S. Nationals in 2003.

Other African-American Pro Stock Motorcycle racers include Redell Harris, Michael Phillips and Peggy Llewellyn.

Today Harris and Llewellyn are the only African-American Pro Stock Motorcycle competitors.

In 2007 at the O’Reilly Super Start Batteries NHRA Fall Nationals at the Texas Motorplex in Dallas, Texas Llewellyn won her first career final round appearance, becoming the first African-American woman to win an NHRA POWERade event.

Hispanic racers have also played a major role in diversifying NHRA beginning with Joaquin Arnett. Other Hispanic competitors included Frank Pedregon Sr. whose three sons followed in his footsteps. Today Cruz and Tony Pedregon compete in the Funny Car class.

“They (Pedregon’s) display how closely knit Hispanic families are. One and off the track,” Vaca said.

Diversity has always been a part of NHRA and will continue to help the sport grow in the future. Although it does not have a formal diversity program it is very much a part of the sport.