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HARD DRIVING: THE WENDELL SCOTT STORY: THE AMERICAN ODYSSEY OF NASCAR'S FIRST BLACK DRIVER
The dramatic story of one of the first African American NASCAR drivers, whose dogged determination and passion in the face of adversity made him a legend of the sport
Wendell Scott figured he was signing up for trouble when he became NASCAR’s version of Jackie Robinson in the segregated 1950s. Some speedways refused to let him race. “Go home, nigger,” spectators yelled. And after a bigoted promoter refused to pay him, Scott appealed directly to the sport’s founder, NASCAR czar Bill France Sr. France made a promise Scott would never forget—that NASCAR would never treat him with prejudice.
For the next two decades, Scott chased a dream whose fulfillment depended on France backing up that promise. Persevering through crashes, health problems, and money troubles, Scott remained convinced he had the talent to become one of NASCAR’s best.
Hard Driving documents a previously untold chapter in the history of integration, politics, and sports in America. It reveals how France, founder of the multibillion-dollar NASCAR empire, reneged on his pledge and allowed repeated discrimination against Scott by racing officials and other powerful figures. It details France’s alliances with leading segregationist politicians such as George Wallace, the reluctance of auto executives such as Lee Iacocca to sponsor a black driver; and the inspiring support Scott received from white drivers such as NASCAR champions Ned Jarrett and Richard Petty, who admired his skill and tenacity.
Wendell Scott figured he was signing up for trouble when he became NASCAR’s version of Jackie Robinson in the segregated 1950s. Some speedways refused to let him race. “Go home, nigger,” spectators yelled. And after a bigoted promoter refused to pay him, Scott appealed directly to the sport’s founder, NASCAR czar Bill France Sr. France made a promise Scott would never forget—that NASCAR would never treat him with prejudice.
For the next two decades, Scott chased a dream whose fulfillment depended on France backing up that promise. Persevering through crashes, health problems, and money troubles, Scott remained convinced he had the talent to become one of NASCAR’s best.
Hard Driving documents a previously untold chapter in the history of integration, politics, and sports in America. It reveals how France, founder of the multibillion-dollar NASCAR empire, reneged on his pledge and allowed repeated discrimination against Scott by racing officials and other powerful figures. It details France’s alliances with leading segregationist politicians such as George Wallace, the reluctance of auto executives such as Lee Iacocca to sponsor a black driver; and the inspiring support Scott received from white drivers such as NASCAR champions Ned Jarrett and Richard Petty, who admired his skill and tenacity.
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First published August 19, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 12, 2009
Brian Donovan's (mostly) excellent biography of Wendell Scott suffers from two understandable issues: a lack of original documentary information (NASCAR was not really covered during Scott's era), and covering a sport that many do not find interesting. I, unfortunately, am among that category.
Nonetheless, Donovan did the leg work both through interviews and through what documents could be found to bring (the much overlooked) Wendell Scott's story to life.
If you're a NASCAR fan, or a passionate follower of the civil rights struggle, then I highly recommend it. Otherwise, you will find the middle of the book drags. It certainly won't bring many new racing fans.
Nonetheless, Donovan did the leg work both through interviews and through what documents could be found to bring (the much overlooked) Wendell Scott's story to life.
If you're a NASCAR fan, or a passionate follower of the civil rights struggle, then I highly recommend it. Otherwise, you will find the middle of the book drags. It certainly won't bring many new racing fans.
May 27, 2022
Such a sad read. It’s difficult to find any positivity but imagine LIVING the life of Wendell Scott. He seemed to remain optimistic when most people would’ve buckled. Or maybe he just had pools of passion while most of us try to make sense of the drought.
April 19, 2012
I absolutely loved this book from start to finish. When I first got the book, I thought I may not enjoy it. I am a huge NASCAR fan but I do not know much about their history and I was not sure I would enjoy reading a biography about someone I never heard of. But this book is not just a biography. The author artfully weaves in the history of the segregational south, and north for that matter, and Wendell Scott's story together. The reader is able to follow Mr. Scott as he goes from bootlegging to becoming NASCAR's first African-American race car driver during a time in America where African-Americans were not wanted and were discriminated against.
Wendell Scott's life was not whitewashed by this author and the reader is able to get a real sense of what his life was like, what type of person he was, and how he was able to break through barrier after barrier. He is an amazing person and did a lot for NASCAR and America.
What I enjoy best about this book is that you do not need to be a NASCAR fan to enjoy it, which opens this book up to a wide audience. Yes, it is a book about a NASCAR driver but it is also an American history book interweaving this amazing biography with a history of discrimination and segregation in America. I highly recommend this book to everyone, whether or not you have even heard of NASCAR. This book is a definite page-turner and you will end up rooting for Wendell Scott.
Wendell Scott's life was not whitewashed by this author and the reader is able to get a real sense of what his life was like, what type of person he was, and how he was able to break through barrier after barrier. He is an amazing person and did a lot for NASCAR and America.
What I enjoy best about this book is that you do not need to be a NASCAR fan to enjoy it, which opens this book up to a wide audience. Yes, it is a book about a NASCAR driver but it is also an American history book interweaving this amazing biography with a history of discrimination and segregation in America. I highly recommend this book to everyone, whether or not you have even heard of NASCAR. This book is a definite page-turner and you will end up rooting for Wendell Scott.
March 2, 2023
Most Black athletes who broke the color barrier in their respective sports are celebrated for their achievements, such as Jackie Robinson (baseball), Charlie Sifford (golf) or Althea Gibson (tennis). Some are even well-known by people who are not sports fans. However, the first Black driver in the history of NASCAR, Wendell Scott, does not have that same celebrity and his story should be told to more. This excellent biography by Brian Donovan is a good place for that to start.
Something that makes Scott’s story a little different than those of other Black pioneers is that Scott’s sport of choice had its origins in the Deep South of the United States, where racism and discrimination was deeply rooted in the culture. One ironic twist is that those roots of the sport, which came from moonshine running during Prohibition, was something that Scott did before deciding to become a racer. Like many other white drivers, he wanted to take the skills needed to transport illegal liquor into something that was legal and could be used to build a career.
Here, the Danville, Virginia native started to learn the deep-seated racism in the area and the sport. He went in expecting issues, but the people and politics in the sport had deep pockets and hardline feelings. He had success in some of the lower levels of the sport on dirt tracks in Virginia and North Carolina, but when he moved up to the NASCAR Grand National series (today’s Cup Series), it was there that he found that he not only had inferior equipment, he had to encounter so many racial issues.
Just a small sampling of these include re-inspections that resulted in disqualifying his car so that he could not enter the race, barring from certain tracks like Darlington that would bolster his name so that he could gain rides from manufacturers like Ford or Dodge, and even promises that were not kept. The best example of this, which is frequently mentioned through the chapters on Scott’s racing, is the promise made by Bill France Sr., the founder of NASCAR, that he would make sure that Scott would be treated like any other racer. However, that fell short when France would believe it would interfere with his business or political interests. It would be safe to say that France only believed in one color – green (money) – and he would not help a Black driver if he believed it would hurt business.
The book describes the character of Scott quite well, depicting him as a hard working man who would spend most of his life doing the one thing he loved – racing. He and his sons were the ones who not only drove but put up the money needed (Scott mortgaged his house too many times to count), did all the work of building and repairing engines, chassis and car bodies and the long travel to tracks towing the race car. While this was Scott’s life, it would not be that way for his sons, especially Wendell Jr. who ended up in prison for a stretch because of drug addiction and the crimes committed to feed that habit. All is not lost for him, as by the end of the book, when his dad passes away, Wendell Jr has cleaned up his life and speaks to many about the dangers of that habit.
This review just scratches the surface of not only Scott’s life in racing, but the racial and political atmosphere of that time in the southern United States. It is not a pretty picture and Donovan does a great job of accurately portraying that time and place without finger pointing or acrimony. That doesn’t mean it is soft on the harsh reality of the racism in that period of NASCAR or American history – it’s a much-needed tribute to the determination of Wendell Scott to integrate that sport.
https://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/20...
Something that makes Scott’s story a little different than those of other Black pioneers is that Scott’s sport of choice had its origins in the Deep South of the United States, where racism and discrimination was deeply rooted in the culture. One ironic twist is that those roots of the sport, which came from moonshine running during Prohibition, was something that Scott did before deciding to become a racer. Like many other white drivers, he wanted to take the skills needed to transport illegal liquor into something that was legal and could be used to build a career.
Here, the Danville, Virginia native started to learn the deep-seated racism in the area and the sport. He went in expecting issues, but the people and politics in the sport had deep pockets and hardline feelings. He had success in some of the lower levels of the sport on dirt tracks in Virginia and North Carolina, but when he moved up to the NASCAR Grand National series (today’s Cup Series), it was there that he found that he not only had inferior equipment, he had to encounter so many racial issues.
Just a small sampling of these include re-inspections that resulted in disqualifying his car so that he could not enter the race, barring from certain tracks like Darlington that would bolster his name so that he could gain rides from manufacturers like Ford or Dodge, and even promises that were not kept. The best example of this, which is frequently mentioned through the chapters on Scott’s racing, is the promise made by Bill France Sr., the founder of NASCAR, that he would make sure that Scott would be treated like any other racer. However, that fell short when France would believe it would interfere with his business or political interests. It would be safe to say that France only believed in one color – green (money) – and he would not help a Black driver if he believed it would hurt business.
The book describes the character of Scott quite well, depicting him as a hard working man who would spend most of his life doing the one thing he loved – racing. He and his sons were the ones who not only drove but put up the money needed (Scott mortgaged his house too many times to count), did all the work of building and repairing engines, chassis and car bodies and the long travel to tracks towing the race car. While this was Scott’s life, it would not be that way for his sons, especially Wendell Jr. who ended up in prison for a stretch because of drug addiction and the crimes committed to feed that habit. All is not lost for him, as by the end of the book, when his dad passes away, Wendell Jr has cleaned up his life and speaks to many about the dangers of that habit.
This review just scratches the surface of not only Scott’s life in racing, but the racial and political atmosphere of that time in the southern United States. It is not a pretty picture and Donovan does a great job of accurately portraying that time and place without finger pointing or acrimony. That doesn’t mean it is soft on the harsh reality of the racism in that period of NASCAR or American history – it’s a much-needed tribute to the determination of Wendell Scott to integrate that sport.
https://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/20...
August 19, 2021
An easy read. Well put together view of the man's life struggles and accomplishments. It objectively shows the views and inputs of both the Man himself and a few key players around him as well.
The man with out a doubt was very talented, probably performed more than other drivers with a free ride. A sorely underrated pioneer in a dark time in history, that sadly to this day, still isn't given the credit he deserves.
The book defintely changes the way I will ever view the movie "Greased Lightning" again, and makes me question Richard Pryor's thoughts on the role he portrayed.
The man with out a doubt was very talented, probably performed more than other drivers with a free ride. A sorely underrated pioneer in a dark time in history, that sadly to this day, still isn't given the credit he deserves.
The book defintely changes the way I will ever view the movie "Greased Lightning" again, and makes me question Richard Pryor's thoughts on the role he portrayed.
December 10, 2024
As a lifelong NASCAR fan, I’ve heard Wendell Scott’s name a good bit, but never knew much about the man himself or the struggles he faced as a racer and Black man in NASCAR. To read of his adversity and how he slowly won over most of the other drivers with his grit and determination gives me a whole new respect for one of the hardest working men in NASCAR.
It also contains a lot of valuable history about the France family and their connection to segregationist politics - Something I’d long suspected, but never had the history references to know specifics.
It also contains a lot of valuable history about the France family and their connection to segregationist politics - Something I’d long suspected, but never had the history references to know specifics.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews