Scott drives the huge tractor
trailer that transports the cars
and equipment to the races.
He also handles refueling the
car during race day. “Right
now, African Americans just
don’t see the opportunities
here, "Jackson continued.
Echoing the sentiments of
African Americans who have
managed to break through
into full time professional
racing, Jackson says, “You
have to be in racing, hanging
out in the garages, getting to
day, feeling the horsepower,
watching the driver put on his
equipment, there's a parallel
there to getting ready for a
pro-football game. With the
size of the crowds, it’s simply
unbelievable — it’s like a
Superbowl every weekend.”
With the help of friend and
former coach Joe Gibbs,
Washington and Erving put
together a team and landed
the Dr. Pepper sponsorship,
the key component necessary
for a serious, competitive rac
ing program.
Although their 1998 sea
son was a steep learning curve,
they had reason to be satisfied:
They finished 38th out of 110
teams and beat teams with top
name drivers and years of
experience on the circuit. As a
result, Dr. Pepper signed a
multi-year agreement to con
tinue its sponsorship of the
African American-owned
team.
“We weren’t the greatest
racers last year, we tore up a
lot o f sheetmetal,” conceded
co-owner Jackson. “But we
worked hard at it and after we
got our act together, the sponsor decided to come back.” The
team’s dedication to success made a difference to the sponsor.”
As a second year sponsor, we are encouraged by the tremen
dous progress this team made in its rookie season, and we are
impressed with the resiliency displayed by the team through
out 1998,” said Cindi Clark, Dr.Pepper’s senior vice president
o f marketing. This year, the team looks forward to moving
up considerably in the point sandings and has made several
important changes. They have switched cars from a Ford
Taurus to a Chevy M onte Carlo and changed drivers, bringing
in Mark Green, who finished 13th in drivers’ points last year.
Green raced all 38 Busch races in 1998, and posted four top
ten finishes. In the pivotal position o f crew chief - the
“quarterback” o f the pits who calls the shots on race day —
they’ve got a 30-year NASCAR veteran in Darrell Bryant.
This lineup gives the team hope that victory will follow. “W e
have great expectations for the 1999 racing season,”says
Washington. “W e are confident in our ability to be competi-
racing fans are unhappy that
especially as driver,
Acknowledging that concern,
is that there just aren’t
“The team has
also developed
a “show car”
program
involving the
Boy Scouts o f
America.”
know people and the sport.
Then, when there’s an open
ing, you’re there.” “W e
want black faces in every area,” Washington declared, people
in every position they are qualified for. If nothing else, we
want to make people aware o f our participation in this sport.
In an effort to build greater awareness and opportunities for
African Americans at all levels in motorsports, the team has
undertaken severa, outreach programs. The team has several
show cars - replicas o f the #50 race car - that travel to various
events. People can sit in a race car to get a feel for what a
3,400 pound, 700 horsepower racing machine is like. The
team has also developed a “show car program involving the
Boy Scouts o f America. The cars will be made available for
promotional events and will be used to help recruit youth and
adults into scouting.
For their part, Dr. Pepper is launching a national promo
tional campaign this Spring, “Thirst T o Win, based on the
Washington/Erving team. The grand prize for ten winners will
be a street-ready Monte Carlo painted just like the
Washington/Erving #50 Dr. Pepper race car. Other prizes to
be won from Dr. Pepper cans, bottles and cups will include
trips to major stock car races, cash prizes and t-shirts.
Still it’s an uphill battle for recognition on and o ff the cir
cuit, says Jackson. “But participation o f teams like ours is
going to bring more people into the sport.”
And the team is also searching for a major minority sponsor
as well. It’s up to us to expose African Americans to this sport,
says Washington. “This team would also present a great
opportunity for a major African American sponsor to come on
“
us.” ■
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