Track
By Leah Ken-
Willy T Ribbs is one of the new faces
joining the 2001 NASCAR Craftsman
Truck Series (NCTS). A veteran SCCA
and Indy racer, Ribbs was able to con­
vert his participation in the NCTS dri­
ver diversity-testing program into a seat
in a Dodge Ram truck for Bobby
Hamilton's racing team.
"To be involved in a factory-backed
effort with Dodge is the sort of thing
that drivers get into racing for," said
Ribbs. "This is a great opportunity for
me to compete in the NASCAR
Craftsman Truck Series for a team as
successful as Bobby Hamilton Racing."
"Dodge and DaimlerChrylser have
both stood for providing opportunities
to qualified employees," said Jim Julow,
vice president, Dodge global brand cen­
ter. "With the momentum and support
of Dodge's return to the NASCAR
Winston Cup series and NASCAR's
commitment to enhancing minority
participation in their series, we feel this
is the right thing to do and the right
time to do it."
By helping to fund a scholarship pro­
gram and provide for up to four stu­
dents a year. Dodge plans to expand its
motorsports diversity program to also
include opportunities in road racing
and drag racing.
In the 2000 BF Goodrich Tires Trans
AM season, Ribbs tied for seventh place
by taking second in Long Beach, third
in Detroit, fourth in Las Vegas and fifth
at the season finale in San Diego.
"Willy T. Ribbs is seen as an inspira­
tion for many aspiring African
American drivers," said NASCAR Vice
President Brian France. The only other
black driver in the NASCAR truck
series is Preston Tutt, who plans to
drive the Billy Ballew Motorsports
entry. Other African-American drivers,
Tim Woods and Bill Lester also partici­
pated in the diversity-testing program
and are still looking for a ride in the
series.
Ribbs was selected from among a
number of candidates who were evalu­
ated for eligibility based on guidelines
that include racing experience, profes-
African Americans On Wheels
W illy T. Ribbs
Gurney's developmental IMSA GTP
Eagle HF prototype. That same year,
Ribbs became the star driver on the
newly
created
Raynor-Cosby
Motorsports team. Actor-comedian Bill
Cosby funded this effort.
In 1990 Ribbs made his CART Indy
car debut at Long Beach. He competed
in ten CART races and won two top-ten
events. In 1991, he qualified for the
Indianapolis 500 on the last day, earn­
ing the 29th starting position.
Throughout 1994 Ribbs raced in the
Cart series and achieved top-ten finish- •
es at Denver and Michigan Grand Prix ;
races.
He ran the Las Vegas 500 IRL race in *
1999 before signing with Victoria
Motorsports SCCA Trans-Am team for
the 2000 season. He finished second at
Long Beach, third at Detroit and fourth
at Las Vegas where he was awarded the
Johnson Control Triple Crown.
The NASCAR Craftsman Truck
Series season starts on February 16,
with the first Daytona International
Speedw-ay, Daytona Beach, Fla.
sional background, and character.
His racing career began after gradu­
ating from high school in 1977. Driving
Formula Ford Cars in Europe, he won
the Dunlop Championship during his
first year of competition. Shortly there­
after, he returned to the
U.S. to race Formula
Tentative 2001 NASCAR Craftsman Truck
Atlantic cars.
Schedule
In 1982 his career expe­
rienced a tremendous
March 4 Homestead-Miami (FL) Speedway
boost when he won the
March 17 Mesa Marin Raceway, Bakersfield, CA
pole at the Long Beach
April 7
Martinsville (VA) Speedway
Formula Atlantic race. In
May 6
Gateway Int'l Raceway, St.Louis, M0
fact, he outpaced veteran
May 12 Darlington (SC) Raceway
drivers such as A1 Unser
May 20 Pikes Peak Int'l Raceway, Colorado Springs, CO
Jr. and Michael Andretti
June 1 Dover (DE) Downs Int’l Raceway
before engine failure pre­
June 8
(Fort Worth) Texas Motor Speedway
empted his race to the fin­
June 23 Memphis (TN) Motorsports Park
ish line. Nevertheless, that
July 7
The Milwaukee (Wl) Mile
race opened the door to
July 14 Kansas (KS) Speedway
the SCCA
July 21 (Loudon) New Hampshire Int'l Speedway
Trans-Am in 1983,
Aug. 3
Indianapolis (IN) Raceway Park
where he won five races
Aug. 10 Nashville (TN) Super speedway
and was named Pro
Aug. 18 Chicago (IL) Motor Speedway
Rookie of the Year.
Aug. 26 Nazareth (PA) Speedway
In 1986 he competed in
Sept. 6 Richmond (VA) Int'l Raceway
two NASCAR Winston
Sept. 15 (Fort Worth) Texas Motor Speedway
Cup races for DiGard
Sept. 28 South Boston (VA) Speedway
Racing.
However, the
Oct. 14 Las Vegas (NV) Motor Speedway
team was not able to com­
Oct. 26 Phoenix (AZ) lnt;l Raceway
plete the season due to
Nov. 3
(Los Angeles) California Speedway
financial difficulties.
‘All races air on ESPN or ESPN2. Check local listings for times.
In 1989 he drove
urdnv.onwheckinc.com