former Philadelphia Eagle [Jayski team] and Green Bay Packer [booo] Reggie White and one of his old rivals announced a partnership on Saturday they hope will increase minority involvement in motorsports. With the financial backing of Joe Gibbs Racing, Gibbs and White said they will start looking for promising young minority drivers, mechanics and crew chiefs to run Late Model Sportsmen races at Charlotte-area tracks in 2004. “Black kids haven’t had a chance to get into this sport,” said Gibbs. “We want to do what’s best for young people and for the sport.” NASCAR hasn’t traditionally been a large draw to blacks – either as fans or participants. A team that was to be owned by former NFL player Joe Washington and the NBA’s Julius Erving never got off the ground. The late Wendell Scott won a race and a pole in the 1960s and was followed by Willy T. Ribbs, who experienced limited success. Bill Lester was the first black to win a pole for a modern-era NASCAR race when he qualified first for Friday’s inaugural Truck Series event at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Gibbs said he has already identified a few young black drivers and is looking for more. He also said that while he will concentrate on finding black drivers, he won’t ignore other minorities. “That’s our push,” he said. “But we’re not restricting it (to blacks).” Gibbs said he hoped to begin with two to five teams in 2004. His team will fund the operations – each costing between $50,000-$100,000 a year – whether sponsors step forward or not. “I’m intrigued by this,” said White, who lives in the Charlotte area and got interested in racing after he played for the Carolina Panthers in 2000. “I think it boils down to black children not being able to afford getting into the sport. Look at golf, where there was the same situation. Tiger Woods helped there, and maybe we’ll find the next Tiger Woods in NASCAR.” Said Gibbs: “I think it’s coming. This should be a sport for all Americans, for everybody. When you go to a race track, there should be huge following of all kinds of cultural backgrounds, I think. Because everybody loves cars.”(in part from ThatsRacin.com ) AND Former NFL rivals Joe Gibbs and Reggie White announced yesterday they will field several Late Model cars at short tracks in the Charlotte, NC, area next season in hopes of fostering minority involvement in NASCAR. White and Gibbs had talked over the past 18 months about White’s hopes to form a NASCAR team. But because sponsors were difficult to find, Gibbs decided on a grass-roots approach. “This will be good for Reggie because he’ll get in on the ground floor,” Gibbs said. “We’re looking for sponsors, but it isn’t subject to it. We’ll start immediately, spend our own money and go full speed ahead.” White became hooked on NASCAR only recently but is interested in being an owner. “I’m really intrigued by the opportunity to get into sport and help minorities,” said White, a star defensive end who played for Green Bay, Philadelphia and Carolina. “I know it’s been a big concern for NASCAR. One of the things I’m excited about is it also gives inner-city kids a chance to make contacts with corporate America. We could raise up a kid who could be the next Tiger Woods in NASCAR.” Gibbs and White are soliciting applications from potential drivers and crew members who are at least 18 and have a high school diploma or equivalent. Resumes should be mailed to Joe Gibbs Racing Diversity Program, c/o Steve de Souza, 13451 Reese Blvd. W, Huntersville, NC 28078.( Richmond Times Dispatch )(5-18-2003)
