Black NASCAR driver knows he could change face of sport

Darrell Wallace Jr.

NASCAR's best hope for a successful African-American driver isn't shying from the magnitude of what he could accomplish.

Darrell Wallace Jr., named a full-time driver in Kyle Busch Motorsports' Camping World Truck Series entry Saturday, said he embraces the opportunity to throw the doors wide open for other minorities who want to race.

He is the fourth African-American driver in NASCAR history to land a full-time ride in one of the sport's three national touring series.

"That's cool," he said. "… I'm going to do the best I can to take that number from (four) to 30 in 10 years or so."

Wallace, a confident 19-year-old from Alabama, knows the best way to create opportunities for other minority drivers is to win. NASCAR hasn't had a black driver who could be a role model for aspiring athletes, like Tiger Woods in golf.

"(Young African-Americans) want to see who they can be like," Wallace said. "They look at NASCAR, (and) is there anybody there? No.

"… Now it's my job to perform well on track and off track for kids of color … and for people to say, 'There's someone we can look up to now.' " More at USA Today