Nascar Race #4-Updated post

This was a huge week for Nascar. This week they are at Atlanta Motor Speedway. My Driver Jeff Burton qualified 3^rd with a speed of 191.973 mph. That is fast. His teammate, the disreputable Kevin Harvick was 6^th. Good old boy Clint Bowyer was 16^th. My girlfriends driver, the vexatious Jamie McMurray starts 34^th. While my beloved RCR racing has had a great showing thus far, this is nothing in the scheme of things this week. Bobby Hamilton has neck cancer. Bobby has raced for years and my prayers go out to him and his family. Bobby will step down after tonights race and let his son drive the truck. I other big news Bill Lester has qualified 19^th for the race Sunday. He has a three race deal on paper. If you wonder why this is a big deal, this explains it: (Link)

Bill Lester stole the show from pole-winner Kasey Kahne on Friday night at Atlanta Motor Speedway, earning a spot in the Golden Corral 500 to become the the first black driver to qualify for a race in NASCAR's top series in nearly 20 years.

"It's overwhelming,'' said Lester, who raced later Friday night in the truck race. "This is the culmination of a very long dream that I've had to race at the top level of motorsports. ... I'm hoping to think that this is the beginning, that it will open a few more eyes and get the attention of corporate America.

"This is quite a feat at my age, but I hope I'm still on the rise,'' added Lester, the first black man to qualify for a Cup race since Willy T. Ribbs ran three events in 1986, the last in June of that year at Michigan International Speedway.

NASCAR's most successful black driver was Wendell Scott, whose 13-year career spanned 495 races and a landmark victory in 1964.

It is about time.

UPDATE- The Red Queen is getting into Nascar as well. She has a very awesome post up here. Her Highness looks at the good stuff this sport does. It is a must read.

Technorati : Nascar, Sports