[LEADERS EDGE]

I have to claim ignorance on this subject, but according to the paper this morning it said that by winning last nights Focus Feature, Auston Harris became the first African American to win a USAC feature.
(I know what some out there are thinking:"Isn't there anything sacred? What's next: President of the United States!")

I want to say Congrats. That is something that is very long overdue in this sport. I obviously don't know him or anything about him, but I hope he shows the talent and ability to go far.

I know others have talked about it before, but when you see stories on people such as Charlie Wiggens and the mechanical and driving ability of he and the others who competed in the all Black series' and races such as "The Gold and Glory Sweepstakes", it makes me both awed and somewhat sad to see how backwards(In my opinion) that people can be. I am awed at his and the others determination to make it in a enviroment that wasn't friendly toward them and sad to think that maybe we never even got to see the best driver to have ever competed, race at the speedway. All based on something he had no control over. We can never know how good he was because he wasn't allowed to compete along with everyone else of color who had the same dream.

Charlie wasn't even allowed to work on the cars at the speedway, but one of the teams(I don't remember the team or the driver, but they may have won) wanted him to help and he agreed to pretend to be the shop janitor and at night he would work on the car with the doors closed.

I'm 39 years old and I have been going to races since I was 6 weeks old and I have only met four Black racecar drivers in person.

-Joie Ray: I shook hands and said Hi, but I never got to talk to him though. I was excited when I saw Pat(Mr. Perfect Timing) Sullivan's new book.
-Antron Brown. Antron is hands down one of the coolest guys I have ever met. He has a positive attitude and natual excitment that just rubs off on the people around him.
-Tim Shutt(I believe that was his last name) who worked for Bobby Allen(I think),Drinan and was in charge of Michiners stuff. He raced from time to time and I believe he even had the in car camera at a IRP Midget show one night. He went on to win some NASCAR stuff as a crew chief.
-The other was a long time friend of Tyce Carlson who ran some shows at 16th street. He crashed really hard one night and I think that was enough for him. He may have ran once or twice after that. I feel bad I can't remember his name, but he was a real good guy.

Does anyone know of any other African American oval track racers currently running in Indiana(Midwest for that manner) that we haven't heard of?

Auston Harris - David Sink Photo

[Dwight Clock]

Congrats to Auston. And congrats to him also for supporting the cause of missing & exploited children! Sounds like a great young man.:thumb

[Pat O'Connor Fan]

Originally Posted by LEADERS EDGE The other was a long time friend of Tyce Carlson who ran some shows at 16th street. He crashed really hard one night and I think that was enough for him. He may have ran once or twice after that. I feel bad I can't remember his name, but he was a real good guy. Does anyone know of any other African American oval track racers currently running in Indiana(Midwest for that manner) that we haven't heard of?

When Tyce was driving Eddie Griffiths midget, I was told that the pleasant young black guy was his adopted brother (Jim??). I'm sometimes a bit too gullible, so this may not be the case. And then again, my fuzzy old memory sometimes fails me, too.
Reggie Showers had to drop out of NHRA due to lack of suffucient sponsorship $$$, but while he raced, this double-amputee was absolutely one of the nicest people Grandma Kim and I encountered in the pits at several NHRA events.

Originally Posted by Pat O'Connor Fan When Tyce was driving Eddie Griffiths midget, I was told that the pleasant young black guy was his adopted brother (Jim??). I'm sometimes a bit too gullible, so this may not be the case. And then again, my fuzzy old memory sometimes fails me, too. Reggie Showers had to drop out of NHRA due to lack of suffucient sponsorship $$$, but while he raced, this double-amputee was absolutely one of the nicest people Grandma Kim and I encountered in the pits at several NHRA events.

My brothers name is Kerry and that last hit at 16th stopped his racing career. I have spent time with Auston and his father and both are great. Austion WILL be a driver in a championship series i will say shortly.

Tim Shutt actually won a midget race up north it was either ARCA or NAMARS sanctioned - he built cars called Timmytech (I think) Andy Michner drove one - Tim worked on the Joe Gibbs Busch (now Nationwide Series) team as a crew chief and for awhile I believe he lived in Stewart's house in Carolina -- I'm sure he is still down south because he is a talented guy and a great guy.