NASCAR Drive For Diversity's, Chris Bristol
Chris Bristol - While others simply talked about breaking new ground for minorities in NASCAR, two Pro Football Hall of Famers decided to dig in and actually do something about it.
In 2003, legendary defensive lineman Reggie White and four-time Super Bowl-winning coach Joe Gibbs teamed to create Reggie White Motorsports with Joe Gibbs Racing. Their aim - to identify young minority driving talent and start them up the NASCAR ladder to a hopeful future in the Nextel Cup Series. Once gridiron rivals in the glory days of the NFC East, the former Eagle player and Redskin coach moved quickly to make their program a success. White was soon drumming up corporate and community support while Gibbs put his already established racing organization to work building cars.
After a lengthy talent search, 28-year old Chris Bristol of Columbus, Ohio was chosen to be the program's first driver in 2004. One year later, 21-year old Aric Arimola of Tampa, Florida joined him in a second White-Gibbs car.
Bristol quickly set the bar for up-and-coming African-American racers, picking up wins on such storied North Carolina bullrings as the Caraway and Hickory Speedways. In his first full season he earned a win and finished 4th in the point standings at Caraway. Shortly after Bristol finished the 2004 season, White unexpectedly passed away. But Bristol continues to race, now with a new car number - 92 - the number with which White made history on the football field.
In 2006, Bristol will drive in the Dodge Weekly Series for legendary NASCAR driver Ken Schrader. Almirola continues on with Joe Gibbs Racing, tackling both the NASCAR Craftsman Truck and Busch Series, looking to become the first full-time Hispanic racer in NASCAR's top division. Both break new ground wherever they race, at the point of a quickly growing minority movement within their sport.
Even after his untimely death, Reggie White's dream lives on with Bristol and Almirola as well as with the other young men and women who are forever changing the face of the NASCAR garage.
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