Jusan Hamilton becomes 1st Daytona 500 Black race director
Jusan Hamilton fell hard for fast cars, dreaming as a kid of a NASCAR career as he drove at dirt tracks in New York. He contended for wins, kept pace with top drivers as he bounced from series to series and trusted his talent enough to know that he could succeed as a professional driver.
What Hamilton didn’t see as his family traversed around tracks were other kids that looked like him. And while a dearth of minorities didn’t deter him from racing, it did lead other friends and family to wonder what he was doing with his time each weekend.
“Why does an African-American kid from upstate New York have an interest in motorsports?” Hamilton said he was often asked.
The answer was simple, based less on breaking barriers and blazing trails, and more about simply pursuing his passion.
Hamilton is set to become the first Black race director in Daytona 500 history and only the third since 1988.
“It’s not necessarily about being the first Black man to call the Daytona 500,” Hamilton said. “Career-wise, it’s a huge accomplishment for me, with the passion I’ve had for motorsports. Bigger picture, I hope it sets a positive example for others that, regardless of race and background, if you work hard and have a mindset toward your goal, it is achievable.”
