Brehanna Daniels made history as she became the first African-American woman in NASCAR to pit a car during one of the sport’s national series races. This history of stock car racing is arguably very White. However, Daniels and people including driver Darrell “Bubba” Wallace, Daniel Suarez and Kyle Larson are helping to drive diversity in the sport.
Daniels became a part of the NASCAR ranks through its Drive For Diversity program as reported by Fanbuzz. The program encourages minorities and women to partake in the company. Daniels was always an athlete—she switched gears from being a Norfolk State college basketball player to a tire changer.
Brehanna Daniels is making @NASCAR history. pic.twitter.com/hihi10TlrH
— Outside The Lines (@OTLonESPN) February 27, 2018
On Tuesday (Feb. 27), Daniels appeared on ESPN’s Outside The Lines and spoke about her desire to help change the sport. She also shared a message with other minorities who may be apprehensive about a career in NASCAR.
“I would just tell everyone out there to just follow your heart. I know, you know, just thinking about – me coming into NASCAR, I had my thoughts, you know, like of what people might think of me or I might not be accepted. But you just have to overcome those thoughts and those feelings and just do what’s in your heart and just trust the process.”
Daniels most recent race was Saturday’s Rinnai 250.
Had a nice time in Atlanta today. I changed tires on the 55 car again for the xfinity race. #Race3🤟🏾🏁 pic.twitter.com/pYkR3CorR6
— Brehanna Daniels (@Mindless_BMD) February 25, 2018
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Christina Santi is a news and culture writer for EBONY.com. Born and raised in the Bronx, New York, she considers herself a well-read, not so traditional feminist with a heavy interest in music, fashion and pop culture. Christina currently lives in New York City, where she refers to her Cuban & Jamaican descent often while writing about her experiences as a first-generation Afro-Latinx in America. She also devotes time writing personalized reading material for her tutees and turning ideas into words for streetwear brand, PUER By Noel Bronson.