Joe Gibbs Racing development driver Darrell Wallace Jr., 19, will make history in 2013 as just the fourth African-American driver to compete in one of NASCAR’s national divisions on a full-time basis. He’ll drive the No. 54 Toyota Tundra for Kyle Busch Motorsports this season after spending three seasons in the K&N Pro Series East as a development driver for Joe Gibbs Racing.
Wallace Jr. was born October 8th, 1993 in Mobile, Alabama and grew up in Concord, North Carolina. The former NASCAR Drive for Diversity member began racing at age nine, competing in Legends, Bandoleros and Late Model races. In 2005, he won 35 of the 48 races on the Bandoleros Series’ schedule.
In 2010, Wallace Jr. joined Rev Racing as part of the D4D program, competing in the K&N Pro Series East. He won in his first career start in the series, becoming the youngest driver ever to win at Greenville-Pickens Speedway at age 16, as well as the first African-American driver to win there. He also became the youngest driver and first African-American driver to win in the series. In three seasons on the circuit, Wallace finished third (2010), second (2011) and seventh (2012) in points, winning six races and finishing in the top 10 25 times in 36 races; he also won four poles.
In 2012, Wallace Jr. made four Nationwide Series starts for JGR, earning three top 10 finishes and a pole at Dover.
Find out more Wallace Jr. at his website, darrellwallacejr.com, and learn more about KBM at www.kylebuschmotorsports.com.
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