Willy T. Ribbs
Willy T. Ribbs | |||||||
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![]() Ribbs in 1984 | |||||||
Born | San Jose, California, U.S. | January 3, 1955||||||
Achievements | 1976 Formula Ford Dunlop Championship Champion | ||||||
Awards | 1983 Trans-Am Series Rookie of the Year | ||||||
NASCAR Cup Series career | |||||||
4 races run over 1 year | |||||||
Best finish | 65th (1986) | ||||||
First race | 1986 First Union 400 (North Wilkesboro) | ||||||
Last race | 1986 The Budweiser at The Glen (Watkins Glen) | ||||||
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NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series career | |||||||
23 races run over 1 year | |||||||
Best finish | 16th (2001) | ||||||
First race | 2001 Florida Dodge Dealers 250 (Daytona) | ||||||
Last race | 2001 Auto Club 200 (California) | ||||||
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IndyCar Series career | |||||||
1 race run over 1 year | |||||||
Team(s) | McCormack Motorsports (1999) | ||||||
Best finish | 47th - 1999 | ||||||
First race | 1999 Vegas.com 500 (Las Vegas) | ||||||
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Champ Car career | |||||||
46 races run over 5 years | |||||||
Years active | 1990–1994 | ||||||
Team(s) | Raynor Motorsports (1990) Walker Racing (1991–1994) | ||||||
Best finish | 17th (1991) | ||||||
First race | 1990 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach (Long Beach) | ||||||
Last race | 1994 Toyota Grand Prix of Monterey (Laguna Seca) | ||||||
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Statistics current as of March 20, 2012. |
William Theodore Ribbs Jr. (born January 3, 1955) is a retired American race car driver, racing owner, and sport shooter known for being the first African-American man to have tested a Formula One car (he did so in 1986) and to compete in the Indianapolis 500. Ribbs competed in many forms of auto racing, including the Trans-Am Series, IndyCar, Champ Car, IMSA, and the NASCAR Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and Camping World Truck Series.[1] After retiring, he became a sport shooter in the National Sporting Clays Association.
Ribbs saw his most success in the Trans-Am Series, winning 17 races while driving for such names as Dan Gurney and Jack Roush. Ribbs' talent was at times limited by a lack of good equipment, and eclipsed at times by his strong personality.[1][2][3][4]
Biography
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/56/WillyTRibbsCamaro.jpg/220px-WillyTRibbsCamaro.jpg)
Ribbs grew up in San Jose, California as one of five children in a middle-class family. His father William "Bunny" Ribbs, Sr. was a plumbing contractor and amateur sports car racer, and was friends and neighbors with Indy Car driver Joe Leonard. Ribbs was nearly killed at eight years old when an out-of-control car at a race struck him. As a teenager, Ribbs would take his car out in the California mountains at high speeds, frequently stopped by police for reckless driving. Ribbs proceeded to enter a racing school at the age of 21.[3][5][6] Following his graduation from high school in 1975, Ribbs moved to Europe to compete. He won the Dunlop Championship in his first year of competition. In 1977, he competed in the Formula Ford Series in England, winning six races in eleven starts. Ribbs returned to the United States in 1978, making his debut in the Formula Atlantic open-wheel series at Long Beach on April 1, finishing 10th after running as high as 4th.[2][3][6][7]
In May 1978, Charlotte Motor Speedway president and race promotor Humpy Wheeler entered Ribbs to drive a NASCAR Winston Cup car in the World 600 (now the Coca-Cola 600) at Charlotte in an effort to attract black fans to his racetrack. Ribbs was partnered with veteran crew chief Harry Hyde.[8] After being initially rejected by track officials due to a lack of stock car experience,[9] and when the Dodge Magnum Ribbs was supposed to drive was committed to another driver,[10] Wheeler set Ribbs up with owner Will Cronkite and a Bud Moore Engineering-built Ford Torino.[11] In addition to missing two practice sessions, his debut in NASCAR was derailed after being arrested for evading police when he drove the wrong way down a one-way street. According to Charlotte Observer reporter Tom Higgins, who suspects the incident to have been a publicity stunt due to Ribbs driving a speedway pace car, Ribbs outran the police before being apprehended in the gymnasium of Queens University of Charlotte. Cronkite replaced him with future champion Dale Earnhardt.[8][12]
Ribbs returned to the Formula Atlantic series in 1981,[3] winning the pole in the Long Beach Formula Atlantic race in 1982. The following year, Ribbs moved to the SCCA Trans-Am Series, driving Chevrolet Camaros with sponsorship from Budweiser. Ribbs won five races and was honored as Pro Rookie of the Year, while his teammate David Hobbs won the series championship.[3] Ribbs won four races in 1984 driving factory-backed Mercury Capris for Roush Racing.[3][6]
Ribbs' made his first attempt at the Indianapolis 500 in 1985, which ended in controversy when during testing he topped out at 170 miles per hour while other rookie drivers were running laps above 200 miles per hour. Ribbs proceeded to withdraw from the race altogether. The deal had been put together in part by boxing promoter Don King, who Ribbs hired to manage him, with sponsorship from Miller Brewing Company, but with a second hand Cosworth machine from Arie Luyendyk.[3][6][13]
Ribbs attempted NASCAR again in 1986, running three races in the No. 30 Red Roof Inns car owned by DiGard Motorsports. His best finish came at his debut, a 22nd at North Wilkesboro Speedway.[4] Also in 1986, Ribbs became the first black person to drive a Formula One car, when he tested for the Bernie Ecclestone-owned Brabham team at the Autódromo do Estoril, Portugal.[14] Ultimately, Ribbs was not given the drive for the upcoming season. Lewis Hamilton became known as the first and only driver of black heritage to compete in an F1 championship. In 1987, Ribbs began driving Toyota Celicas for Dan Gurney in the IMSA GT Championship, winning four races.[3]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b5/WillyTRibbs1991.jpg/220px-WillyTRibbs1991.jpg)
In 1990, Ribbs joined the CART circuit in a car funded in-part by comedian Bill Cosby.[15] Ribbs had one top-10 event that season. He was involved in an unfortunate incident in Vancouver when a group of track marshals ran onto the track to assist Ross Bentley who had stalled, however one of the marshals ran in front of Ribbs' car and the marshal was killed in the impact.[16]
In 1991, he became the first African-American to qualify for the Indianapolis 500.[17] He raced there a second time in 1993.[18] In 1994, he continued in the CART series with the team, finishing in the top 10 at the Michigan International Speedway[19] and New Hampshire International Speedway[20] races.
In 1999, Ribbs raced in an Indy Racing League IndyCar Series event at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for McCormack Motorsports as a try-out to join the team full-time in 2000.[21] However he crashed on lap four and finished in 26th and last place. After three top-10s the Trans-Am Series in 2000, Ribbs signed to drive the No. 8 Dodge Ram for Bobby Hamilton Racing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.[4][22] Driving 23 out of 24 races, Ribbs had a best finish of 13th, and finished 16th in points.
In May 2011, Ribbs announced he had formed Willy T. Ribbs Racing to campaign former NASCAR driver Chase Austin in the Firestone Indy Lights' Freedom 100 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, which coincided with Ribbs' 20th anniversary of breaking the color barrier at Indy.[23]
Controversy
Ribbs had received criticism for his strong personality during his career, sometimes from other African Americans in auto racing. Black car owner Leonard T. Miller felt Ribbs was not the best representative of the black community due to his outspoken nature.[1] Ribbs has also spoken negatively about his experience in NASCAR. In May 2006, a newspaper column by Jason Whitlock of Knight-Ridder quoted Ribbs detailing his criticism of NASCAR and his lauding of the Indianapolis 500. Ribbs created controversy by referring to NASCAR as Al-Qaida, "Neckcar", and WWE.[2][24][25]
In 1984, during a warm-up session at the SCCA Trans-Am Series season opener at Road Atlanta, Ribbs was fined $1,000 for throwing a punch at fellow driver Bob Lobenberg, after the two drivers made contact on the track.[6] In 1987 following a race at Portland International Raceway, Ribbs was suspended by the International Motor Sports Association for one month after throwing a punch at driver Scott Pruett. Ribbs felt that Pruett had cost him a chance at winning the race.[26][3]
Trivia
In the Disney Channel cartoon The Proud Family, Penny Proud and her friends attend "Willy T. Ribbs Middle School," where the mascot is the "Racer."
After retiring from racing, Ribbs turned to professional shooting, specializing in sporting clays. His son Theodore Ribbs is an aspiring sport shooter.[4]
Motorsports career results
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5e/WillyTRibbs2018SVRA.jpg/220px-WillyTRibbs2018SVRA.jpg)
American open–wheel racing results
(key)
PPG Indycar Series
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)
Year | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | Rank | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1984 | Doug Shierson Racing | LBH | PHX | INDY Wth1 |
MIL | POR | MEA | CLE | MCH | ROA | POC | MDO | SAN | MCH | PHX | LAG | CPL | NC | - | |
1985 | AMI Racing | LBH | INDY Wth2 |
MIL | POR | MEA | CLE | MCH | ROA | POC | MDO | SAN | MCH | LAG | PHX | MIA | NC | - | ||
1990 | Raynor Motorsports | PHX | LBH 20 |
INDY | MIL | DET 20 |
POR | CLE | MEA 23 |
TOR 27 |
MCH | DEN 26 |
VAN 10 |
MDO 27 |
ROA | NAZ | LAG 13 |
26th | 3 | |
1991 | Walker Racing | SRF | LBH | PHX | INDY 32 |
MIL | DET 11 |
POR | CLE 22 |
MEA 10 |
TOR | MCH | DEN 6 |
VAN 21 |
MDO | ROA 10 |
NAZ 17 |
LAG 12 |
17th | 17 |
1992 | Walker Racing | SRF | PHX | LBH | INDY | DET | POR | MIL | NHA | TOR | MCH | CLE | ROA | VAN | MDO | NAZ | LAG 25 |
57th | 0 | |
1993 | Walker Racing | SRF | PHX | LBH | INDY 21 |
MIL 11 |
DET 12 |
POR 16 |
CLE 27 |
TOR 18 |
MCH 10 |
NHA 15 |
ROA 12 |
VAN 16 |
MDO 11 |
NAZ 19 |
LAG 28 |
20th | 9 | |
1994 | Walker Racing | SRF 18 |
PHX 28 |
LBH 18 |
INDY DNQ |
MIL 25 |
DET 16 |
POR 25 |
CLE 12 |
TOR 21 |
MCH 7 |
MDO 28 |
NHA 10 |
VAN 25 |
ROA 24 |
NAZ 18 |
LAG 11 |
22nd | 12 |
- 1 Did not appear
- 2 Withdrew from rookie orientation
Indianapolis 500
Year | Chassis | Engine | Start | Finish | Team |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1984 | DSR-1 | Cosworth | Wth | Doug Shierson Racing | |
1985 | March 85C | Cosworth | Wth | AMI Racing | |
1991 | Lola T9000 | Buick | 29 | 32 | Raynor Motorsports |
1993 | Lola T9200 | FordXB | 30 | 21 | Walker Racing |
1994 | Lola T9400 | FordXB | DNQ | Walker Racing |
Indy Racing League
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)
Year | Team | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Rank | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1999 | McCormack Motorsports | G-Force | Oldsmobile | WDW | PHX | INDY | TXS | PPIR | ATL | DOV | PPIR | LVS 26 |
TXS | 47th | 4 |
Indy Lights
Year | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Rank | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2011 | Willy T. Ribbs Racing | STP | ALA | LBH | INDY | MIL | IOW | TOR | EDM1 | EDM2 | TRO | NHM | BAL 13 |
KTY | LVS | 29th | 17 |
NASCAR
(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)
Winston Cup Series
NASCAR Winston Cup Series results | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | NWCC | Pts | ||||||||||
1986 | DiGard Motorsports | 30 | Chevy | DAY | RCH | CAR | ATL | BRI DNQ |
DAR | NWS 22 |
MAR | TAL | DOV | CLT DNQ |
MCH 39 |
DAY | POC | TAL | GLN 37 |
MCH | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | MAR | NWS | CLT | CAR | ATL | RSD | 65th | 219 | ||||||||||||
64 | RSD 29 |
POC |
Craftsman Truck Series
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series results | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | NCTC | Pts | |||||||||||||||
2001 | Bobby Hamilton Racing | 8 | Dodge | DAY 23 |
HOM 19 |
MMR 28 |
MAR DNQ |
GTY 20 |
DAR 29 |
PPR 13 |
DOV 19 |
TEX 25 |
MEM 17 |
MLW 18 |
KAN 15 |
KEN 30 |
NHA 18 |
IRP 20 |
NSH 24 |
CIC 28 |
NZH 18 |
RCH 20 |
SBO 28 |
TEX 19 |
LVS 25 |
PHO 19 |
CAL 18 |
16th | 2319 |
See also
- Wendell Scott, NASCAR driver and first African-American race winner.
- Lewis Hamilton, first British driver of black and white mixed background to compete in a Formula One Grand Prix, win a race, and become World Drivers' Champion.
References
- ^ a b c Wilson, Kevin A. (January 9, 2005). "Minority Report: Where Did All The Progress Go?". Autoweek.com. AutoWeek. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
- ^ a b c Corcoran, Tully (February 21, 2014). "Willy T. Ribbs took to the track and always fought back". Fox Sports. Fox Sports. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i McAlevey, Peter (October 9, 1988). "THE HARD RIDE OF WILLY T." The New York Times. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
- ^ a b c d Carlton, Chuck (May 23, 2006). "Indy 500 driver Willy T. Ribbs now shoots for the top Ribbs remains competitive, but now it's on range, not track". The Dallas Morning News. Archived from the original on 2007-07-15. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
- ^ "The First Black Among Top Race Car Drivers, Willy T. Ribbs Is Aiming to Become World Champ". People.com. People. September 26, 1983. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
- ^ a b c d e Potter, Steve (March 24, 1985). "BLACK DRIVER PLANS TO BE FIRST AT INDY". The New York Times. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
- ^ Katz, Michael (April 2, 1978). "Pressure on Andretti in Grand Prix Race" (PDF). Long Beach, California: The New York Times. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
- ^ a b "An Oral History Of Black NASCAR Drivers". Complex.com. Complex. February 22, 2012. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
- ^ Associated Press (May 19, 1978). "World 600 Rejects Ribbs" (PDF). Charlotte, North Carolina: The New York Times. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
- ^ Associated Press (May 11, 1978). "Ribbs Seeks Car for 600 At Charlotte on May 28" (PDF). Charlotte, North Carolina: The New York Times. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
- ^ Associated Press (May 17, 1978). "Ribbs Gets New Ride For World 600 Race" (PDF). Charlotte, North Carolina: The New York Times. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
- ^ "Ribbs' wrong turn helped open door for Earnhardt". nascar.com. Sporting News Wire Service. May 20, 2008. Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2010-07-31.
{{cite news}}
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suggested) (help) - ^ Glick, Shav (April 19, 1987). "WILLY T. RIBBS : Controversial and Aggressive Driver Is Better Known for His Failures, but His Record Shows He Can Win, Too". The Los Angeles Times. The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
- ^ Keith Collantine (2006-09-24). "First black Formula One driver..." F1Fanatic.co.uk. Retrieved 2006-09-24.
- ^ "INDYCAR: Willy T. Ribbs: One Of A Kind, Pt 2". SpeedTV.com. Retrieved 24 August 2011.
- ^ "COURSE WORKER KILLED AT AUTO RACE". deseretnews.com. 3 September 1990. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
- ^ Graves, Gary. "Ribbs, Indy 500's first black driver, breaking ground again", USA Today, May 25, 2011. WebCitation archive.
- ^ "INDYCAR: Willy T. Ribbs: One Of A Kind, Pt 5". SpeedTV.com. Retrieved 24 August 2011.
- ^ "1994 Marlboro 500". Champ Car Stats. Retrieved 24 August 2011.
- ^ "1994 Slick 50 200". Champ Car Stats. Retrieved 24 August 2011.
- ^ Willy T. Ribbs to compete at LVMS, Las Vegas Sun, September 16, 1999, Retrieved 2010-07-31
- ^ Rodman, Dave (December 13, 2000). "Willy T. Ribbs to run Dodge: Dodge inks Ribbs, BHR for diversity initiative". motorsport.com. Auburn Hills, Michigan: motorsport.com. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
{{cite web}}
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suggested) (help) - ^ Graves, Gary, Ribbs, Indy 500's first black driver, breaking ground again, USA Today, May 25, 2011
- ^ Moody, Dave, "Willy T. Who?", Sirius Speedway Blog, June 3, 2006, Retrieved 2010-07-31
- ^ Whitlock, Jason, Willy T. Ribbs loves Indy, loathes NASCAR, Mercury News, May 26, 2006, Retrieved 2010-07-31
- ^ Baker, Chris (August 6, 1987). "Motor Racing : Riding Out Suspension Is Another First for Willy T. Ribbs". The Los Angeles Times. The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
External links
- Official website
- Willy T. Ribbs driver statistics at Racing-Reference
- Willy T. Ribbs at IMDb
- Willy T. Ribbs at The HistoryMakers
- Dallas Morning News (May 23, 2006): "Where Are They Now? Indy 500 driver Willy T. Ribbs now shoots for the top", by Chuck Carlton
- Living people
- 1955 births
- Sportspeople from San Jose, California
- Racing drivers from California
- Indianapolis 500 drivers
- Champ Car drivers
- IndyCar Series drivers
- Indy Lights drivers
- Atlantic Championship drivers
- NASCAR drivers
- IMSA GT Championship drivers
- Trans-Am Series drivers
- Sporting clays shooters
- American male sport shooters
- African-American racing drivers
- African-American IndyCar Series drivers
- 20th-century American racing drivers
- 21st-century American racing drivers