Julius Erving and former NFL RB Joe Washington formally
announced the formation of "the first major minority-owned
NASCAR team" since Wendell Scott retired in '72, according
to Mike Hembree of the GREENVILLE NEWS. Erving and
Washington, along with two other minority partners, have
formed Washington Erving Motorsports and plan to field teams
on NASCAR's Winston Cup and Busch Grand National circuits
starting in February '98 at the Daytona 500. The group is
seeking two drivers and plans to lease shop space in the
Greensboro-High Point, NC, area. Washington, who said the
team plans to hire minorities for crew positions:
"Obviously, having a minority crew chief or a minority
driver right now would be great, but we're also realistic
about this. We're looking to create opportunities, through
something like a farm system, so that those dreams can
someday be a reality" (GREENVILLE NEWS/DETROIT NEWS, 5/22).
SPONSOR REPORT: Ford Motor Company has agreed to help
the efforts of Washington Erving Motorsports. Bruce
Cambern, Ford's Racing Dir, said the company's contribution
will come in the form of technical support and advice on
finding personnel and suppliers, rather than financial help.
Washington said that the team expects to be able to name
other sponsors within a few weeks (N.Y. TIMES, 5/22). The
Ford connection "gives validity to the effort, giving the
team the first major piece of the puzzle," according to the
INDIANAPOLIS STAR NEWS. Sponsors "are known to be
salivating over" a possible deal with Erving Washington
Motorsports, "with Coca-Cola or Pepsi considered likely
players." The other principles in the group are Raleigh,
NC, businessman Field Jackson Jr. and Greensboro, NC,
marketing consultant Kathy Thompson, who formerly managed
Richard Petty's sponsorship with Pepsi (INDIANAPOLIS STAR-
NEWS, 5/21). In Jacksonville, Tony Fabrizio: "The potential
ramifications are enormous. NASCAR's top division has been
almost exclusively white. ... The entry of high-profile
African-Americans Erving and Washington as owners could
attract new fans and sponsors and change perceptions about a
'redneck' sport" (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 5/22).
