Wendell Scott
NASCAR pioneer and the winner of a premier-series race in 1963.
- Nationality
- American
- Birthplace
- Danville, Virginia, USA
- Disciplines
- NASCAR
Wendell Scott was born in Danville, Virginia, in 1921. He raced, owned, and maintained his own cars, often on a tiny budget, while facing open racial hostility.
The 1963 victory
On December 1, 1963, at Speedway Park in Jacksonville, Florida, Scott won a race in NASCAR's top series, then called the Grand National division. Another driver was initially flagged as the winner; Scott was confirmed as the winner after scoring was reviewed. Decades later, in 2021, NASCAR presented his family with a trophy for the win.
Recognition
Scott was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2015. He died in 1990.
What is NASCAR?
NASCAR is America's leading stock car series. Cars race mainly on oval tracks, often in tight packs, and the Cup Series is its top level.
Last updated Oct 9, 2026 · Facts verified as of Oct 9, 2026
