Bill Lester
FameRank: 5

"William Alexander Lester III" is a racing driver who competes in the Grand Touring category in the Rolex Sports Car Series for Autohaus Motorsports. In 1984, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science/EECS from the University of California, Berkeley. Fresh out of college, he worked at Hewlett-Packard for a few years before deciding he wanted to focus on auto racing.

Until 2007, he competed full-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, being at the time the only African-American competing full-time in a NASCAR circuit. He also participated in a number of Sprint Cup Series/Sprint Cup races. From 2008 - 2010, he competed in the Daytona Prototype category in the Rolex Sports Car Series.

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It's going to take a while before you see a lot of African American drivers out there, but one day it will happen.

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I think there is a country club-type mentality still in corporate America and it's difficult to open doors and get the corporate support from a financial standpoint.

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There are a lot of opportunities to become involved in motor sports and in NASCAR, in particular. If they're the American sport, they need to reflect that. They're doing what they can to open the doors to inclusion.

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Everybody's looking for that edge.

163

They would definitely be in control of their own destiny ... But they still need a place to play and Major League Baseball still needs a presence in the Upper Midwest.

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I'm really pleased to be out here. It's been a long time since I've been behind the wheel of a sports car, and I've never been behind the wheel of a Daytona Prototype. I'm really appreciative of Eddie's call. I'm excited to turn some laps and hopefully I'll be here at Daytona in January.

142

People have said I'm a pioneer, but I don't think so. I have a responsibility, but I don't feel the pressure. I feel the pressure internally. If I don't meet my goals and responsibilities, I feel the pressure.

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I didn't realize this is something I could aspire to. There was no one I could look up to.

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He was absolutely as solid as a rock, no matter how much pressure, ... He loved to provide the needle when I needed the needle applied.

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