KC dedicates day to history-making Black auto racer. She competes here Saturday
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Dystany Spurlock will debut in the ARCA Menards Series national race at Kansas Speedway.
- Spurlock set a Real Street Bike world record with a 7.32-second pass at 178 mph.
- Kansas City proclaimed a Dystany Spurlock Day at a ceremony in Kansas City, Kansas.
Racing is her destiny ... and it’s spelled D-y-s-t-a-n-y.
Meet Dystany Spurlock, who brings her groundbreaking racing career through Kansas City this weekend at Kansas Speedway.
Spurlock, 34, began her motorsports career at age 17, and she’s since gained experience on motorcycles and in stock cars. On top of setting career records simply by being a Black woman in the field, she has also set top marks as one of the fastest motorcycle riders on the planet.
Spurlock earned a world record in the Real Street Bike class by racing a 7-second pass in 7.32 seconds at 178 mph. She’s captured multiple drag racing championships.
And she is also an actress and model.
Last year, she became just the second Black woman — ever— to compete in the NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle Class.
On March 28, she became the first Black woman to compete in the ARCA Menards Series East, one of NASCAR’s regional developmental divisions. She garnered seventh- and 12th-place finishes in the first two races of the season.
On Saturday at Kansas Speedway, Spurlock will become the first Black woman to debut in the ARCA Menards Series at the national level. She will race in the 100-lap Tide 150 at 11:30 a.m. Central Time (FS11)
Spurlock drives a black and white No. 66 Ford Mustang for MBM Motorsports and Garage 66, an outfit led by former NASCAR driver and longtime team owner Carl Long.
In a ceremony at Victory Ford in Kansas City, Kansas, less than two miles from the speedway, Thursday was proclaimed Dystany Spurlock Day in Kansas City by KCMO Mayor Quinton Lucas and the Kansas House of Representatives. Kansas representatives Valdenia Winn and Wanda Brownlee Paige presented Spurlock the proclamations.
Spurlock teared up as the words were read to her, the sound of drills from working dealership mechanics providing perfect background noise.
“To know that we’ve actually made it this far, and to know that little girls and little boys that look like me can look at me and say ‘She did it, so I can too’ — that’s what it’s about,” she told The Star. “Yes, I love racing and all of that, but it’s about the ones that are coming up. So to know that I have a day that is for me, it’s everything and more than I could have ever dreamed of.”
Cheerleaders from Gloria Willis Middle School in KCK created a cheer for the former cheerleader before she gifted them autographed pictures. Spurlock, 34, was a multi-athlete growing up. She even played football as a cornerback.
Today, Spurlock is on the rise toward her goal of racing in the NASCAR Cup Series. She grew up two miles from Richmond Raceway in Richmond, Virginia. Her grandfather, inspired by racing legend Dale Earnhardt, would open the windows of his home so they could hear the cars revving as they watched the races on television.
Spurlock is part of a growing trend of Black drivers and crew members throughout all levels of NASCAR. Cup Series drivers like Bubba Wallace and Rajah Caruth are leading the way, and Spurlock trains in North Carolina with several of them.
“We’re all like family,” Spurlock said. “Anytime we’re at the track, we help each other out. Somebody has a question, we’re there for each other.
“And the ultimate goal is Cup (Series). So I know one day we will be there, and I’m excited to look back on today, a few years later from now.”
