Contreras started 23 of 24 raced in 2000, driving for Impact Motorsports. The driver finished the season in 17th position with two top-10s and a second-place effort for 2000's Rookie of the Year.
"Carlos is a pioneer in NASCAR," said seven-time Winston Cup Champion Richard Petty. "He will bring many fans to the sport." Contreras is the first Mexican-born driver to compete in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, but minority competitors discovering careers in NASCAR aren't limited to those of Mexican descent.
Dodge is spearheading and effort to involve more minorities in auto racing with its diversity program. The manufacturer conducted a test program that included African-American drivers Bill Lester, Tim Wood, and Willy T. Ribbs. Dodge hopes that the program will create a development process for enhancing the racing careers of minority drivers.
Through the program Ribbs earned a ride, driving a Bobby Hamilton Dodge with backing from Dodge Motorsports. "To be involved in a factory backed effort with Dodge is the sort of thing that drivers get into racing for," Ribbs said. Ribbs has a great deal of factory team experience racing sports cars for Chevrolet, Ford, and Toyota, in addition to seat time in Indy cars. He also competed in two NASCAR Winston Cup events in 1986.
"Willy T. Ribbs is seen as an inspiration for many aspiring African-American drivers," said NASCAR Vice President Brian France.
Ribbs is the second African-American driver to announce plans to compete in the Truck Series during the 2001 season. Preston Tutt, who has competed in the Winston Weekly Series for five years, is slated to race a truck for Billy Ballew Motorsports. NASCAR has come along way since being considered a Southern sport. As popularity of America's greatest sport spreads from boarder to boarder, the face of the sport also continues to evolve to reflect the country's diversity.
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