Dystany Spurlock, at 34 years old, just made her fifth ARCA Menards Series start of the year at Indianapolis Raceway Park on Friday, etching her name into the history books as the first Black woman to ever race a stock car at that iconic track. This isn’t just another race; this is a massive moment that has been building for years, culminating in a whirlwind year of breakthroughs that’s got everyone buzzing.
From Drag Strips to Circle Tracks: A Lightning-Fast Rise
Can you believe how fast Spurlock has made this happen? It was back in March that she first broke barriers, becoming the first Black woman to compete in a NASCAR-sanctioned series at the ARCA Menards Series East in Hickory, North Carolina. She knocked out two races there, then hopped straight into the premier ARCA series in April, showing everyone what she’s made of with a solid 10th place finish at Kansas Speedway. What a run! Just less than a year ago, Spurlock was tearing it up on two wheels, racing her second NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle race at IRP. Now, she’s back, but in a full-blown stock car, and she’s feeling it. “To be able to know that I raced over there on the drag strip and now I’m over here on the circle track, that means so much to me because I did not know that this would happen so fast within a year’s time,” she told IndyStar. She’s also thrown down in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Dover Motor Speedway in May, proving she’s ready for anything.
The Backing That Paved the Way for History
This isn’t an overnight sensation, folks. Spurlock’s journey has been a marathon, filled with motorcycle drag racing, arena carts, and even a stint in Skip Barber’s Formula 4 series in 2023. She’s been trying to get to this point for “16, 17 years.” That’s dedication! Her big break came with the support of Chris Harris, who she met five years ago, and Kellie Crawford. Harris, who also leads the African American Automotive Association, and Crawford founded the media company Foxxtecca in 2025, and they’ve been instrumental in funding Spurlock’s stock car dream. She told them, “If there was some way that they can be able to come in and support me in getting to this point in NASCAR, they always said they would do it.” And they did, helping her debut in both NHRA and the ARCA series. Now, her No. 66 MBM Motorsports Toyota is rocking sponsorship from She Pivots, a media company founded by Emily Tisch Sussman. Sussman, whose family has deep ties in pro sports, including owning half of the New York Giants, met Spurlock at a “Women in Sports” gathering and felt it was a “natural fit.” Spurlock is the very first athlete She Pivots has sponsored, and Tisch Sussman says Dystany is just magnetic, with confidence and positivity that makes you want to be part of her journey.
This is more than just racing; it’s about breaking down barriers. Tisch Sussman, who admitted she knew nothing about motorsports before Dystany, is all about pushing boundaries. She believes a sport gets better when you question the old ways. “Why is she in straps that are not fit for a woman’s body? She has to be in the room to be able to move it forward,” Tisch Sussman challenged. Spurlock’s on track to return to IRP for the NHRA U.S. Nationals in September, and she’s hoping to lock in a full ARCA Menards Series season next. Keep your eyes peeled, because Dystany Spurlock is just getting started, and this is going to be one wild ride!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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