Willy T. Ribbs

William Theodore Ribbs Jr. (born January 3, 1955) is a retired American race car driver, racing owner, and sport shooter known for being the first African-American man to have tested a Formula One car (he did so in 1986) and to compete in the Indianapolis 500 (tested in 1985, raced in 1991 and 1993). Ribbs competed in many forms of auto racing, including the Trans-Am Series, IndyCar, Champ Car, IMSA, and the NASCAR Cup Series and Gander Outdoors Truck Series.[1] After retiring, he became a sport shooter in the National Sporting Clays Association.

Willy T. Ribbs
Ribbs in 1984
Born (1955-01-03) January 3, 1955
San Jose, California, U.S.
Achievements1976 Formula Ford Dunlop Championship Champion
Awards1983 Trans-Am Series Rookie of the Year
NASCAR Cup Series career
4 races run over 1 year
Best finish65th (1986)
First race1986 First Union 400 (North Wilkesboro)
Last race1986 The Budweiser at The Glen (Watkins Glen)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 0 0
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series career
23 races run over 1 year
Best finish16th (2001)
First race2001 Florida Dodge Dealers 250 (Daytona)
Last race2001 Auto Club 200 (California)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 0 0
IndyCar Series career
1 race run over 1 year
Team(s)McCormack Motorsports (1999)
Best finish47th – 1999
First race1999 Vegas.com 500 (Las Vegas)
Wins Podiums Poles
0 0 0
Champ Car career
46 races run over 5 years
Years active1990–1994
Team(s)Raynor Motorsports (1990)
Walker Racing (1991–1994)
Best finish17th (1991)
First race1990 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach (Long Beach)
Last race1994 Toyota Grand Prix of Monterey (Laguna Seca)
Wins Podiums Poles
0 0 0
Statistics current as of March 20, 2012.

Ribbs saw his most success in the Trans-Am Series, winning 17 races while driving for such names as Dan Gurney and Jack Roush. Ribbs' talent was at times limited by a lack of good equipment, and eclipsed at times by his strong personality.[1][2][3][4]

Biography
Ribbs won the SCCA Trans-Am race at Portland International Raceway in 1983.

Ribbs grew up in San Jose, California as one of five children in a middle-class family. His father William "Bunny" Ribbs, Sr. was a plumbing contractor and amateur sports car racer, and was friends and neighbors with Indy Car driver Joe Leonard. Ribbs was nearly killed at eight years old when an out-of-control car at a race struck him. As a teenager, Ribbs would take his car out in the California mountains at high speeds, frequently stopped by police for reckless driving. Ribbs proceeded to enter a racing school at the age of 21.[3][5][6] Following his graduation from high school in 1975, Ribbs moved to Europe to compete. In 1977, Ribbs won the Dunlop/Autosport Star of Tomorrow FF1600 in his first year of competition, winning six races in eleven starts with Mike Eastick's Scorpion Racing School. Ribbs returned to the United States in 1978, making his debut in the Formula Atlantic open-wheel series at Long Beach on April 1, finishing 10th after running as high as 4th.[2][3][6][7]

In May 1978, Charlotte Motor Speedway president and race promoter Humpy Wheeler entered Ribbs to drive a NASCAR Winston Cup car in the World 600 at Charlotte in an effort to attract black fans to his racetrack. Ribbs was partnered with veteran crew chief Harry Hyde.[8] After being initially rejected by track officials due to a lack of stock car experience,[9] and when the Dodge Magnum Ribbs was supposed to drive was committed to another driver,[10] Wheeler set Ribbs up with owner Will Cronkite and a Bud Moore Engineering-built Ford Torino.[11] In addition to missing two practice sessions, his debut in NASCAR was derailed after rumours of a high-speed car chase by police down the wrong way of a one-way street, possibly due to Ribbs being a black driver.[12] According to Charlotte Observer reporter Tom Higgins, Ribbs outran the police before being apprehended in the gymnasium of Queens University of Charlotte. Cronkite replaced him with future champion Dale Earnhardt.[8][13]

Ribbs returned to the Formula Atlantic series in 1981,[3] winning the pole in the Long Beach Formula Atlantic race in 1982. The following year, Ribbs moved to the SCCA Trans-Am Series, driving Chevrolet Camaros with sponsorship from Budweiser. Ribbs won five races and was honored as Pro Rookie of the Year, while his teammate David Hobbs won the series championship.[3] Ribbs won four races in 1984 driving factory-backed Mercury Capris for Roush Racing.[3][6]

Ribbs' made his first attempt at the Indianapolis 500 in 1986, which ended in controversy when during testing he topped out at 170 miles per hour while other rookie drivers were running laps above 200 miles per hour. Ribbs proceeded to withdraw from the race altogether. The deal had been put together in part by boxing promoter Don King, who Ribbs hired to manage him, with sponsorship from Miller Brewing Company, but with a second hand Cosworth machine from Arie Luyendyk.[3][6][14]

Ribbs attempted NASCAR again in 1986, running three races in the No. 30 Red Roof Inns car owned by DiGard Motorsports. His best finish came at his debut, a 22nd at North Wilkesboro Speedway.[4] Also in 1986, Ribbs became the first black person to drive a Formula One car, when he tested for the Bernie Ecclestone-owned Brabham team at the Autódromo do Estoril, Portugal.[15] Ultimately, Ribbs was not given the drive for the upcoming season. In 1987, Ribbs began driving Toyota Celicas for Dan Gurney in the IMSA GT Championship, winning four races.[3]

Ribbs driving at Laguna Seca in 1991

In 1990, Ribbs joined the CART circuit in a car funded in-part by comedian Bill Cosby.[16] Ribbs had one top-10 event that season. He was involved in an unfortunate incident in Vancouver when a group of track marshals ran onto the track to assist Ross Bentley who had stalled, however one of the marshals ran in front of Ribbs' car and the marshal was killed in the impact.[17]

In 1991, he became the first African-American to qualify for the Indianapolis 500.[18] He raced there a second time in 1993.[19] In 1994, he continued in the CART series with the team, finishing in the top 10 at the Michigan International Speedway[20] and New Hampshire International Speedway[21] races.

In 1999, Ribbs raced in an Indy Racing League IndyCar Series event at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for McCormack Motorsports as a try-out to join the team full-time in 2000.[22] However he crashed on lap four and finished in 26th and last place. After three top-10s the Trans-Am Series in 2000, Ribbs signed to drive the No. 8 Dodge Ram for Bobby Hamilton Racing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.[4][23] Driving 23 out of 24 races, Ribbs had a best finish of 13th, and finished 16th in points.

In May 2011, Ribbs announced he had formed Willy T. Ribbs Racing to campaign former biracial NASCAR driver Chase Austin in the Firestone Indy Lights' Freedom 100 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, which coincided with Ribbs' 20th anniversary of breaking the color barrier at Indy.[24] Ribs himself came out of retirement to drive for the team in the Baltimore GP.

In 2019, Ribbs won the Indy Legends Charity Pro–Am race with co-driver Ed Sevadjian.[25]

After racing

After retiring from racing, Ribbs turned to professional shooting, specializing in sporting clays. His son Theodore Ribbs is a professional sport shooter. Ribbs married hotel management executive Stephanie Bauer in August 2018.[4]

Controversy

Ribbs had received criticism for his strong personality during his career, sometimes from other African Americans in auto racing. Black car owner Leonard T. Miller felt Ribbs was not the best representative of the black community due to his outspoken nature.[1] Ribbs has also spoken negatively about his experience in NASCAR. In May 2006, a newspaper column by Jason Whitlock of Knight-Ridder quoted Ribbs detailing his criticism of NASCAR and his lauding of the Indianapolis 500. Ribbs created controversy by referring to NASCAR as Al-Qaida, "Neckcar", and WWE.[2][26][27]

In 1984, during a warm-up session at the SCCA Trans-Am Series season opener at Road Atlanta, Ribbs was fined $1,000 for throwing a punch at fellow driver Bob Lobenberg, after the two drivers made contact on the track.[6] In 1987 following a race at Portland International Raceway, Ribbs was suspended by the International Motor Sports Association for one month after throwing a punch at driver Scott Pruett. Ribbs felt that Pruett had cost him a chance at winning the race.[3][28]

In media

In the Disney Channel cartoon The Proud Family, Penny Proud and her friends attend "Willy T. Ribbs Middle School," where the mascot is the "Racer."

Ribbs was featured in the 2020 documentary Uppity: The Willy T. Ribbs Story, which released on Netflix.[29]

Motorsports career results
Ribbs at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2018

American open–wheel racing results

(key)

PPG Indycar Series

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)

Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Rank Points
1984 Doug Shierson Racing LBH PHX INDY
Wth1		 MIL POR MEA CLE MCH ROA POC MDO SAN MCH PHX LAG CPL NC -
1985 AMI Racing LBH INDY
Wth2		 MIL POR MEA CLE MCH ROA POC MDO SAN MCH LAG PHX MIA NC -
1990 Raynor Motorsports PHX LBH
20		 INDY MIL DET
20		 POR CLE MEA
23		 TOR
27		 MCH DEN
26		 VAN
10		 MDO
27		 ROA NAZ LAG
13		 26th 3
1991 Walker Racing SRF LBH PHX INDY
32		 MIL DET
11		 POR CLE
22		 MEA
10		 TOR MCH DEN
6		 VAN
21		 MDO ROA
10		 NAZ
17		 LAG
12		 17th 17
1992 Walker Racing SRF PHX LBH INDY DET POR MIL NHA TOR MCH CLE ROA VAN MDO NAZ LAG
25		 57th 0
1993 Walker Racing SRF PHX LBH INDY
21		 MIL
11		 DET
12		 POR
16		 CLE
27		 TOR
18		 MCH
10		 NHA
15		 ROA
12		 VAN
16		 MDO
11		 NAZ
19		 LAG
28		 20th 9
1994 Walker Racing SRF
18		 PHX
28		 LBH
18		 INDY
DNQ		 MIL
25		 DET
16		 POR
25		 CLE
12		 TOR
21		 MCH
7		 MDO
28		 NHA
10		 VAN
25		 ROA
24		 NAZ
18		 LAG
11		 22nd 12
1 Did not appear
2 Withdrew from rookie orientation

Indianapolis 500
Year Chassis Engine Start Finish Team
1984 DSR-1 Cosworth Wth Doug Shierson Racing
1985 March 85C Cosworth Wth AMI Racing
1991 Lola T9000 Buick 29 32 Raynor Motorsports
1993 Lola T9200 FordXB 30 21 Walker Racing
1994 Lola T9400 FordXB DNQ Walker Racing

Indy Racing League

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)

Year Team Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Rank Points
1999 McCormack Motorsports G-Force GF01C Oldsmobile Aurora V8 WDW PHX CLT INDY TXS PPIR ATL DOV PPIR LVS
26		 TXS 47th 4

Indy Lights
Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Rank Points
2011 Willy T. Ribbs Racing STP ALA LBH INDY MIL IOW TOR EDM1 EDM2 TRO NHM BAL
13		 KTY LVS 29th 17

NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Winston Cup Series
NASCAR Winston Cup Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 NWCC Pts
1986 DiGard Motorsports 30 Chevy DAY RCH CAR ATL BRI
DNQ		 DAR NWS
22		 MAR TAL DOV CLT
DNQ		 MCH
39		 DAY POC TAL GLN
37		 MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR ATL RSD 65th 219
64 RSD
29		 POC

Craftsman Truck Series
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 NCTC Pts
2001 Bobby Hamilton Racing 8 Dodge DAY
23		 HOM
19		 MMR
28		 MAR
DNQ		 GTY
20		 DAR
29		 PPR
13		 DOV
19		 TEX
25		 MEM
17		 MLW
18		 KAN
15		 KEN
30		 NHA
18		 IRP
20		 NSH
24		 CIC
28		 NZH
18		 RCH
20		 SBO
28		 TEX
19		 LVS
25		 PHO
19		 CAL
18		 16th 2319

See also

References
  1. Wilson, Kevin A. (January 9, 2005). "Minority Report: Where Did All The Progress Go?". Autoweek.com. AutoWeek. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
  2. Corcoran, Tully (February 21, 2014). "Willy T. Ribbs took to the track and always fought back". Fox Sports. Fox Sports. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
  3. McAlevey, Peter (October 9, 1988). "THE HARD RIDE OF WILLY T." The New York Times. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  4. Carlton, Chuck (May 23, 2006). "Indy 500 driver Willy T. Ribbs now shoots for the top Ribbs remains competitive, but now it's on range, not track". The Dallas Morning News. Archived from the original on 2007-07-15. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  5. "The First Black Among Top Race Car Drivers, Willy T. Ribbs Is Aiming to Become World Champ". People.com. People. September 26, 1983. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
  6. Potter, Steve (March 24, 1985). "BLACK DRIVER PLANS TO BE FIRST AT INDY". The New York Times. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  7. Katz, Michael (April 2, 1978). "Pressure on Andretti in Grand Prix Race" (PDF). The New York Times. Long Beach, California. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  8. "An Oral History Of Black NASCAR Drivers". Complex.com. Complex. February 22, 2012. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  9. Associated Press (May 19, 1978). "World 600 Rejects Ribbs" (PDF). The New York Times. Charlotte, North Carolina. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  10. Associated Press (May 11, 1978). "Ribbs Seeks Car for 600 At Charlotte on May 28" (PDF). The New York Times. Charlotte, North Carolina. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  11. Associated Press (May 17, 1978). "Ribbs Gets New Ride For World 600 Race" (PDF). The New York Times. Charlotte, North Carolina. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  12. "Interview with Willy T. Ribbs". Retrieved 2020-06-23.
  13. "Ribbs' wrong turn helped open door for Earnhardt". nascar.com. Sporting News Wire Service. May 20, 2008. Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2010-07-31.
  14. Glick, Shav (April 19, 1987). "WILLY T. RIBBS : Controversial and Aggressive Driver Is Better Known for His Failures, but His Record Shows He Can Win, Too". The Los Angeles Times. The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
  15. Keith Collantine (2006-09-24). "First black Formula One driver..." F1Fanatic.co.uk. Retrieved 2006-09-24.
  16. "INDYCAR: Willy T. Ribbs: One Of A Kind, Pt 2". SpeedTV.com. Retrieved 24 August 2011.
  17. "COURSE WORKER KILLED AT AUTO RACE". deseretnews.com. 3 September 1990. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  18. Graves, Gary. "Ribbs, Indy 500's first black driver, breaking ground again", USA Today, May 25, 2011. WebCitation archive.
  19. "INDYCAR: Willy T. Ribbs: One Of A Kind, Pt 5". SpeedTV.com. Retrieved 24 August 2011.
  20. "1994 Marlboro 500". Champ Car Stats. Retrieved 24 August 2011.
  21. "1994 Slick 50 200". Champ Car Stats. Retrieved 24 August 2011.
  22. Willy T. Ribbs to compete at LVMS Archived 2011-07-13 at the Wayback Machine, Las Vegas Sun, September 16, 1999, Retrieved 2010-07-31
  23. Rodman, Dave (December 13, 2000). "Willy T. Ribbs to run Dodge: Dodge inks Ribbs, BHR for diversity initiative". motorsport.com. Auburn Hills, Michigan: motorsport.com. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
  24. Graves, Gary, Ribbs, Indy 500's first black driver, breaking ground again, USA Today, May 25, 2011
  25. "Ribbs, Said, Prevail in VROC Charity Pro-Am at IMS". SVRA. August 3, 2019. Retrieved August 5, 2019.
  26. Moody, Dave, "Willy T. Who?", Sirius Speedway Blog, June 3, 2006, Retrieved 2010-07-31
  27. Whitlock, Jason, Willy T. Ribbs loves Indy, loathes NASCAR Archived 2011-07-18 at the Wayback Machine, Mercury News, May 26, 2006, Retrieved 2010-07-31
  28. Baker, Chris (August 6, 1987). "Motor Racing : Riding Out Suspension Is Another First for Willy T. Ribbs". The Los Angeles Times. The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
  29. Stahler, Tom (February 7, 2020). "Racing to the movies – 'Uppity: The Willy T. Ribbs Story'". Classic Cars Journal. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
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