Bobby Norfleet
Encyclopedia
Bobby Norfleet is an African American
race car driver. He has raced motorcycle
s, drag cars
, and stock cars .
driver Alan Kulwicki
. Norfleet helped Kulwicki prepare the stock cars that Kulwicki used to win the 1992 Winston Cup
championship. Kulwicki planned to run Norfleet in the Busch Series
, but Kulwicki's death on April 1, 1993, canceled those plans.
, but was unable to come up with sponsorship. NASCAR Vice President Brian France
called a number of companies who were interested in sponsoring a NASCAR team, and even flew in some company executives. Norfleet came up with sponsorship from 40 Street Records and So So Def Records. Norfleet failed to qualify for his first race at Martinsville Speedway
.
Norfleet made his NASCAR debut at the Portland International Raceway
road course. He competed against Bill Lester
in that race, which was the only time in NASCAR history that two African-Americans have competed in the same race. Norfleet qualified 2 miles per hour slower than the pole speed, but made the race after 33 cars qualified for 34 spots. He finishing 32nd after he suffered handling problems. He was also black-flagged by NASCAR for not maintaining the required minimum speed.
In the next race at Pikes Peak International Raceway
, Norfleet's entry was denied by NASCAR officials, as he was not licensed to run tracks larger than a mile. NASCAR requires drivers to either show proficiency on shorter tracks, or have some experience on one mile and larger tracks in a lower series before they are allowed to race on larger tracks. Norfleet claimed the decision was racially motivated, and people protested outside NASCAR's headquarters. After failing to qualify for his next race at Evergreen Speedway
, he stopped running NASCAR.
Chevrolet Monte Carlo
for Mike Harmon
in a Busch Series race at Memphis Motorsports Park
. The entry failed to qualify. Norfleet had announced his team would compete in the Busch Series and the NEXTEL Cup
Series in 2006, but did not field an entry.
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
race car driver. He has raced motorcycle
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
s, drag cars
Drag racing
Drag racing is a competition in which specially prepared automobiles or motorcycles compete two at a time to be the first to cross a set finish line, from a standing start, in a straight line, over a measured distance, most commonly a ¼-mile straight track....
, and stock cars .
Crew member for Kulwicki's 1992 NASCAR championship
In 1991, Norfleet befriended NASCARNASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
driver Alan Kulwicki
Alan Kulwicki
Alan Dennis Kulwicki , nicknamed "Special K" and the "Polish Prince", was an American NASCAR Winston Cup Series racecar driver. He started racing at local short tracks in Wisconsin before moving up to regional stock car touring series...
. Norfleet helped Kulwicki prepare the stock cars that Kulwicki used to win the 1992 Winston Cup
NEXTEL Cup
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is the top racing series of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing . The series was originally known as the Strictly Stock Series and Grand National Series . While leasing its naming rights to R. J...
championship. Kulwicki planned to run Norfleet in the Busch Series
Busch Series
The NASCAR Nationwide Series is a stock car racing series owned and operated by the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing. It is promoted as NASCAR's "minor league" circuit, and is a proving ground for drivers who wish to step up to the organization's "big leagues"; the Sprint Cup circuit...
, but Kulwicki's death on April 1, 1993, canceled those plans.
2000 Controversy
In 2000, Norfleet announced he would field and drive his own team in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck SeriesCraftsman Truck Series
The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series is a pickup truck racing series owned and operated by the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing...
, but was unable to come up with sponsorship. NASCAR Vice President Brian France
Brian France
Brian France is the CEO and Chairman of NASCAR, taking over the position from his father, Bill France, Jr., in 2003 . He is widely known and regarded as one of the most powerful men in sports. France's family pioneered NASCAR out of a Southeast based sport, into a national and international multi...
called a number of companies who were interested in sponsoring a NASCAR team, and even flew in some company executives. Norfleet came up with sponsorship from 40 Street Records and So So Def Records. Norfleet failed to qualify for his first race at Martinsville Speedway
Martinsville Speedway
Martinsville Speedway is an International Speedway Corporation-owned NASCAR stock car racing track located in Henry County, near Ridgeway, Virginia, just to the south of Martinsville. At in length, it is the shortest track in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The track was also one of the first paved...
.
Norfleet made his NASCAR debut at the Portland International Raceway
Portland International Raceway
Portland International Raceway is located in Portland, Oregon, USA's, Delta Park complex on the former site of Vanport, just south of the Columbia River. It is west of a light rail station and less than a mile west of Interstate 5....
road course. He competed against Bill Lester
Bill Lester
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 EECS from the University of California, Berkeley...
in that race, which was the only time in NASCAR history that two African-Americans have competed in the same race. Norfleet qualified 2 miles per hour slower than the pole speed, but made the race after 33 cars qualified for 34 spots. He finishing 32nd after he suffered handling problems. He was also black-flagged by NASCAR for not maintaining the required minimum speed.
In the next race at Pikes Peak International Raceway
Pikes Peak International Raceway
Pikes Peak International Raceway, also known as PPIR, is a participant focused racetrack located in Fountain, Colorado, south of Colorado Springs and north of Pueblo...
, Norfleet's entry was denied by NASCAR officials, as he was not licensed to run tracks larger than a mile. NASCAR requires drivers to either show proficiency on shorter tracks, or have some experience on one mile and larger tracks in a lower series before they are allowed to race on larger tracks. Norfleet claimed the decision was racially motivated, and people protested outside NASCAR's headquarters. After failing to qualify for his next race at Evergreen Speedway
Evergreen Speedway
Evergreen Speedway is an automobile racetrack located within the confines of the Evergreen State Fairgrounds in Monroe, Washington. The stadium can accommodate up to 7500 spectators in the covered grandstand and an additional 7500 in the uncovered modular grandstands...
, he stopped running NASCAR.
Presently
Norfleet returned as a car owner to NASCAR in 2005. Bobby Norfleet Racing fielded the #24 FUBUFUBU
FUBU is a clothing company. It includes casual wear, sports wear, a suit collection, eyewear, belts, and shoes for the African-American community in the sense of economic investment but not to be exclusively worn by African Americans...
Chevrolet Monte Carlo
Chevrolet Monte Carlo
The Chevrolet Monte Carlo was an American-made two-door coupe introduced for model year 1970, and manufactured over six generations through model year 2007. It was marketed as a personal-luxury coupe through most of its history, with the last model version being classified as a full-sized coupe...
for Mike Harmon
Mike Harmon
Mike Harmon is an American race car driver. Currently, he drives the #74 Mike Harmon Racing Chevrolet in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. In the past, he drove in the NASCAR Slim Jim All Pro Series, finishing 8th in points in 1997...
in a Busch Series race at Memphis Motorsports Park
Memphis Motorsports Park
Memphis International Raceway is an auto racing park located across the Loosahatchie River from Memphis, Tennessee, approximately ten miles south of Millington, Tennessee. The facility opened in 1987 with a drag strip and 1.8-mile road course...
. The entry failed to qualify. Norfleet had announced his team would compete in the Busch Series and the NEXTEL Cup
NEXTEL Cup
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is the top racing series of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing . The series was originally known as the Strictly Stock Series and Grand National Series . While leasing its naming rights to R. J...
Series in 2006, but did not field an entry.