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From Jayski.com:
Bill Lester, the only African-American driver regularly competing in any of NASCAR's top three divisions, is out looking for a new ride. Lester has been driving on the Craftsman Truck Series in a #8 Dodge owned by Bobby Hamilton and sponsored through a diversity program funded by Dodge. But Dodge is dropping the diversity program and Hamilton isn't going to run the truck without a sponsor. Dodge spokesman Todd Goyer said the company started the diversity program three years ago with the hope that some other corporation would step in and pick up the program. That never happened, although in July, General Mills put Lester's picture on boxes of Honey Nut Cheerios. "We started with a two-year program and extended it for a year," Goyer said. "But the bottom line is that we can't carry the flag alone." Lester has been Dodge's minority driver for the past two seasons and has shown promise. He runs best on superspeedways and won the pole at Charlotte earlier this year. He's 13th in points heading into Saturday's race at Martinsville and has an average start of 13th and an average finish of 18th (usually 36 or so drivers are in Craftsman fields). Goyer said the failure of Dodge's diversity program shouldn't be blamed on Lester. "Bill certainly represented us well," Goyer said. While Lester said he's unsure where he'll be racing next year, NASCAR officials are certain he'll be back behind the wheel of a competitive truck. "I feel confident that Bill Lester will be competing again next year," said NASCAR vice president Jim Hunter. Lester said he's appreciative of what Dodge's program did for him but disappointed that other companies didn't follow Dodge's lead. "Everybody talks about diversity but very few step up and put their money where their mouth is," he said. "It's unfortunate that Dodge is dropping this program, but you can't fault their position. No one else came forward."
Bill Lester, the only African-American driver regularly competing in any of NASCAR's top three divisions, is out looking for a new ride. Lester has been driving on the Craftsman Truck Series in a #8 Dodge owned by Bobby Hamilton and sponsored through a diversity program funded by Dodge. But Dodge is dropping the diversity program and Hamilton isn't going to run the truck without a sponsor. Dodge spokesman Todd Goyer said the company started the diversity program three years ago with the hope that some other corporation would step in and pick up the program. That never happened, although in July, General Mills put Lester's picture on boxes of Honey Nut Cheerios. "We started with a two-year program and extended it for a year," Goyer said. "But the bottom line is that we can't carry the flag alone." Lester has been Dodge's minority driver for the past two seasons and has shown promise. He runs best on superspeedways and won the pole at Charlotte earlier this year. He's 13th in points heading into Saturday's race at Martinsville and has an average start of 13th and an average finish of 18th (usually 36 or so drivers are in Craftsman fields). Goyer said the failure of Dodge's diversity program shouldn't be blamed on Lester. "Bill certainly represented us well," Goyer said. While Lester said he's unsure where he'll be racing next year, NASCAR officials are certain he'll be back behind the wheel of a competitive truck. "I feel confident that Bill Lester will be competing again next year," said NASCAR vice president Jim Hunter. Lester said he's appreciative of what Dodge's program did for him but disappointed that other companies didn't follow Dodge's lead. "Everybody talks about diversity but very few step up and put their money where their mouth is," he said. "It's unfortunate that Dodge is dropping this program, but you can't fault their position. No one else came forward."
