Darrell Wallace Jr. ready for historic NASCAR Cup Series start

The 23-year-old becomes the first black driver to compete in NASCAR’s premier series since 2006.

Darrell Wallace Jr. remembers going as a young child to race at tracks in the south where the son of a white father and black mother would be subjected to racial insults. But Wallace’s parents taught him to tune out what was being said, instead focus on why he was there. Let his actions on the track make the statement for him.

Wallace did just that. Time and time again. He won six races in NASCAR’s K&N East Series, which earned him an opportunity in the Camping World Truck Series for a team owned by Kyle Busch. In 2013, he became the second black driver to capture a national tour race when he won a truck race at Martinsville Speedway, joining Wendell Scott, who won a Cup race in 1963. Wallace moved to the Xfinity Series in 2015 where he has a best finish of second in 83 starts.

“I would get the gestures and everything thrown out,” Wallace said Tuesday. “We'd show up the next weekend and win. That's how I was taught. That's how I was raised, to ignore the stupidity, continue on and do what I need to do.”

Wallace is among a group of drivers who in recent years have made NASCAR, which as recently as 2015 permitted the Confederate flag at its races, far more diverse than ever before.

In 2013, Danica Patrick become the first woman to win a premier division pole when she topped Daytona 500 qualifying, a race she led and was in contention to win until the closing laps. Last year, Kyle Larson become the first Japanese-American to win a Cup Series race, with Daniel Suarez becoming the first foreign-born driver to win a national touring championship when he captured the Xfinity Series title. The Monterrey, Mexico, native was promoted to Cup over the offseason where he’s now the leading rookie with four top-10 finishes through 13 races.

“The only flags that I see is green, white, checkered — sometimes the black flag, which is never good,” Wallace said.

On Sunday, Wallace will race against Patrick, Larson, and Suarez when he makes his Cup Series debut at Pocono Raceway (3:20 p.m. ET, FS1). According to NASCAR, Wallace is at least the eighth black driver to compete at the sport’s highest level, and the first since Bill Lester made two starts in 2006. Scott’s son called Wallace on Monday offering encouragement.

“He was so pumped up,” Wallace said. “That's huge when you still have that connection with the family, continue to carry on a legacy that their father laid.”

Wallace’s first crack at Cup comes as driver of the iconic Richard Petty Motorsports No. 43 car where he’ll substitute for the injured Aric Almirola, who suffered a T5 compression fracture of his back in a fiery crash May 13 at Kansas Speedway.

When Almirola, 33, will return is unknown, but his timetable is expected to be around two to three months. Until then, Wallace will be the permanent replacement, taking over for Regan Smith, who served as stopgap driving the three races Almirola missed since his accident.

Getting Wallace behind the wheel of the No. 43 car was a collaboration among RPM, Roush Fenway Racing, and Ford, which supports both organizations. RFR fielded Wallace’s Xfinity No. 6 car, but a lack of funding had that team on the brink of shutting down, which it will do following Saturday’s race at Pocono.

Not wanting Wallace sidelined and believing he possesses the talent to be in Cup, Ford brokered the deal to shift him to RPM where he’ll likely drive in no fewer than six races and upward of 10. What happens when Almirola returns is up in the air.

Young drivers in the position Wallace finds himself commonly feel they have to make an immediate impression. To show they’re worthy of the chance and prove deserving of chances going forward. He says he’s approaching his Cup debut levelheaded.

“There's no need for me to go out there and try to set the world on fire, try to win races and put myself in a tough spot, not be able to capitalize on it,” Wallace said. “There's no need for me to force a hole and end up tearing up a racecar.

“I'm getting this opportunity because people believe in me and seen my talents coming up. I have to go out there, just back that up, show them I can manage and perform, and I belong in the series.”

Beyond just wanting to reach a new demographic, NASCAR would like to see Wallace become its next breakout star because of his vibrant, outgoing personality that’s made him quite popular on social media. With Jeff Gordon, Carl Edwards, and Tony Stewart retired, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. soon to join them, the sport desperately needs a personality that connects to the public.

Wallace’s bromance with fellow Cup driver Ryan Blaney, 23, and their continued hi-jinks are a regular occurrence on Instagram, SnapChat, and Twitter. The most memorable might have been a rollicking road trip from Phoenix to Southern California last year where the duo shared their impersonations of Edwards, Stewart, Joey Logano, Patrick, and Ryan Newman among others. Both Wallace and Blaney will voice characters in the upcoming Cars 3 film.

“I'm glad to be leading the forefront of that right now,” Wallace said. “It just shows that we're trying to bring in a new demographic. We're trying to bring in a new face, get a younger generation, no matter what color, what age.”