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News From Racefan.com
Approximately
eleven percent of the US population is of African-American
descent. It would seem likely, given that number, that at least
one race at Indianapolis would have been won by an
African-American driver or owner. But it hasn’t happened yet.
Automobile racing is still overwhelmingly white among the
competitors and fans alike. In the earlier days of this sport,
like most areas of American life, African-Americans simply weren’t
welcome. Most other sports, baseball, football, and even tennis
have integrated, but racing has not. Eleven percent of the
population have been ignored by this sport that wants to be the
sport of America. There are stories about a black racing league in
the Chicago area after World War II but the details are rather
sketchy. Wendell Scott managed to race in the NASCAR Grand
National division in the 1960’s, even winning a race at
Jacksonville, FL, but he was not allowed to race at all venues,
nor was he accepted by the other drivers and owners at the time.
Today, only Willy T. Ribbs drives in the top ranks of the sport.
In 2000, the first sole owner emerged from the African-American
community.Dr. Jim Logan, an African-American chiropractor, is
attempting to change those statistics by owning an IRL car.
Although Logan is not the first African-American to become
involved on the ownership level in Indy Car Racing, he is the
first to do such as the sole owner. He has been a RaceFan all of
his life, but never really felt welcome at speedways due to his
skin color. Jim Logan is pioneering the way for others in much the
same way that Jackie Robinson did in Major League Baseball over
fifty years ago. He feels that racing is missing a huge audience
due to a lack of participation by African-Americans and he intends
to rectify that situation.
In the pits with
Stevie Reeves at Kentuck Speedway in 2000...Photo courtesy of Dr.
Jim Logan
Born in St. Louis fifty-five years ago, Jim Logan had to watch
racing from afar, gaining only glimpses from early TV coverage and
listening each year to the Indianapolis 500 on radio. The love for
speed was born, but had to wait due to the prevailing attitudes of
the day. After high school, Logan attended college, becoming a
Chiropractor, his career of the past 25 years. When Doctor Logan
became a father to two boys, Anthony and Jimmy, the love of speed
was strong and father and sons went racing in Quarter Midgets. The
combination was a success right from the start with Anthony
winning his first-ever heat and his first-ever feature event!
Jimmy was the point champion in his first year of competition and
Anthony was co-champion with another child in his first year. This
was when the boys were ten and twelve years old. The boy’s got
away from the sport but Jim remained active, becoming involved
with 360 sprints in the 1979 and 1980 seasons. Tad Roach drove the
car and the team became a force to be reckoned with in 1980-81.
With co-owners Darwin Roach and Owen Gibbs, they began racing 410
sprints at Farmington, MO throughout the eighties. With a black
driver, Jim Freeman, in 1993 Dr Logan stepped into the sole
ownership role, racing at Tri-City, MO and also in USAC’s Silver
Crown Series.
Over the years,
Logan put novice drivers in his cars and has had some success, but
nothing major. Among the drivers having worked for Logan have been
Eric Gordon, running the Silver Crown, and Jeff Gallas. In 2000
the team tackled the Indianapolis 500 with Billy Roe at the
controls but failed to qualify. Stevie Reeves took over the
driving duties for the remainder of the season and eventually
finished 28th in points, missing only Pike’s Peak of the races
they entered.
For the coming
season the plan is to run the entire series with Reeves driving
and Jeff Collins being the Chief Mechanic. Other members of the
racially integrated crew will include Craig and Zach Leeke, Irv
Canady, and Jonathon Leeper. The car is a Dallara Chassis powered
by Oldsmobile and rides on Firestone tires. The ever-present
sponsorship hunt is in progress. If a driver is located who has
sponsorship, a second car may be campaigned as well. Either way,
the African-American RaceFan should have something to cheer for on
the IRL circuit in the twenty first century. And it will be thanks
to Dr. Jim Logan.
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