Dystany Spurlock to become first Black woman to compete in NASCAR

NHRA Pro Stock motorcycle rider Dystany Spurlock Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Dystany Spurlock to become first Black woman to compete in NASCAR

By Samuel Stubbs | Last updated Apr 30, 2026 10:43 AM ET

Dystany Spurlock will make history on May 8 at Watkins Glen, becoming the first Black woman to start a race in the top three series of NASCAR.

Spurlock, 34, will make her NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut in the Bully Hill Vineyards 176, driving the No. 69 MBM Motorsports Ford F-150. Spurlock is the first Black woman to compete in an ARCA Menards Series race at both the regional and national levels.

Spurlock finished seventh in her ARCA East debut at the historic Hickory Motor Speedway in March and 10th in her ARCA Menards Series debut at Kansas Speedway on April 18.

"I’m excited for Watkins Glen,” Spurlock said in a team release. "It’s been a while since I’ve raced on a road course, so I’m looking forward to getting back out there. Having the opportunity to compete in ARCA and make my debut in the truck is going to be a lot of fun."

DOUBLE DUTY.

In addition to ARCA, @DystanySpurlock has earned the opportunity to make her @NASCAR_Trucks debut.

She will pilot the Foxxtecca No. 69 next Friday at Watkins Glen, becoming the first Black woman to drive in #NASCAR.

READ: https://t.co/BCTJOnkGUM #BullyHill176 pic.twitter.com/HJRwU11c0O
— Garage 66 & MBM Motorsports (@MBMMotorsports) April 30, 2026

Not the first time Dystany Spurlock has made waves

Spurlock is not at all new to breaking barriers or making history. She played high school football in Virginia, serving in the secondary as a cornerback and safety. She also races motorcycles and has made multiple starts in the NHRA's Pro Stock Motorcycle class.

In addition to her Truck Series debut, Spurlock will also compete in the ARCA Menards Series race at Watkins Glen on May 8 with MBM, putting together a double-duty weekend.

Spurlock joins a list of iconic history-makers in NASCAR, such as Sara Christian, the first woman to race in NASCAR, who competed in the first-ever Cup Series race in June 1949, and Wendell Scott, the first Black driver to compete in a NASCAR race.

Samuel Stubbs

Hailing from the same neck of the woods as NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin, Samuel has been covering NASCAR for Yardbarker since February 2024. He has been a member of the National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) since October of 2024. When he’s not writing about racing, Samuel covers Arkansas Razorback basketball for Yardbarker

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