As NASCAR ushers in a new era for the sport, Cup Series race director Jusan Hamilton is preparing to make history of his own in Sunday‘s Daytona 500.
When drivers take the green flag for The Great American Race, Hamilton will be the first Black race director in Daytona 500 history. He‘ll also be just the third different Daytona 500 race director since 1988, joining David Hoots and Tim Bermann in that span.
“A very proud accomplishment for me, personally,” Hamilton told NASCAR.com. “I‘ve always said as I‘ve set out on this journey to work in NASCAR and contribute to the sport that I‘ve had a passion for since I was a kid, that I‘ve wanted to contribute in a positive way. Both in helping lead the sport forward so we‘re prepared for the future and reaching new audiences as we move toward that goal of growing the sport.”
Hamilton‘s 10-year career in NASCAR racing operations has been a series of breaking down diversity barriers. In July 2018 at Pocono Raceway, he became the first Black race director in the Cup Series. In March 2017, Hamilton took the reins of race control booth for an Xfinity Series race at Auto Club Speedway.
hile executing a flawless race is high on the priority list for his first Daytona 500 as race director, Hamilton‘s goal is to be a role model, thinking back to days growing up when people wondered why a kid from New York would have a desire to take this route.
— NASCAR.com —
