Timeline

2022

  • Winning in Reverse Paperback Release

2021

  • Bill climbs back behind the wheel of a NASCAR Truck and races at Atlanta Motor Speedway
  • Winning in Reverse Hardcover Book Release

2013

  • Received the Trailblazer Award from RYSE Magazine
  • Received the Sam Lacy Pioneer Award from the National Association of Black Journalists

2012

  • Bill represents Team USA in international kart racing by competing in the Rotax Grand Finals in Portimao, Portugal

2011

  • Competed professionally in the NASCAR sanctioned Grand-Am sports car series and became the first African-American to win a race

2006

  • Became only the seventh African American to race in the NASCAR Cup Series in the past 70 years at the Atlanta Motor Speedway
  • Received the Jackie Robinson Award from the Rainbow/PUSH organization

2005

  • Earned back-to-back Pole Positions at two different NASCAR racetracks while in the NASCAR Truck Series

2004

  • Was featured on the cover of General Mills Honey Nut Cheerios boxes from 2003-2004
  • Received the Trailblazer in Motor Sports award from the Rainbow/PUSH organization
  • Was featured on the cover of Black Enterprise Magazine in April
  • Received the Breaking New Frontiers Award from Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority
  • Was featured in nationally televised NASCAR Truck Series Flags commercial

2003

  • Became the first African-American to earn a Pole Position in the NASCAR Truck Series

2002

  • Competed as a Dodge factory team driver in the NASCAR Truck Series from 2002-2003

1999

  • Became the first African-American in NASCAR history to compete in the Xfinity Series

1998

  • Terminated employment with Hewlett-Packard to commit to racing pursuit
  • Competed in and won the Championship Auto Racing Team (CART) African-American Driver Development Program competition
  • Competed in first IMSA Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona endurance sports car race

1996

  • Competed in 4 SCCA World Challenge professional races

1991

  • Co-drove to win SCCA amateur 4-hour endurance race

1990

  • Competed in SCCA Trans-Am series professional races at Portland International Raceway and at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course

1989

  • Entered first professional race at the International Motor Sports Associated (IMSA) event at Sears Point Raceway in Sonoma, California

1986

  • Earned San Francisco region SCCA GT-3 class championship

1986

  • Earned San Francisco region SCCA Rookie of the Year

1984

  • Graduated University of California, Berkeley with B.S. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
  • Employed by Hewlett-Packard Company as a Software Development Engineer
  • Began Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) amateur road racing