Lester, William Alexander III
1961- · Contribution: 1999-2012
NASCAR driver and engineer
Left a 15-year engineering career at Hewlett-Packard at age 40 to become a full-time professional NASCAR driver; became the second Black driver in NASCAR history to win a pole position, exactly forty years after Wendell Scott, already profiled in this collection, became the first

Portraits are AI-generated interpretations, not photographs.
Quick facts
- Born
- 1961, Washington, D.C.
- Active since
- 2000
- Category
- Sports & Athletics
- Best known for
- Barrier-breaking Black NASCAR driver
Impact on the world
Lester revived a Black presence in NASCAR's top ranks after decades, breaking through in a sport with almost no Black drivers and helping set the stage for those who followed.
Sources
- Encyclopedia.com
1 more sources and references are available to members.
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