History is about to be made on the racetrack, and a Black woman is behind the wheel.
Dystany Spurlock, 33, is set to compete in the 2026 ARCA Menards Series East season opener at Hickory Motor Speedway in North Carolina on March 28 — making her the first Black woman ever to compete in ARCA. It is a milestone decades in the making, and one that is already sending shockwaves through the motorsports world.
Dystany Spurlock Makes History as First Black Woman in ARCA Racing
ARCA, which stands for the Automobile Racing Club of America, has been around since 1953. It officially became part of the NASCAR structure in 2018 and functions much like a developmental league — similar in concept to college basketball or the NBA’s G-League — giving up-and-coming drivers a competitive environment to sharpen their skills before making the jump to NASCAR’s biggest stage.
Hickory Motor Speedway, where Spurlock will make her debut, is no ordinary track. It carries the well-earned nickname “Birthplace of the NASCAR Stars” and is widely regarded as one of the most important proving grounds in all of motorsports. For a history-making drive, the location could not be more fitting.
Spurlock will take the wheel of the No. 66 Ford Mustang for MBM Motorsports and Garage 66, a team owned by former NASCAR driver Carl Long. Her presence in that car on March 28 represents far more than a race result — it represents a door finally being opened.
From Motorcycle Drag Racing to NASCAR’s Developmental Ranks
What makes Spurlock’s story even more compelling is that she is not new to racing at all. She has been competing in motorcycle drag racing since 2017 and even manages her own National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) team — an achievement she describes as going “beyond” her “wildest dreams.” That experience gave her a deep foundation in speed, precision, and competitive racing culture that most newcomers simply do not have.
Transitioning from two wheels to four is no small feat, however. The mechanics, strategy, and physical demands of stock car racing differ significantly from motorcycle drag racing. Nevertheless, Spurlock has approached the shift with the same focused, determined energy that built her reputation in the NHRA world.
Her journey behind the wheel of a stock car has been documented in real time through her YouTube docuseries, Driven by Dystany: The Road to NASCAR, which gives fans an inside look at the challenges and triumphs she has faced on the road to this historic moment.
A Childhood Dream Finally Becoming Reality on the Track
For Spurlock, this moment is deeply personal. Racing has not been a recent ambition — it has been a lifelong calling that she has pursued despite the many barriers that have historically kept Black women out of motorsports at every level.
“This moment means everything to me,” Spurlock told ARCA. “Since I was a little girl, I’ve dreamed of racing in NASCAR. I’ve worked so hard for this, so many opportunities that have come and gone, but now I’m really here, and I’m ready.”
She also shared her long-term vision, making clear that the ARCA debut is just the beginning and not the destination.
“I’m excited to build my race craft and learn, and hopefully make it to the Cup level,” she added.
Dystany Spurlock’s Impact on Black Women in Motorsports
Spurlock’s breakthrough arrives at a time when representation in NASCAR and its affiliated series is becoming an increasingly important conversation. While Michael Jordan’s NXS Racing team has drawn renewed attention to Black ownership in the sport, Spurlock’s presence as a Black woman actually competing behind the wheel adds a vital and distinct dimension to that progress.
Her debut at Hickory is drawing significant attention on social media, with fans and supporters rallying behind her ahead of the March 28 race. The excitement is both a celebration of her personal achievement and a broader recognition of what her visibility means for young Black girls who have never seen someone who looks like them on a NASCAR-affiliated track.
Furthermore, Spurlock’s story connects to a growing wave of Black women breaking into spaces where their presence was historically unimaginable — from the pit crew to the cockpit. She is not simply participating in a sport; she is actively rewriting what that sport looks like for the next generation.