Davis wants to be known as driver, not black driver

Marc Davis is racing in Phoenix this weekend looking to shed his poster-boy-for-diversity image and prove he's earned his place in the sport.

The young, well-mannered black teen will make his intermediate track debut Thursday night in NASCAR's Grand National Division West Series race at the Phoenix International Raceway.

Davis eyes Cup

Joe Gibbs Racing development driver Marc Davis is 16 years old, and he has his eyes on one goal: the Nextel Cup Series.

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Coming off a spectacular 2006 season in Late Models with six wins, Davis has been compared to a young Jeff Gordon and Cup veteran Mark Martin has said he is the "real deal."

The window of opportunity is open and blowing a strong breeze for the 16-year-old development driver signed with one of NASCAR's most successful operations, Joe Gibbs Racing.

Now it's up to Davis -- a graduate of NASCAR's Drive for Diversity program -- to get on the gas and blaze his own trail.

His father and manager, Harry Davis, values the opportunity NASCAR's Drive for Diversity program has afforded his son. He also understands the color of his son's skin is what NASCAR hopes will draw a new segment of fans and drivers to a sport traditionally dominated by white men.

"But the big picture is Marc Davis the NASCAR driver not Marc Davis the diversity driver," he said. "It's not a black NASCAR or a white NASCAR, it's just NASCAR."

His son agrees and wants to be judged based on his talent, not his ability to put black faces in the grandstands.

"I'm grateful for the opportunity, but it does get to a point where I just want to be known as the development driver for Joe Gibbs, and if I can open the door for more minorities to race then great, but I have to make it first," Marc Davis said.

And when the racer describes his daily routine, with eyes wide and optimism teeming, "making it" won't be an issue. His determination to succeed is evident.

In January, Davis transferred to Mooresville Christian Academy, a high school in Mooresville, N.C., with hours conducive for racing -- no classes on Fridays.

Every day after class, Davis heads to the Joe Gibbs Racing shop in Huntersville, N.C., for an hour of weight training or cardio, depending on the day. The workouts are followed up by hours at the JGR Busch Series shop to hang with the crew.

"I want to show I care and learn more about the engineering aspect of the cars," said Davis, at PIR this week donning an old, beat up JGR baseball cap, a pair of Electric brand sunglasses and some gray Nike SB Dunks.

Outside of the race shop, Davis maintains a normal teenage existence. He goes to movies with his friends, plays video games and crams for history exams.

Yet few teens at his school are earning sizeable salaries or drive two cars: a 2002 Audi A4 with 19-inch Rial rims and a 1995 Honda Accord.

That said, most would agree the kid has earned the right to indulge in a few material items. He's been racing for more than a decade averaging 26 race weekends a year, his father said.

NASCAR's 36-race circuit should be a natural progression.

A progression into the sport's big leagues is expected as soon as Davis turns 18, the legal age a driver can compete in the NASCAR Busch or Cup series.

For now, Davis is focused on "making his marks" and perfecting his craft on the track.

This weekend, he's excited to race in a companion event, share garage space and a fan base with the Cup drivers he looks up to -- drivers he hopes to race side by side with, namely Denny Hamlin and Tony Stewart.

"I'll be talking to them," Davis said. "They help me out, give me tips."

Marc Davis Factoids

• His car number, the No. 92, is the jersey number of NFL player Reggie White, who before his death wanted to be a team owner and partnered with Joe Gibbs. Gibbs is the coach of the NFL's Washington Redskins.

• His car this weekend is a short-track, hand-me-down Cup car Tony Stewart drove in Richmond.

• His first race was on a BMX bike at age 6.

• His race in the NASCAR Grand National West Series Thursday will be dedicated to the late Joie Ray Jr., a black pioneer in motorsports who started racing in 1947.