HAMPTON, Ga. -- Forty-nine years ago Friday, Wendell Scott became the third black driver to race in NASCAR's top touring division, then known as the Grand National division and now known as the Sprint Cup Series.

In honor of this and in anticipation of next year's 50th anniversary of Scott's historic first start in Spartanburg, S.C., NASCAR created an original decal that was placed on all trucks in Saturday's E-Z-GO 200 Camping World Truck Series race and on all cars participating in Sunday's Kobalt Tools 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

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I can only look at the drivers and think about how my dad would be their greatest fan. And he would want other people to jump on board and be supportive.

”

-- SYBIL SCOTT

"Wendell Scott's legacy is an important one in the history of this sport. His career is an important part of the fabric of NASCAR. I think it's both appropriate and important for NASCAR to continue to honor that legacy," said Marcus Jadotte, NASCAR's managing director of public affairs.

Scott remains the only black to win a race in NASCAR's top national touring series, doing so on Dec. 1, 1963, on a 1-mile dirt track in Jacksonville, Fla. He made 495 starts during his career and posted 147 top-10 finishes before retiring in 1973. Scott died in 1990.

Among those in attendance for the unveiling of the special decal honoring Scott prior to Saturday's Truck Series race at AMS was his daughter, Sybil Scott. She spoke glowingly of his memory, and of NASCAR's efforts to honor the father who once had to battle prejudice just to get his car on the track.

Sybil Scott and Jadotte agreed that a large part of Scott's considerable legacy has been carved out in NASCAR's ongoing Drive for Diversity program. Several drivers who participate in the program were in attendance Saturday, but Jadotte pointed out that the program's platform also includes efforts that are focused on educating college-age students about NASCAR and opportunities in the sport, including the possibility of internship positions within the industry.

"It's enormous for our family in so many ways, especially because my mother is still living," Sybil Scott said. "So with that, for her to be able to know this type of thing is happening, it would mean so much for my father to have her be able to witness something like this in her lifetime. We have four of my dad's grandsons with us here today, and he would want them to witness this, too. He would want the young drivers who are coming up today to be inspired by what's happening now.

"In respect to NASCAR itself, Daddy would want other people to believe that it's a good thing. Daddy always believed that. He was always such a positive person. My mother is often saying to me that NASCAR is out there continuously trying to do positive things, and she sends me out to represent her. I can only look at the drivers and think about how my dad would be their greatest fan. And he would want other people to jump on board and be supportive."

Wendell Scott in 1963.

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For what he went through to open the door for someone like myself, I couldn't be more thankful.

”

-- RYAN GIFFORD

Sybil Scott recalled how much her father loved the sport he worked hard to participate in. Wendell Scott owned his own car and prepared it himself for races, working without the financial backing of anyone else and with very minimal physical assistance from others.

"Daddy was a competitor. Daddy loved to race, and he also was an awesome mechanic," Sybil Scott said. "Even though he wished he would have had better equipment, it was a thrill for him to be able to be the brainchild behind what equipment he did have, to be able to do the best that he could with that. What's happening now, he would be more thrilled than anybody to know that his uniqueness is now undeniable."

Among the black developmental drivers in attendance Saturday was Ryan Gifford, 20. He recently visited the home of Wendell Scott during the filming of an episode for Changing Lanes, a reality-based documentary series that is airing on BET.

"Coming into the show, I think we all knew who he was and his legacy," Gifford said of himself and other minority drivers who are part of the TV series. "But getting to go in there and talk with Sybil and see all his trophies and awards, it was a really cool experience and it humbled me. For what he went through to open the door for someone like myself, I couldn't be more thankful."

The decal on all the trucks and cars at Atlanta Motor Speedway this weekend is a way for all those who acknowledge what Scott did for the sport to show their appreciation.

"I'm just enthusiastic, because it's this type of thing that's needed to keep Daddy's sprint alive, to keep his legacy alive," Sybil Scott said. "Our family, we're truly humbled -- because we realize no one has to do this type of thing. Words kind of escape you. It's emotional for us. We're just grateful."

Related:
• From Bowie to Lester -- a history of black Cup drivers