Lester to race full Grand-Am Rolex series
By Bob Pockrass
Friday, January 04, 2008
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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Bill Lester is returning to his sports-car racing roots, but the driver hasn't totally given up on a NASCAR career.
Lester, who competed in 15 Craftsman Truck Series events for Billy Ballew Motorsports last season, with a season-best eighth-place finish at Kentucky, plans to drive the entire Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series this season.
The 46-year-old Californian has 142 career truck series starts and made NASCAR history in 2006 as the first black driver in 20 years to qualify for a Cup race.
"I have had some discussions [with NASCAR teams]. It's just looking for the right scenario," Lester said Friday before going out to test his sports car at Daytona International Speedway. "The way it is these days, unless you come from the right background or the right checkbook, it's real difficult. I don't have that background, and I definitely don't have those finances."
Lester, who competed in two Cup races in 2006, said he is always looking for and courting sponsors.
"Most people say I'm my own best salesman," Lester said. "I'm still working the phones and networking. Come to find out it's not what you know, it's who you know. You just never know what might occur in the future."
Before going to NASCAR, Lester raced in sports cars and competed in his first 24 hours race in 1998.
"This is coming back home essentially," Lester said as he stood outside the Southard Motorsports garage. "I started out racing sports cars, and it's kind of like riding a bike. It feels good to be back here. "It doesn't mean I'm done turning left, but in the meantime, I'm having a good time here."
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