Meet NASCAR’s First Black Woman Pit Crew Member

By Brianna Moné | Teen Vogue

When you think of NASCAR, the first words that come to mind typically aren’t “African American,” or “female.”

That view of the sport is certainly changing beginning with Brehanna Daniels. She is the first African-American woman pit crew member that NASCAR has ever had.

Growing up, Brehanna, 24, wasn’t a fan of racing; it was all about basketball for her. During her college years, she was a Division I point and shooting guard at Norfolk State University. She had no clue that her journey to NASCAR would also be a stride in making history for the sport and for minorities.

After her last basketball season at Norfolk State was over, Brehanna contemplated going to play basketball overseas, but decided to give the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Pit Crew Development Program a shot instead, due to a chance encounter.

One day, while at Chick-Fil-A, a woman came up to her — as she was about to take a bite out of her sandwich — and told her that the program was coming to her school in two days, and suggested that Brehanna tryout.

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