BRISTOL, Tenn. – Following his memorable run on the High Point University basketball team, Derrell Edwards faced a crossroads in life.
His options included chasing his hoops dreams overseas or taking a bold new turn into the land of motorsports.
“I asked my soon-to-be father in-law what I should do and he said that I should go and become the Jackie Robinson of NASCAR,” Edwards said. “I’ve always been the type of guy to take leaps of faith. NASCAR was one of those leaps.”
In the 2018 Daytona 500 won by Austin Dillon, Edwards made history by becoming the first African-American to win the race as an over-the-wall pit crew member.
“Winning at Daytona was just a great feeling and I take a lot of pride in that,” Edwards said. “Then we won our first Xfinity race with Austin at Michigan a short time later. It’s been a fun year.”
The 6-foot-1, 225-pound former shooting guard was back in the spotlight for Saturday’s Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway. Edwards is in his first season as the jackman on the iconic No. 3 Chevrolet piloted by Dillon.
“I’ve only been in the sport for three years and I feel fortunate to be at the highest level,” said Edwards, just hours before the start of Saturday’s showdown. “The job was a little overwhelming at times when I started, but I’m comfortable now.”
Edwards, 26, is part of a growing number of former college and professional athletes who have found roles on pit road. Many of those athletes are African-Americans who climbed through the ranks of NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity program.
Edwards took a more traditional route.
In his final year at High Point, Edwards earned an internship with the mega-team owned by NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Childress.
After paying his dues in the ARCA Series, Edwards was paired with RCR Xfinity Series driver Brendan Gaughan during the 2016 season. He worked with full-time Cup driver Paul Menard last year before taking his high-profile role this season with Dillon.
“We all know the history of Dale Earnhardt and the No. 3 car, and we take pride in that,” Edwards said. “The spotlight is on us, so it takes a special group of guys be on this team. I’m grateful to be part of the group.”
Edwards was already accustomed to performing under pressure.
As a high senior, he averaged over 20 points as famed Dunbar High School in inner-city Baltimore won a state title. The Dunbar legacy was highlighted in the ESPN 30 for 30 documentary titled the “Baltimore Boys” and in the book “The Boys of Dunbar,” a popular work which highlighted Muggsy Bogues and three other Dunbar teammates who later played in the NBA.
“Growing up in the area it prepared me for athletics,” Edwards said. “I have no fear. I like the adrenalin rush.”
Edwards, who is friends with Bogues and his family, was a classmate of former West Virginia football star and current Dallas Cowboy playmaker Tavon Austin.
While attending South Plains College in Levelland, Texas, Edwards combined with charismatic former University of Mississippi star Marshall Henderson to win a national junior college title.
Edwards then led High Point to the 2016 Big South title.
His crucial career decision came next.
“A lot of my friends were playing basketball overseas or in the NBA, and I thought about doing that for a year to see what it was like,” Edwards said. “But I faced reality and realized how that challenge was going to be. I decided to give NASCAR a shot.”
From upper body strength to quickness and stamina, Edwards said the skill-set required in basketball translates well on pit road.
“A pit stop is like a symphony where every member has to be in sync. If one person is off just a little, the whole pit stop is off,” Edwards said. “Having an athletic background helps in both the technical and mental parts of my job.”
And Edwards relishes his leadership role on the No. 3 operation.
“The jackman is kind of like the quarterback of the pit crew,” Edwards said. “Since NSACAR has gone to just five-man crews, we’ve got to jack the car and hang tires. My speed and strength really helps.”
According to Paul Swan, a tire carrier on the No. 3 car, Edwards has all the essentials for success in the high-stakes world of pit road.
“Derrell and I came into NASCAR together in 2014 and he’s been one of my best friends ever since,” Swan said. “We started out paying our dues in super late model and ARCA races all over the country. Darrell and I helped each other since we were new to the sport.”
Swan, a native of Wisconsin, also has a serious athletic background. A three-year starter at middle linebacker and two-year team captain at Bowling Green University, Swan collected 225 career tackles and competed in three bowl games.
Like Edwards, Swan savors the adrenalin rush that comes with a flawless pit stop.
“Obviously professional football was a dream of mine, but it just didn’t work out,” said Swan, who once could bench press 410 pounds and power clean 375. “Working on pit road was a great avenue for me because everything you need for success in football correlates to NASCAR. You’ve got to be big, strong and fast.”
As the competition in NASCAR becomes tighter, Swan expects more athletes like Edwards to make the transition.
“Derrell is like a brother to me and he’s perfect guy to grow in this sport with,” Swan said. “We still have that competitive fire going and we love the team aspect of NASCAR.”
With the Drive for Diversity program offering large combines for athletes from historically black colleges and universities, Edwards expects pit road to become more inclusive with each passing year.
Much of that growth can be traced to the examples like Edwards and Phil Horton, the pit crew coach for the Drive for Diversity Crew Member Development program.
“We’re making this sport more diverse, as it should be,” Edwards said. “Everything happens for a reason, and I’m happy with my career choice.”
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