Ray Black Jr. grew up in the thrilling underwater world of commercial diving and the excitement and challenge under water has fueled his passion to go fast above water on the paved bullrings of the Southeast. On Saturday he Florida native will take one step closer to his dream to race at the Daytona International Speedway when he makes his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut in the SS Green Light Racing No. 07 at the Martinsville Speedway.
Black is coming off of a successful 2013 season running late models through the southeastern United States that included a pole and a victory in the Pro Late Model season opener at the famous Five Flags Speedway. Black also finished sixth in the Pro Late Model points at Five Flags despite missing two events. Even with missing one race he finished seventh in the Bright House Challenge Series.
“Running this first race at Martinsville means a lot as to how far me and my father have come. We’ve worked so hard to get to the upper ranks of racing,” Black explained. “I have to thank my family; my mom and my sister because they have been behind me 100%. They come to all my races and I’m very lucky to have a lot of friends and good people supporting me so this first NASCAR start means a lot.”
When not racing, Ray is involved with the commercial diver training of international students at CDA Technical Institute of Barbados, Inc. as well as the owner of Blacksmith Marine Offshore who latest jobs include the removal of filter barrier system from a power plant in Massachusetts and a salvage of a stranded dry-dock off of the coast of Florida.
“Diving and racing are similar because when you are underwater you’re very aware of your surroundings, making sure everything is safe around you. It’s the same when you are strapped into the car and you’re focused on hitting your marks, being smooth and you are aware of anything going on or if anyone might be wrecking around you,” said Black.
On a personal level, Black is into extreme water sports including Trimix Scuba Diving to Depths of 220 feet, racing four wheelers in the Florida Trail Riders Series and backpacking across Europe. That’s why he is happy to have ScubaLife, CDA Technical Institute (formally Commercial Diving Academy) and NASE Worldwide as sponsors.
“My goal is to get experience and have fun,” concluded Black. “I feel that we can be competitive at this level and I’m hoping to make racing a successful and long career.”
The Kroger 250 is the 315th consecutive NCWTS start for the SS Green Light Racing team, a streak that dates back to 2001. The race will prelude Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup STP 500.
SS Green Light Racing PR
