Darrell Wallace Jr., to compete in NASCAR Truck Series

Darrell Wallace Jr., at the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East American Real TV 150 at Dover International Speedway on September 28, 2012 in Dover, Delaware. PHOTO/Getty Images

Darrell Wallace Jr., will compete in the Truck Series for Kyle Busch Motorsports in 2013, making him the third African American driver in the history of NASCAR to have a full-time ride in a national series.

According to an ESPN report, a news conference is planned for Saturday Feb. 9, at the NASCAR Hall of Fame to make an official announcement that Wallace will drive the No. 54 truck this year.

Wallace follows Wendell Scott and Bill Lester as the only African American drivers to run full time in a national NASCAR series.

Wendell Scott was part in NASCAR’s top series from 1961 to 1971. He won one race, in 1964 in Jacksonville, Fla. Bill Lester drove in 142 Truck Series races from 2002 to 2006 and posted seven top-10 finishes.