NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver Spurlock returns home to Highland Springs ahead of Richmond race
Highland Springs High School graduate Dystany Spurlock made history this spring by becoming the first Black woman to compete in one of NASCAR’s top three circuits, and she returned to her alma mater Aug. 13 ahead of what she hopes will be her second Craftsman Truck Series start, in the Black's Tire 250 at Richmond Raceway Friday.
As part of her homecoming, Spurlock visited the school Thursday to speak with media members, students, staff members and her family about her racing career. The 2009 graduate recalled her time at the old Highland Springs High School (now converted into the Oak Avenue Complex), where she competed in cheerleading, track and field and even football — as the lone girl on the team — and began chasing her motorsports dream.
“I left here with a dream, and I’m standing here today because this place — this school, these people — never let me forget where I came from, even while I was chasing where I was going,” she said.
After performances from the Highland Springs Marching Battalion and the cheerleading team kicked off the event, Spurlock spoke alongside Highland Springs High School principal Ken White, Varina District Supervisor Tyrone Nelson, County Manager John Vithoulkas and Foxxtecca co-founders Kellie Crawford and Chris Harris.
“Today, we celebrate more than this opportunity. We celebrate possibility, we celebrate progress, and we celebrate a Springer whose accomplishments will inspire generations of students to dream bigger and reach higher,” said White.
Nelson made a proclamation on behalf of the Henrico County Board of Supervisors designating Aug. 13, 2026 as “Dystany Spurlock Day.”
“The Henrico community feels immense pride as one of our own shatters barriers, inspires young people and sets a path for future trailblazers,” Nelson said. “Dystany, your journey shows us that all of these extraordinary dreams you had can begin right at home.”
Spurlock's lone Craftsman Truck Series start came May 15 at the Dover Motor Speedway, where she finished 36th after a crash on the 39th lap.
In a partnership with MBM Motorsports, she will attempt to qualify the No. 2 Ford for Team Reaume at Richmond Friday. Thirty-nine drivers will attempt to qualify for the race's 36 available spots; qualifying begins at 2 p.m., and the race begins at 7:30 p.m. (see link below).
In total this year, Spurlock has made 10 race starts across three levels of racing, beginning with two Limited Late Model events at Hickory Motor Speedway. She started 12th and finished 11th there March 7, then turned in what remains her best finish of the season March 21, advancing from 10th to fourth.
A week later, she made her ARCA Menards Series East debut at Hickory, starting eighth and finishing seventh, then placed 12th after starting 13th at Rockingham. Her national ARCA debut at Kansas produced one of her strongest performances: she started 29th and drove through the field to finish 10th, gaining 19 positions.
Spurlock subsequently started 20th and finished 29th in the ARCA race at Watkins Glen before making her NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut at Dover. Then she returned to ARCA and charged from 28th to 13th at Michigan, then started 12th and finished 24th at Pocono.
In her most recent start, the July 24 ARCA race at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, Spurlock advanced from 19th to 13th.
During her visit to Highland Springs, she thanked everyone who has supported her in her journey, especially in her home community, including family, her peers and even her former teachers who she's still close with.
“I want to say thank you, and for all the Springers here, you already know, ‘once a Springer, always a Springer!”
