What do you get when you connect two teams – six drivers in total – with two professional coaches in three high performance vehicles? It’s Lexus 0 to 60. Road Atlanta was the site for the event’s second season. The course’s unusual twists, turns, uphill and downhill elements make it a favorite place for fans to see both professional and amateur events. One sunny afternoon north of Atlanta, a competitive sextet of talents suited up for trash talk and high speed fun, while host Big Tigger brought an energy all his own.
The racers competed in both team and individual events.
Meet the Teams
Team Pruett is led by former NASCAR driver Scott Pruett, with members Tia Norfleet, known as the first black woman to be licensed by both NASCAR and ARCA, (the Automobile Racing Club of America), actor Redaric Williams of BET’s The Quad, and Lamman Rucker, star of the OWN series, Greenleaf.
Team Hawksworth is led by British racing driver Jack Hawksworth, with actor J.D. Williams of the Bounce TV series Saints and Sinners, though he’s best known for his role as Bodie on The Wire. Wiliams is joined by his Saints and Sinners costar, Keith Robinson, and the fastest woman alive, 2012 Olympic medalist, Carmelita Jeter.
In Their Own Words
Fortunately a few members of each team slowed down to chat.
Tia Norfleet from Team Pruett shared her inspiration. “I’m a second generation racer. My dad, [Bobby Norfleet] raced in everything from drag racing, to NASCAR, to motorcycles. He influenced me to be a part of it.” To girls who look up to her she says, “They’re inspired by my story, being a part of something that’s unusual for our culture. I encourage them to fight for it with everything they have and to give out before you give up.”
Who better to get behind the wheel than the fastest woman alive, Team Hawksworth’s Carmelita Jeter, who led individual competition with, “Not just my speed, but my determination and willingness to want to win.” About her team, she added, “I’m having an amazing time because our chemistry is great.”
Finally Redaric Williams of who wants everyone to check out season two of The Quad said, “I’m from the Motor City, I’ve been driving cars since before I had a license. I like to drive really fast. It’s a gift and a curse. It’s the need for speed, I guess. It’s fun it’s a good time.” His favorite things about Atlanta are “The food, the culture and the people. I love the people in Atlanta.”
You can check out the full episodes of Lexus 0 to 60 here.
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