OPENLY GAY NASCAR RACER ZACH HERRIN Brings Pride RACE TRACK to the

BY DIRK SMITH, M.SC., SDL • HE | HIM

MAKING HIS GRAND COMEBACK TO NASCAR RACING in January 2022, Zach Herrin knew he was stepping into a world of professional car racing that he had left behind to embark on a journey of self-discovery. Of course his story is not unlike many gay athletes who left their sport, feeling it would conflict with their sexual orientation.

For generations too many LGBTQ+ people have been left to choose between the sport they love and living authentically. What makes Herrin’s journey stand out? It’s not him stepping back into the driver’s seat as much as the unlikely support he found that kept him there.

It’s no secret that car racing is a hyper masculine sport that hasn’t been particularly welcoming for the LGBTQ+ community. But Herrin isn’t the first openly gay driver to compete in NASCAR either; that title belongs to Stephen Rhodes back in 2003. Unfortunately, during that time Rhodes willingness to race openly made it difficult for him to retain sponsorships which, in auto racing is crucial to remain competitive. With this precedent, it’s no wonder Herrin left the sport in 2016 and came out as gay.

Even when making his comeback to the sport in 2022, it didn’t feel like much had changed. Despite the support of his racing team, he struggled to find corporate sponsors willing to support him. The team had been trying to woo sponsors but he was constantly told that he didn’t “fit” within companies’ marketing strategies. Herrin continued to persist, however. Having been “practically raised on the track,” Herrin wanted to follow in his brother Josh’s footsteps. Josh had become one of the few American racers to compete in Moto GP’s Moto2 World Championships as a professional racer, a path that Zach Herrin also had set his sights on.

Coming into the 2022 season, Herrin’s persistence paid off. He was able to sign on with a sponsor that brought him into his official professional NASCAR debut in November 2022. The sponsor? Lambda Legal, the oldest and largest LGBTQ+ legal organization.

Lambda Legal is currently challenging the antiLGBTQ+ legislation in Florida and other states. Herrin had reached out to CEO Kevin Jennings who initially had been hesitant about the idea of sponsoring a racecar driver, even an openly gay one. However Herrin stayed in touch and shared that his first race of the season would be in Florida at the legendary Daytona International Speedway.

This convinced Jennings to take a chance on Herrin and to make a bold statement about LGBTQ+ representation in Florida. Proudly wearing the Lambda Legal logo on his car and racing suit, Herrin spoke to the media about Lambda’s mission and work. In turn, Jennings shared his pride in sponsoring Herrin and his racing team for the 2023 season. While the sport has a way to go, racers like Zach Herrin and organizations like Racing Pride are leading the way. •

“It’s extremely important for me as a professional athlete to represent the LGBTQ+ community on and off the track ... Now more than ever I understand the importance of visibility and representation for LGBTQ+ youth to be able to follow their dreams, to see that there’s a path for them to participate and excel in any aspect of life and sports they choose. I want to be the role model I never had and fight stereotypes and discrimination in sports, showing that everyone can belong!”