In the high-octane world of professional auto racing, milliseconds determine the difference between a podium finish and a mid-pack result. For decades, the individuals responsible for those crucial seconds—the pit crew—remained a largely homogenous group. However, Brehanna Daniels has spent the last decade dismantling those traditions, transforming herself from a collegiate point guard into a trailblazing tire changer etcheing her name into the history books of American motorsports. In an exclusive interview with BET for Women’s History Month, the Virginia native detailed a journey that began in a HBCU gymnasium and culminated in a career spanning the ARCA Menards Series, the NASCAR Xfinity Series, and the prestigious NASCAR Cup Series.

The transition from basketball to the asphalt was not calculated. In 2016, Daniels was finishing her senior year at Norfolk State University, where she played point guard for the Spartans. While she was focused on a professional basketball career and an internship producing highlight packages for the athletic department, a chance encounter changed her trajectory. During a break between classes, Tiffany Sykes, who then worked in the Norfolk State athletic department, approached the student-athlete with a suggestion. The NASCAR Drive for Diversity program was coming to campus to recruit potential pit crew members, and Daniels, Sykes said, should hear them out. At the time, the world of stock car racing was not a primary interest for the point guard. After watching a YouTube video of a high-speed pit stop, she noted the speed of the process but had limited knowledge of the sport.

Obedience to a gut feeling led her to the gymnasium on the day of the tryout. Expecting to see a stock car parked on the hardwood, she instead found Phil Horton, the longtime pit crew coach for Rev Racing and the Drive for Diversity program. Horton utilized the session to test physical and mental strength rather than racing-specific knowledge. The only woman at the initial tryout, Daniels outperformed several other candidates, including football and track athletes, earning an invitation to NASCAR’s national combine in Charlotte. The combine featured roughly two dozen athletes, including six women, vying for 10 coveted spots to train as professional pit crew members. She secured her place and relocated to Charlotte. It was during a film review session shortly after her arrival that Horton informed her that she was on track to become the first Black woman to perform this role at NASCAR’s national level.

In 2017, she officially broke the barrier. The athlete became the first African-American woman to "go over the wall" in a national racing series during an ARCA race at Fairgrounds Speedway in Nashville. She quickly scaled the ranks of the sport, serving as a tire changer for Thad Moffitt, grandson of racing legend Richard Petty, and working in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series for Cody Ware. 

The move from the basketball court to the pit box was facilitated by a lifetime of athletic conditioning. She and her twin brother had been immersed in competitive sports since the age of 4. The physical demands of changing a tire, which involves lugging a six-pound impact wrench, navigating a crowded pit road, and securing five lug nuts in mere seconds, mirrored the agility and pressure she experienced as a collegiate floor general. Basketball requires split-second decision-making and lateral quickness, traits that apply to the role of a tire changer. 

The "over the wall" athletes must perform with a precision that allows no room for error, as a loose wheel can impact a driver's race or safety. For the Norfolk State alumna, the mental toughness developed through years of athletic competition provided the foundation necessary to operate in the pit environment.

Now a decade into her career, the impact of her work is visible along the tracks across the country. During race weekends, she often encounters young fans who observe her in a fire suit. She told BET that she makes a point to interact with these fans, often handing out used lug nuts as souvenirs. The motivation to continue stems from both personal and professional roots. She cites the memory of her mother, who passed away during her high school years, as a primary source of internal drive. Her mother had expressed that she would occupy a unique role in the world, a sentiment that has served as a guiding force through the challenges of her career.

In addition to her family, she identifies other prominent female athletes who have navigated professional challenges, such as Serena Williams and Candace Parker. She views her role as an example for women of color who may not have previously considered a career in motorsports. While she acknowledges the ongoing need for diverse recruitment within the sport, she remains a visible leader within the NASCAR ecosystem. She maintains a professional relationship with Sykes, the woman who first encouraged her to attend the tryout, and continues to work with Horton to mentor incoming athletes. Her career has become a documented component of NASCAR’s efforts to broaden its professional representation.