When black folks come for any industry, black excellence is sure to follow. And, when we think of NASCAR team ownership, we do not automatically think of a black woman–but that day is over! Melissa Harville-LeBron made history as the first black woman to solely own a team officially licensed with NASCAR.

According to Black Enterprise, Harville-LeBron created the E2 Northeast Motorsports team under W.M. Stone Enterprises, Inc. to compete in NASCAR races. She and her team made more history as the team was the first multi-cultural team to compete in a NASCAR race. The team is made up of four black and latino drivers.

Harville-LeBron's team ran its first official race in the Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) at Daytona.

Harville-LeBron has a music background, having interned for Sony Records. So, what piqued her interest in NASCAR? 

"My music project was my initial introduction to the NASCAR," she told Rolling Out. "My sons were in the background absorbing everything about the sport. It was the first time that I saw them apply themselves. I saw that gleam in their eyes that this was a passion for them. We must support our children’s dreams."

And the rest is history! Harville-LeBron went on to invest hundreds of thousands of dollars in order to build her own team. Boss moves! 

As a black woman making major strides herself, Harville-LeBron is a champion of more women of color donning the "leader" hat. 

"It is especially imperative that women of color take on leadership roles," she said. "There are so very few who are in position. Our young women need to see strong leadership in business so that they have a blueprint. We often feel deficient in our lives, but truthfully we have always carried enormous responsibility. We were prepared by our childhoods, mostly. We are survivors by nature; we are thinkers and executors, under impossible circumstances."