Born Driven
Saxton Moore Jr.
Nolwe Azul Tamis
Oni Press
November 28, 2023
Ages 6-9

On your mark…get set…go! Young Wendell Scott loves fixing bikes for the children in the neighborhood. He also loves racing anyone or anything from kids on bikes to birds in the sky. When the hometown soap box derby is announced, Wendell decides he will enter, and he will win! Despite facing competitors with fancy racecars, Wendell is determined to win with his car made from junk found around the house. He was not allowed to buy parts from the local hardware store because of the color of his skin. Illustrated with organic shapes, tertiary colors, and zippy, action-packed images, Wendell’s car sped through the twists and turns on the racetrack—surprising everyone with his dynamic driving skills. Although Wendell encountered many obstacles pursuing his dream, he persevered and realized his dream of becoming a professional racecar driver.

In fact, Wendell Scott was “the only African American man to be inducted into both the International Motorsports Hall of Fame and the NASCAR Hall of Fame. [He was] the first African American team owner and driver to compete full time and win in NASCAR” (p. 20-22). Scott’s accomplishments were remarkable amidst the pervasive racism of the white-only racing industry. The theme of Born Driven in the words of Wendell Scott’s grandson is that “anything is possible with enough drive and willpower” (p. 4). This message is an important one for young people in a post-pandemic world, where motivation, resilience, and willpower can be difficult to harness. As Scott often said, “If it’s hard to do, do it today. If it’s impossible, do it tomorrow” (p. 20). Born Driven is Saxton Moore Jr’s debut book; research for the story can be found in the fact file on the final spread of the picture book.