Diversity still a struggle for NASCAR despite programs

Diversity is a corporate initiative for NASCAR, but if you look at the faces inside the cars, one might seriously doubt that assertion.

Not since Wendell Scott broke the color barrier in 1961 has NASCAR's top series -- a white, male dominated field -- produced a successful black driver, nor a female for that matter.

Quite diversified

Jill George is in many ways unlike the usual Drive for Diversity hopeful. But it hasn't stopped the licensed chiropractor and mother from pursuing a racing career.

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The sport's next Tiger Woods continues to evade NASCAR, the sport with the most loyal fan base of any other major league sport and also with the most involvement by Fortune 500 companies.

Still, NASCAR continues to lag behind while other racing series produce females and minorities. In fact, the Indy Racing League fielded three women in the 2007 Indianapolis 500. However, NASCAR officials and those closely tied to the sport will tell you it just ain't black and white.

NASCAR is the most competitive motor sport and even the talented white boys are going home and left without rides. That said, NASCAR is still trying to do its part to open doors and create opportunity for women competitors and drivers of color who want to make a mark on the sport and change the face of stock-car racing.

The most recent and more publicized initiative is the Drive for Diversity Combine run by Access Marketing & Communications and financially supported by NASCAR.

October marked the fifth year for the program, which selects a class of 24 drivers each year to test in front of a group of NASCAR series officials and team owners. The field is then narrowed to eight. Those eight are promised rides in one of NASCAR's lower-tiered regional series or even the Nationwide or Craftsman Truck series.

The list of drivers will be announced at Charlotte during NASCAR's Media Tour in January.

On the surface, the program is a good idea and helpful according to most team owners and talent scouts. But, critics say, the design of the program is flawed. Lack of large team participation, funds and talent are a few issues the program faces.

Since its inception five years ago, Drive for Diversity has failed to produce a successful Cup driver, admits Marcus Jadotte, NASCAR's managing director of public affairs who oversees the diversity department.

"That's correct," he said. "We have a few drivers who have shown great promise and they continue to develop. Success is measured by opportunities created for the developmental drivers."

Jadotte also said success will be determined by the driver's ability -- not an artificial timeline imposed by the Drive for Diversity program.

"There's no timeline for a D-for-D participant to race in the Nextel [now Sprint]Cup. It will be determined by their talent, skill level and commitment to racing," he said. "The D-for-D program focuses on creating opportunities for drivers. Every race fan knows and understands what it takes to become a Cup driver. It is the most competitive form of racing; I believe it's the most competitive sport in the world."

As for team involvement from dominant organizations such as Hendrick Motorsports, participation is spotty at best, but smaller teams participate and receive an undetermined amount of funding from NASCAR official status partners, namely Allstate, who is one of the sport's largest supporters of diversity. (Continued)