CONCORD, N.C.– Two additional drivers will join Rev Racing’s youth driver class as part of the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Youth Driver Development Program. Regina Sirvent, 17, and Lavar Scott, 16, will compete with previously announced Rev Racing youth drivers Rajah Caruth and Blake Lothian. All four drivers will compete at the Summer Shootout at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

The youth program targets drivers age 12 to 17 to compete in the INEX Legend Cars and serves as an entry point to the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Driver Development Program. Selected youth drivers are year-long members of the NASCAR Drive for Diversity team roster.

<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>.<a href=”https://twitter.com/NASCARDiversity?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@NASCARDiversity</a> Youth Driver Class announced! <a href=”https://twitter.com/reginasirvent?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@reginasirvent</a> <a href=”https://twitter.com/rajahcaruth_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@rajahcaruth_</a> <a href=”https://twitter.com/LavarScott?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@LavarScott</a> and <a href=”https://twitter.com/blake_lothian?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@blake_lothian</a> will kick off their season this coming Tuesday during the Summer Shootout <a href=”https://twitter.com/CLTMotorSpdwy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@CLTMotorSpdwy</a> <a href=”https://twitter.com/USLegendCars?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@USLegendCars</a> <a href=”https://t.co/elIxWaQVr7″>pic.twitter.com/elIxWaQVr7</a></p>&mdash; Rev Racing (@RevRacin) <a href=”https://twitter.com/RevRacin/status/1269414136481529856?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>June 6, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src=”https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″></script>

After several months of evaluation, youth drivers are chosen based on recommendation, historical success, and overall driving performance.

“As it remains a goal of ours to focus on the growth and development of both our academy-style program and youth participants, we want to connect with these drivers as early as possible,” said Max Siegel, owner of Rev Racing. “The sooner we can start providing the proper guidance to these individuals, the more prepared they are to grow into different series.”

Rajah Caruth, 17, is currently running full-time in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series with Rev Racing. Caruth participated in the Youth Driver Development Program in 2019, where he compiled two heat wins in the Bojangles Summer Shootout Series along with two top 10’s and a 13th place finish in points. Currently, Caruth is top 25 in the eNASCAR Ignite Series after 5 races. Caruth won the Road to Pro Homestead-Miami race (5th split). Overall in 2020 he has 29 total wins, 114 top 5s and 1750 laps led in 257 starts. Caruth’s Legend car performance ultimately earned him a chance to compete in the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Driver Development Combine and secure a season-long ride in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series with Rev Racing. Caruth will debut in the NASCAR Whelen All- American Series June 20th at Hickory Speedway.

Blake Lothian, 16, from Wellesley, Massachusetts, will join the Rev Racing roster and the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Youth Driver Development Program for the second year in a row. Lothian started go-karting at age five and even at this young age it was clear he could hold his own on the track with adult racers. Lothian finished top-15 in 2019 Bojangles Summer Shootout point standings in the INEX US Legends Car Semi-Pro Division where he logged 5 top 10’s along with a heat victory in his 2019 campaign.

Lavar Scott, from Carney’s Point, New Jersey, will join the Rev Racing roster and the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Youth Driver Development Program for the first time this year. Scott began his career racing in a 600 Micro Sprint. At just 12 years old, he raced in the Tulsa Shootout in December 2015. In May of 2018, Scott finished 1st at Airport Speedway in the 600 Micro Class. Scott was a participant in the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Youth Driver Development Combine in 2019. Evaluators saw potential in his abilities and tested with Scott throughout the 2019 season. Scott also was invited to the 2019 NASCAR Drive for Diversity Driver Stock Car Combine in October, and was offered a seat in a U.S. Legend car with Rev Racing in their youth development program for the 2020 season.

Regina Sirvent, from Mexico, City Mexico, will participate in the 2020 Summer Shootout at Charlotte Motor Speedway and select number of other races with Rev Racing. Sirvent started racing karts when she was 9 years old on a road course in Cuernavaca, Morelos. After winning the local championship, she started racing at RokCup Mexico where she finished 2^nd in the championship. She also participated in the Florida Winter Tour in 2014 and 2016, Junior Kart for the Rotax and Vortex championship, and most recently FB Bohn Mikel’s Trucks by NASCAR Peak Mexico Series where she garnered a top-10 finish in her first year.

“The NASCAR Drive for Diversity program cultivates growth and seizes the opportunity for development of minority and female drivers at the earliest age possible,” said Jusan M. Hamilton, NASCAR Director of Racing Operations and Event Management. “Now more than ever, this strong class of diverse drivers represents the future of NASCAR. Their success on track and growth into professionals is what the partnership between NASCAR and Rev Racing is built on and will measure our success as a program.”

The 2020 Summer Shootout at Charlotte Motor Speedway will kick-off with a practice session on June 8. See http://legendsnation.com/2020/05/27/major-summer-shootout-information-announced-for-june/ for more details.

About Rev Racing: Rev Racing seeks to obtain the highest quality applicants representing diverse backgrounds and develop them into successful NASCAR drivers. Started by Max Siegel in 2009, Rev Racing manages the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Driver Development Program. Rev Racing currently operates and manages drivers in the ARCA Menards Series East, NASCAR Whelen All-American Series and a youth racing initiative.

NASCAR Cup Series driver Ty Dillon has been one of NASCAR’s leading voices as civil unrest continues throughout the country.

Using his platform to take a stand against racial inequality, Dillon and fellow Cup Series driver Bubba Wallace recently hosted a 30-minute Instagram Live session to discuss racism and life experiences.

Expect it to be the first of several difficult conversations Dillon brings into the light as he commits to using his voice for good.

RELATED: Ty Dillon, Bubba Wallace have insightful talk

“To hear the stories about how Bubba was treated in some of those situations and knowing Bubba’s character and knowing him as a human being, that blew my mind because I would have never thought Bubba, as a person, would have gone through anything like that,” Dillon said. “But, I think that’s just what it is. I think sometimes it’s easy for us who don’t know, as a white man or a white person, in general, we don’t know these stories. We don’t all the time ask the right questions to become informed.”

Dillon also applauded Wallace for being willing to speak up during a difficult time for the nation.

“I’m just proud of him as a friend, knowing him his whole career, too, and I think we’re going to see great things come out of this generation of NASCAR of who is in the sport right now,” Dillon said. “Hopefully it sets the tone for who comes after us. And for all of us, that would be the most important thing that we do.”

Dillon has made a conscious effort to understand what he and the NASCAR community must do in order to assist in positive change, reaching out to fellow drivers and NASCAR executives to create an objective for sparking a movement.

RELATED: NASCAR statement on civil unrest

He feels it’s going to take a collective effort from the entire industry for that to happen, but that now is the perfect opportunity to make those changes.

“I think it does take, as a group, saying that we don’t stand for it,” Dillon said. “And once we all know that we’re all on the same page as saying we don’t stand for it, we come together with a united voice saying that we don’t tolerate hate, racism, bigotry in our sport and that it’s not OK.

“… There are great conversations going on with the folks in our sport. … And I’m very proud of that. Our sport is doing a good job, but it also takes the individuals who aren’t afraid to step out and say this isn’t about me anymore.”

While the feedback has been mostly positive, Dillon acknowledged that not everyone will be comfortable with what he has to say. That’s not going to stop him from openly discussing an uncomfortable topic that matters to him, though.

For Dillon, the reward of working toward racial equality is worth taking a stand.

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“For me, I can tell you about my heart on it and for me, I don’t care if I ever win a race or a championship in my life or lose every follower I have on Instagram, but when my children grow older and I take my last breath, I want it to be made sure that I was on the right side of what I felt is going on in history,” Dillon said. “And that means way more than acquiring fame and trophies and wins. Those things all fade away. But the impact you had on human beings in your life, the relationship lasts forever. So, that’s my heart behind this.

“… I just wanted to stop, in the middle of my career, and say ‘Hey, this is where I stand.’ There is the taunting in your head of what if I lose this or what if something happens. But, I know at the end of the day, this is what I believe in and I’ll stand up for what I believe in.”

In honor of Women’s History Month, we take a moment to celebrate the impact made by women throughout our sport. Their contributions are vital to NASCAR’s past and continue to propel us into the future.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Following a national search for top diverse driver talent, NASCAR and Rev Racing today announced the six ethnically diverse and female drivers selected to the 2020 NASCAR Drive for Diversity Driver Development Program.

The program’s newest class features five drivers who will make their return to Rev Racing next season, including Chase Cabre, Nicholas Sanchez, Gracie Trotter, Rajah Caruth and Isabella Robusto. Late model driver Perry Patino will make his debut with NASCAR Drive for Diversity in 2020.

Caruth and Robusto competed in the 2019 NASCAR Drive for Diversity Youth Driver Development Program and raced Legends cars for Rev Racing at this year’s Bojangles’ Summer Shootout in Charlotte, N.C. They also ran five other races with Rev Racing as part of the youth program.

“We are very enthusiastic about the progress we continue to make with the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Driver Development Program, and the 2020 class exemplifies the evolution of the program,” said Jusan Hamilton, Director, Racing Operations and Event Management at NASCAR. “We were extremely impressed with the confidence, competitive drive and raw talent of the drivers that competed at this year’s combine, which made the selection process challenging for us. Our partners at Rev Racing work hard every year to develop the best diverse drivers around the world. To see familiar faces in this class that have grown and advanced through the youth ranks of the program bolsters our belief that we will see some of these same drivers at the top levels of NASCAR in the future.”

The six drivers were selected from a group of invitees that competed in the two-day NASCAR Drive for Diversity Driver Development Combine in October at Daytona International Speedway and New Smyrna Speedway.

The combine included fitness assessments and evaluations of each driver’s marketing and media skills. The on-track portion tested the drivers’ abilities behind the wheel and proficiencies in late model stock cars. Representatives from NASCAR and Rev Racing were on-hand to evaluate the talent and determine the 2020 team.

“We have seen great success this past year with our drivers having multiple wins in every series we participated in this season,” said Max Siegel, Owner of Rev Racing. “Our returning drivers have certainly set the bar high. We are all excited to welcome the new members of this year’s class to the Rev Racing family and continue the momentum moving into the 2020 season.”

Caruth, Patino, Robusto and Trotter will compete in a NASCAR Late Model, while Cabre and Sanchez will compete in the ARCA Menards Series East and ARCA Menards Showdown Series in 2020.

RELATED: ARCA Menards Series East schedule set for 2020

Competing in a late model stock car will be a first for drivers like Caruth, whose background is in iRacing, and Robusto, who has experience racing Legends cars.

Caruth will become the first driver with an iRacing background to be selected for the program. He is a product of the eNASCAR IGNITE Series — a first-of-its kind esports competition created to identify young talent by providing a low barrier of entry to the sport.

NASCAR Drive for Diversity provides opportunities for women and minorities to pursue career opportunities in NASCAR in the driver’s seat and on pit crews through the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Development Program and off the track through the NASCAR Diversity Internship Program.

The 2020 NASCAR Drive for Diversity Driver Development team includes:

• Chase Cabre: The 22-year-old from Tampa, Fla., will join Rev Racing for his fourth-consecutive racing season and compete in the ARCA Menards Series East. Cabre won twice in 2019 in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East.
  

• Rajah Caruth: In just 42 starts, Caruth, 17, of Washington, D.C., has twice won races in the eNASCAR IGNITE Series, driving the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1/Ford Mustang. Additionally, he earned two heat wins with Rev Racing in the 2019 Bojangles’ Summer Shootout at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
  

• Perry Patino: The 20-year-old, Montgomery, Ala., native will join Rev Racing for the first time with one Limited Late Model win at Montgomery Speedway and the 2018 Limited Late Model championship under his belt.
  

• Isabella Robusto: The 15-year-old won the Bojangles’ Summer Shootout in the Semi-Pro class in 2019 and finished second in Semi-Pro points. The Fort Mill, S.C., native was honored with the Young Racer award at the 2018 NASCAR Drive for Diversity Awards.
  

• Nicholas Sanchez: The 18-year-old Miami native returns to Rev Racing for his fourth-consecutive season after winning at Myrtle Beach Speedway and Langley Speedway in a Late Model Stock Car in 2019.

• Gracie Trotter: The Denver, N.C., native, 18, returns to Rev Racing as the 2019 Winter Heat Series champion at Charlotte Motor Speedway. She also won Round 5 of the Bojangles’ Summer Shootout in the Semi-Pro Division.

Nick Sanchez finished his race season about a month ago feeling good about what he had learned in his rookie late model season.

He recently received more accolades to make his first year racing in Division I of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series even more special.

Sanchez is the 2019 recipient of the Wendell Scott Trailblazer Award, an annual award given to an outstanding minority or female driver in the Whelen All-American Series. The award recipient is selected by a committee as nominated by drivers, crew members, and track operators based not only on the driver’s final standings in the top 500 of the national standings, but also based on exceptional on-track performance, sportsmanship, and community service.

The award is named for Wendell Scott, a Virginian who on December 1, 1963 became the first, and to date only, African-American driver to win a race in NASCAR’s top national series.

Scott was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2015.

Sanchez said he got a call from a NASCAR official about a week ago out of the blue to learn he won the award. He will officially receive the award Saturday on stage at the Charlotte Convention Center at the NASCAR Hall of Fame as part of the NASCAR Awards.

“Honestly it was a total surprise because I really hadn’t thought much of it and I was so focused on just trying to win and the unreal idea of trying to go for a national championship and I totally forgot about that award,” Sanchez said. “And when someone told me about it I was like, ‘Oh my God.’ That’s an awesome accomplishment as well.”

Sanchez drives for Rev Racing, the competition arm of NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity Program that serves as the NASCAR-supported racing team that develops female and minority drivers and pit crew members in development series for future competition at NASCAR’s highest levels.

The 18-year-old Miami, Florida, driver got his start with Rev Racing running in its Legends Car program before moving up to Late Models this year. He credited his team with helping him win the Wendell Scott award.

“It feels pretty good and especially how it’s a performance-based award, it really shows that my Rev guys brought a good late model the whole year,” he said. “I’m pretty excited for it. It’s a nice accomplishment.”

Sanchez finished 23rd in the Whelen All-American Series Division I final points standings. He had one national points win and 15 top-5 finishes in 20 late model starts this season.

Related: Nick Sanchez Picks Up First Late Model Win, Set His Sights on National Honors

Sanchez also ran three races in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East this year, and had a pole start at South Boston Speedway on May 4.

In the late model, Sanchez and his Rev Racing team traveled to five different tracks this season: Motor Mile, South Boston, and Langley Speedways in Virginia, Myrtle Beach Speedway in South Carolina, and Hickory Motor Speedway in North Carolina. He also raced at Loudon Speedway in New Hampshire in a K&N Pro East race on September 21. Getting the chance to see his fair share of different sized tracks with character gave him the opportunity to really dive in and get his feet wet in his first season.

“I couldn’t imagine racing at one track with the same people, just the same routine,” Sanchez said. “I love getting different challenges thrown at me, whether it be different tracks, different drivers, different races, twins or long races. I can attribute all that to my success I guess you could say this year.

“Definitely stepping into the K&N car, especially that last race at New Hampshire I definitely got a ton of big track experience and definitely got my feet wet there which I’m pretty stoked about.”

Sanchez finished his season with a win at Langley Speedway, helping finish the year on a high note. After feeling like he missed out on victories early in the year, he was glad to see he had gotten past early “rookie mistakes.”

“Honestly, by the end of the year I felt like I progressed more as a driver than I ever had,” Sanchez said. “I was a lot more patient at the end of the year because at the beginning of the year, I’m not going to lie, I gave up many, many, many wins just on not knowing any better. By the end of the year I kind of learned my lesson and revamped my racing mindset, I guess you could say.”

Sanchez said he hopes to be able to release his plans for the 2020 soon, and he’s “very stoked” about it.

For now, he has many reasons to be proud of his rookie season.

“That makes it a lot more special just knowing people voted for me based on performance and everything else,” Sanchez said. “It’s a pretty nice accomplishment. I’m pretty proud.”

Journalism students see NASCAR’s ‘drive for diversity’ up close at Homestead-Miami

Students from Florida Memorial University’s National Association of Black Journalists chapter went behind the scenes for an immersive reporting experience during NASCAR Championship Weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The annual opportunity organized by NASCAR Multicultural Development and Homestead-Miami Speedway allows budding journalists the opportunity to engage with professional media members and get hands-on experience covering the fast-paced world of NASCAR.

Student journalist Joshua Parker produced this piece about NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity initiatives.

Nicholas Sanchez walked to the Rev Racing transporters in the New Smyrna Speedway infield looking for a bottle of water and a chance to take a deep breath. A huge smile on his face and maybe a little swagger in his step, Sanchez said he was just told he was quickest of the NASCAR Drive for Diversity candidates in their first on-track test session Wednesday morning.

“The car felt good and I’m really happy,’’ Sanchez said before joining the others for lunch during a break in action Wednesday afternoon.

The quick start was encouraging for the 18-year old Sanchez, originally from Miami but now living in Cornelius, North Carolina, to be closer to NASCAR’s traditional North Carolina hub. His background and his hopes are so typical of the 10 young racers invited to participate in this prestigious NASCAR combine.

There was a distinctive feeling of camaraderie among the competitors walking the track with evaluator and former NASCAR driver Mark Green before climbing in the cars for their first laps. For some of these young drivers, this combine is the first “chance of a lifetime” to show their skills on track and their personalities away from the track – both important to landing an opportunity to compete for Rev Racing in the NASCAR Late Model Stock, ARCA Menards Series East or Menards Showdown Series in 2020.

RELATED: Scenes from the Drive for Diversity combine

And their names are becoming familiar to those scouting the next generation of stock car talent.

Ryan Vargas, 19, a Californian who is now living in Concord, North Carolina, is back at the combine for the third time, only months removed from making his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut this summer. He started 23rd and finished 17th  in his first career national series start at the .875-mile Iowa Speedway in July. Then four weeks later showed his range of talent with an 18th-place finish on the Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, Road America road course after starting 33rd. He is a shining example of opportunity meeting promise and his achievements this year were cited and praised often by his fellow combine drivers.

At only 14-years old, Isabella Robusto, of Fort Mill, South Carolina, is the youngest candidate participating in the combine which incorporates a day of media and marketing training with a second day of on-track evaluation. For Rubusto the chance to drive in a late model stock car and absorb tips and motivations from her fellow racers was a huge reward in and of itself.

She comes from a Legends car background and – along with Rajah Caruth, 17, of Washington D.C. and Lavar Scott, 16, of Carney’s Pointe, New Jersey – was actually part of the Drive for Diversity Youth Driver Development Combine held earlier this year in Concord, North Carolina, for younger talent. She laughs explaining her start in racing – weekends with her father watching racing in the Carolinas and eventually putting together a full go-kart team before sharing the news with her mom that she was going to be competing in the sport.

Rubusto smiles telling the story of her start in the sport and said the family support has been solid and encouraging. Her whole community is beginning to realize how seriously she takes this pursuit. And that includes her school, where she is a straight-A ninth grader already taking more advanced science and math classes.

“I haven’t had a teacher that didn’t support me,’’ Rubusto said smiling.

Although she’s a “veteran” of sorts in the Drive for Diversity Youth Program, stepping up this weekend to the higher levels is a significant development for the young teen, who is approaching things with a measured approach.

“This is more of a learning weekend I’d say, to get used to the cars more,’’ Rubusto said. “I’ve been working on shifting and getting back to the gas. It’s so much different than the Legends cars.

“It’s crazy how much competition there is between the 10 of us. Most of us have raced with each other before – Gracie [Trotter], Nick [Sanchez], Chase [Cabre] , Rajah [Caruth] – we all race against each other but we’re friends at the same time.’’

“It’s crazy how much competition there is between the 10 of us. Most of us have raced with each other before – Gracie [Trotter], Nick [Sanchez], Chase [Cabre] , Rajah [Caruth] – we all race against each other but we’re friends at the same time.’’

That’s the definitive vibe. All these young drivers feel a mutual support system. But there is still a competitive element driving each of the racers. They are friendly at the track, but the big prize in a high-profile NASCAR series awaits and so performance and focus is key.

Many of his fellow drivers – and evaluators – already knew Caruth’s name even before he arrived in Daytona Beach. An eNASCAR Ignite Series standout, Caruth is now putting those virtual skills to use behind a real car. And earning praise.

“iRacing definitely has helped me a lot in terms of it being the first thing I started on and being able to race any race car in the world and learn different techniques, different driving styles, different crafts you wouldn’t get anywhere else,’’ Caruth said.

“It’s been pivotal and very helpful to me just to teach me the basics and especially some habits and tendencies you can carry over to real life and some you can’t – so that’s one of the things I was dealing with this summer, figuring out what translates and what doesn’t. But definitely wouldn’t be here without it.’’

For the 16-year old Scott, laps at New Smyrna’s famous half-mile in a late model couldn’t be more different than what he’s used to driving as a competitor in the 600 Micro Sprint Series around the Delaware and Pennsylvania dirt-tracks.

As with all these candidates, he has an intriguing backstory. His family actually comes from a drag racing background and Scott considers his mom to be the star of his racing family. His path to dirt track racing – and now cars – was more of an unintended series of events.

His older brother was too young to start drag racing and so the family let him race on dirt at the age of 5. Scott followed suit a couple years later. They loved the dirt racing so much, neither brother wanted to stick to the original plan of converting to drag racing. And now Scott has the opportunity of a lifetime with NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity Program.

In fact, Scott is optimistic that his diverse background will actually help him. As with so many of his fellow Diversity candidates this week, he raised the name of a fellow Diversity graduate as proof – Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series star Kyle Larson, who has advanced to the Round of 8 in the Cup Playoffs.

“It’s been very humbling meeting everyone here,’’ Scott said. “Ryan Vargas has already been in an Xfinity race, so it gives me hope there’s a chance I could be there too.”

“When I was younger, I always looked at Kyle Larson because he came from dirt, sprint cars. He came from exactly where I’m at – now he’s in the Cup Series and if he can do it, I can do it and if I can do it, maybe some kid feels he can do it.”

“It can open a lot of doors.’’

And already has.

Leaders from across the sports industry gathered at Daytona International Speedway this week to discuss the industry’s efforts to advance diversity and inclusion as part of the 2019 Sports Diversity & Inclusion Symposium.

Each year, the event serves as a forum for sports executives and diversity and inclusion practitioners to discuss, evaluate and create tangible solutions that drive greater diversity and inclusion in today’s sports culture. The symposium includes prominent leaders from major, minor and amateur sports organizations and features panel sessions, networking opportunities and open discussions for the two-day event.

RELATED: Latest news in NASCAR Drive for Diversity

Since 2012, NASCAR has been a founding member of the Diversity & Inclusion Sports Consortium alongside major U.S. sports leagues and other sports organizations. This year, led by its Multicultural Development department, NASCAR hosted the group’s annual symposium for the first time.

“Serving as host for the 2019 Sports Diversity and Inclusion Symposium was an honor,” said Dawn Harris, senior director of multicultural development at NASCAR. “The opportunity to convene thought leaders to discuss diversity and inclusion and its impact across the industry as related to innovation and growth was relevant and timely. I appreciate each of our forty panelists and moderators who gave their time and expertise to advance this important topic.”

NASCAR President Steve Phelps joined senior leaders from the PGA Tour, PGA of America, LPGA, USTA and Minor League Baseball on Wednesday for a panel discussion on league efforts to reach diverse fans and other communities and foster inclusive environments for employees.

Jusan Hamilton, in his first full year as series director for NASCAR’s Esports series, shared his perspective on leveraging Esports to connect with diverse audiences next to ESPN’s Katie Barnes and Major League Soccer’s Bion West. Daytona International Speedway president Chip Wile hosted lunch on Tuesday and addressed the symposium attendees alongside Erin Pellegrino of the Ross Institute in Sports for Equality (RISE).

Additional speakers included David Steward, founder and chairman of World Wide Technology, title sponsor of WWT Raceway at Gateway; Dr. Richard Lapchick, director of the Institute for Sport & Social Justice; Julia Landauer, driver in the NASCAR Pinty’s Series; and TJ Adeshola, head of U.S. sports partnerships at Twitter.

Participating members of the Diversity & Inclusion Sports Consortium include: ESPN, Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball, Major League Soccer, NASCAR, National Basketball Association, National Collegiate Athletic Association, National Football League, National Hockey League, Professional Golfers’ Association of America, PGA Tour, Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality, United States Olympic Committee, United States Tennis Association and You Can Play.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – After thorough evaluation of athletes from universities across the country, NASCAR and Rev Racing have chosen seven participants to join the 2019-20 NASCAR Drive for Diversity Pit Crew Development Program.

The former collegiate athletes were selected based on a fitness assessment held in May at the NASCAR Research and Development Center in Concord, North Carolina. The assessment tested their agility, strength and flexibility, followed by the participants learning the different crew member positions during a pit stop simulation.

Those selected will relocate to Charlotte, North Carolina, for a six-month pit crew training program led by Phil Horton, Rev Racing’s director of athletic performance. They will train to become tire changers, carriers and jackmen, with hopes of one day earning a spot on a national series race team.

NASCAR Drive for Diversity provides opportunities for women and minorities to pursue career opportunities in NASCAR on pit crews, in the driver’s seat through the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Driver Development Program and off the track through the NASCAR Diversity Internship Program.

“We are inspired by the level of athletes we’re seeing enter the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Pit Crew Development Program,” said Jusan Hamilton, NASCAR’s director of racing operations and event management. “With a wider range of colleges and universities partnering with NASCAR and Rev Racing on this program, the talent pool continues to expand and so does the pathway for each of the new members to achieve success with top race teams.”

Dalanda Ouendeno is among this year’s NASCAR Drive for Diversity Pit Crew Development Program participants. Ouendeno was a standout defender on the University of Miami women’s soccer team before trying out for a pit crew development role with Rev Racing.

Virginia natives Hadji Gaylord and Raynard Revels will also join the 2019-20 class after competing together as teammates on Norfolk State University’s football team.

“We look forward to welcoming this year’s class to NASCAR’s most comprehensive pit crew training and development program,” Rev Racing CEO Max Siegel said. “We couldn’t be prouder of the journey both our pit crew development program and graduates have taken from its inception. With the expansion of our recruiting efforts across the country, the talent level rises, and our program continues to evolve and create more opportunities for advancement at a higher level.”

In July 2019, NASCAR Drive for Diversity Pit Crew Development Program graduates Rojelio Ramirez, Omar Grimaldo and current program member Michael Hayden celebrated their first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series win when driver Justin Haley took the checkered flag at the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway.

Through the years, the program has developed pit crew athletes who work on teams every race weekend. Since its inception, more than 100 athletes have participated in the program and more than 65 graduates have worked in the sport on the national level. More than 50 graduates are currently pitting on a national level and more than 30 are competing in the sport’s top series.

The 2019-20 NASCAR Drive for Diversity Pit Crew Development Program participants include: