Off-Track Assessment Prepares Drivers To Get On Track

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Twelve drivers arrived in Florida, champing at the bit to get behind the wheel and show their talents at the 2017 NASCAR Drive for Diversity Combine presented by Honda Generators. But before they could put the cars in gear, they were put through a battery of tests designed to evaluate their off-track preparation and skills that will be equally invaluable to their dreams of moving up the NASCAR ladder.

The drivers were put through a series of stations at Bethune-Cookman University to evaluate their skills in different media settings as well as a physical training assessment.

“Driving a race car is a physical moment: You need upper-body strength, you need hand-eye coordination, but mainly you need muscle endurance,” said Phil Horton, who oversees the physical training program with Rev Racing. “You drive a car for three and a half hours and there doesn’t look like there are a lot of strenuous movements there. But you’re holding a steering wheel all day. In order to have muscle endurance, you first need to have muscle strength.”

Fans are seeing more drivers active on different areas outside of racing, whether it’s Jimmie Johnson running triathlons or Dale Earnhardt Jr. posting recaps of his long weekend bike rides via the Relive app. That’s trickled down to the younger drivers like Chase Elliott and Ricky Stenhouse Jr., who’ve incorporated cycling or Crossfit into their daily routines.

“The mental toughness of being in shape is important — one of the things we’re looking for is their work ethic,” said Horton. “You need to get in the gym early in the morning. You need to do those situps, you need to do those pushups, you need to lift those weights. Not necessarily like athletes in other sports. But just do them on a consistent basis. Without that fitness part of it, you’re doing something every day that’s preparing you to be a driver.”

Both the combine and the team will feature an enhanced focus on seat time to increase competition at the combine and on the track next season. Since 2010, Rev Racing has managed the NASCAR Drive for Diversity team. It’s compiled 17 wins among six different drivers and produced national series race winners Kyle Larson, Daniel Suarez and Darrell Wallace Jr. Earlier this year, Rev Racing’s Macy Causey became the first female driver in the 61-year history of South Boston Speedway to win a Late Model Stock Car feature.

Ernie Francis Jr. is second-generation driver who is getting his first taste of the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Combine. A multi-time champion in Trans-Am Series presented by Pirelli, the 19-year-old from south Florida is looking to make a good impression.

“It’s something new for me; I come from a road-racing background,” said Ernie Francis Jr. “I’m used to a lot of the media stuff with everything I’ve done in my career. But some of the NASCAR stuff they do, I’m not too used to right now.

“The physical assessment, I’m a pretty active driver and try to stay physically fit with some of the endurance races I do. I think I’ll do all right here and we’ll see how it goes tomorrow when I get on track.”

In addition to their time with Horton, the drivers also participated in mock press conference panels as well as conducted one-on-one interviews with Bethune-Cookman’s radio station, WRWS-LPFM 99.1. They also took a version of the Wunderlich, specifically designed from a driver attribute standpoint. The test will help with the overall evaluation of the drivers for selection. It will also be utilized to help Rev Racing determine the crew chief pairings for the 2018 season and overall team dynamic.

The NASCAR Drive for Diversity competitors are scheduled to test at New Smyrna Speedway on Tuesday in a Late Model Stock Car and Wednesday in a NASCAR K&N Pro Series car.

In addition to being sponsored by Honda Generators, the Combine received sponsorship support from partners AiM Tech, Bethune-Cookman, Five Star Race Car Bodies, M2 Promotions, Perry’s Ocean Edge Resort in Daytona Beach, and Sunoco.

From the 12 combine participants, four will be selected for the 2018 season. Three of those drivers will race full-time in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, while also running full-time in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series in a Late Model – totaling more than 30 races next season. In addition, the fourth driver will compete full-time in the Late Model program and serve as an alternate for the K&N Pro Series program.

In an expanded role for next year, Rev Racing will also select an additional four youth drivers at a future combine. Those drivers will participate in the organization’s expanded Legends and Bandoleros program next season. This past season, Rev Racing had two Legends cars in the Bojangles Summer Shootout. The team will also provide several driver development test sessions in its Late Model at Langley Speedway in Virginia and New Smyrna during the 2018 race season for prospective multicultural and female drivers.

2017 NASCAR Drive For Diversity Combine Drivers:

Six Students Selected for Internship Program

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Twenty-eight talented collegiate students from across the country participated in the 2017 NASCAR Diversity Internship Program (NDIP). Among the stand-outs are current and former students who have attended HBCUs, Historically Black Colleges and Universities: Cabrell Cooper, Dejah Gilliam, Gregory Carty, Kenneth Lee, Precious Makuyana, and Ronald Alexander. These students hail from five different HBCUs – Delaware State University, Johnson C. Smith University, Winston-Salem State University, Tuskegee University, and Florida A&M University respectively.

The group has a plethora of talent spread across various departments and partners throughout the NASCAR industry including NASCAR Productions, NASCAR Integrated Marketing Communications, Roush Fenway Racing, The NASCAR Foundation and International Speedway Corporation.

Cabrell Cooper

Cooper is a recent graduate of Delaware State University where he obtained a degree in Mass Communications with a concentration in TV & Film. He has substantial background in multimedia journalism as a student government photographer at Delaware State. His participation in the 2016 NASCAR Opinion Leader Program at Dover International Speedway led him to create compelling content about the NASCAR Drive for Diversity program and other multicultural development initiatives. He is currently interning in Charlotte with the NASCAR Productions Engineering team.

Dejah Gilliam

Gilliam completed her undergraduate degree at Johnson C. Smith University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications. She has had several internship opportunities in the world of sports including working with the CIAA Basketball Tournament and the Buffalo Bills. She is currently interning in the Charlotte office with NASCAR’s Integrated Marketing Communications team.

Gregory Carty

Carty completed his undergraduate degree at Winston-Salem State University where he received a Bachelor of Science in Sports Management. He is now enrolled at Old Dominion University pursuing his Master of Arts degree in Sports Management. In his third year of participating in the NASCAR Diversity Internship Program, Carty currently interns with Roush Fenway Racing in Concord, NC. Carty previously worked with NASCAR Industry Services and NASCAR Licensing.

Kenneth Lee

Lee completed his undergraduate degree at Tuskegee University as one of four graduates to obtain a degree in Communications, the first graduates of that degree program. He has had several opportunities in sports media ranging from being the sports writer for Tuskegee’s Campus Digest to Tuskegee Athletic Communications gameday assistant. He is interning with The NASCAR Foundation in Marketing and Communications.

Precious Makuyana

Makuyana is currently attending Florida A&M University College of Law where she is in pursuit of her Juris Doctorate degree. As the International Speedway Corporation legal intern, Makuyana works on corporate contracts, risk analysis and various research projects. The Zimbabwe native has interned at several agencies and legal firms and hopes to work in motorsports full-time after completing her law program.

Ronald Alexander

Alexander recently graduated from Winston-Salem State University where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sports Management. He has had several opportunities in the realm of sports management ranging from a Sports Marketing Internship at Wake Forest to being a gameday assistant at Winston-Salem State University. He is currently interning with the International Speedway Corporation in the Partnership Sales and Marketing department.

NASCAR’s 10-week paid internship offers college students from diverse backgrounds the opportunity to gain hands-on experience within their fields of study and has led to full-time employment with NASCAR and partnering organizations. Gaining access to bright students, like the record six HBCU students, is a testament to the multicultural development at NASCAR and has been instrumental in the success of the NDIP program. Applications for the 2018 internship open on October 13, 2017 at www.nascardiversity.com.

Five Student-Athletes Selected for Diversity Program

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Five of the 28 students selected for this year’s NASCAR Diversity Internship Program (NDIP) are current or former collegiate athletes from across the country. This talented group of students, both on and off the field, participate in the 10-week, paid internship that targets multicultural undergraduate and graduate students interested in the motorsport industry.

The student-athletes selected demonstrate high academic and athletic standing in their respective schools and teams. The athletes are currently interning within various departments of NASCAR and industry partners such as: International Speedway Corporation, Toyota Automotive Technology and Watkins Glen International.

Bria Dixon: Soccer

Bria Dixon (Cary, N.C.) is a recent graduate of Virginia Tech where she obtained a Public Relations degree. Dixon, a member of the Virginia Tech Women’s Soccer Team all four years, reached the 2013 NCAA College Cup as a Final Four semifinalist. She was selected to the ACC’s Academic Honor Roll every year she was with the team. She currently interns with NASCAR’s Weekly and Touring series where she assists in day-to-day operations and event marketing services for the regional series. After the internship, Dixon hopes to land a full-time job within the sports industry.

Monica Matias: Tennis

Monica Matias (Moca, Puerto Rico), is a Human Communications rising senior at the University of Central Florida, and a two-time AAC All-Conference Tennis player for the UCF Knights. During the 2014-15 season she posted a 26-5 singles record, tying for the second-highest win total in school history. In addition, she is a three-time UCF Knights Tennis Team MVP and a three-time member of the Puerto Rico National Tennis Team. During the summer, Matias served as the ISC Public Affairs intern where she assisted with the day-to-day operations for her department. After the internship, she plans to complete her degree at UCF and continue on to graduate school.

Cambric Moye: Baseball 

Cambric Moye (Goldsboro, N.C.), an Information Systems/Supply Chain Management major, played baseball at UNC-Greensboro from 2010-2013. During his time there, Moye’s talent caught the eye of professional scouts and was selected in the 30th round of the 2013 MLB Draft. The former UNCG standout played two seasons for the Los Angeles Angels’ Minor League team and was assigned for Spring Training with the Colorado Rockies. Today, Moye is a student and assistant baseball coach at UNCG while pursuing his degree. This summer, he is serving as the Toyota Logistics intern in Kentucky and hopes to land a full-time job with the company in the near future.

Justin Pintak: Soccer

Justin Pintak (Pullman, Wash.) is a rising senior at Ithaca College where he is pursuing an Integrated Marketing Communications degree with a minor in sports and legal studies. He is a member of the Men’s Varsity Soccer Team where he will serve as team captain for the 2017 season. Pintak, who shares alma mater with former NDIP intern and current NASCAR manager of Racing Operations and Event Management, Jusan Hamilton, serves as the Marketing intern for Watkins Glen International. After the internship, Justin will go back to school to complete his final year before searching for full-time employment.

Zane Smith: Football

Zane Smith (Southlake, Texas), a Mechanical Engineer major at Southern Methodist University, played linebacker for the SMU Mustangs for three seasons. While being part of the team, Smith earned Special Teams Player of the Week awards, SMU Athletics Academic Honor Role and was known for actively working on engineering homework on plane rides to away games. In addition to being a football standout, Smith is a motorscross racer in his spare time. This summer, he will be serving as an engineering intern for Toyota in Plano, Texas. After the internship, the Texas native would like to find a full-time engineering job with a NASCAR team.

For additional information on these student-athletes and/or the 2017 NASCAR Diversity Internship Program, please contact Lauren Houston at [email protected].

Students Complete Annual Service Project

The NASCAR Diversity Interns participated in the program’s fourth, annual community service project as part of their internship experience Saturday. The interns both in Daytona Beach and Charlotte offices volunteered with their respective Habitat for Humanity ReStore centers. The teams had an impactful day preparing for the future home-building projects for locals.

The interns embraced the importance of giving back and working as a team. Bria Dixon, the Weekly and Touring department intern in the Daytona Beach office commented on her involvement.

“This experience is very rewarding,” she said. “We are able to see our work and the donations of others influence the people in need. I highly encourage others to participate with Habitat for Humanity in the future.”

Serving the community is an integral part of the NASCAR Diversity Internship Program. Contributing both in and outside of the office makes this sports summer internship unlike many others.

About Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit organization that focuses on building affordable homes both national and internationally. An organization that serves communities around the globe, Habitat for Humanity makes it possible for people of all walks of life to live comfortably.

For more information on how to get involved with your local Habitat for Humanity chapter, visit www.habitat.org.

Partners Contribute to Program Expansion

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Twenty-eight students embarked on, what was for many, their first motorsports internship during the Monster Energy NASCAR All-Star race weekend in May. This year’s NASCAR Diversity Internship Program (NDIP) class is the largest since 2004. Much of the growth and success of the 10-week, paid, summer internship program is due, in part, to the steady increase in industry participation.

The 2017 NDIP class kicked off its internship experience with an all-inclusive, three-day orientation during the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race, Monster Energy Showdown and Monster Energy All-Star race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The orientation experience provided an exclusive look at how partners, sponsors, teams and stakeholders play an integral role each NASCAR race weekend.

Throughout the internship, the students contribute to the industry and gain experience working in marketing, engineering, public relations, licensing, diversity and public affairs. They also have the opportunity to learn from leading motorsports executives in weekly lunch-and-learn sessions and networking events with professionals across the industry.

Returning partners Toyota, Roush Fenway Racing, Rev Racing, Pocono Raceway and International Speedway Corporation ushered in new partners Watkins Glenn International and Richard Childress Racing. Continued support and participation from such partners solidifies the role of NDIP as a pipeline for employment across the motorsports industry.

Felix Santana, a former Toyota engineering intern, was hired on as an automotive technology trainee and promoted to product quality engineer after his NDIP internship with the global automobile company in 2016. Another 2016 NDIP intern with Pocono Raceway, Antonio Russo, was hired on as an account executive for NASCAR Hispanic Marketing in the fall. These success stories are only two of hundreds of others that have found full-time employment upon completion of NDIP.

2017 NASCAR Diversity Internship Program Partners and Interns:

International Speedway Corporation, Finance: Sarah Torres

Sarah Torres is an upcoming senior at Pennsylvania State University pursuing a Bachelors of Business Administration in Accounting at the Smeal College of Business. Torres is the Accounting and Finance Department intern at ISC (International Speedway Corporation), a sister company to NASCAR. After the internship, Torres plans obtaining her undergraduate degree from Pennsylvania State and hopes of traveling the world someday.

International Speedway Corporation, Legal: Precious Makuyana

Precious Makuyana is a Law student at Florida A&M University College of Law. She participates in numerous organizations on campus such as Marshall Bell Law Society, Christian Legal Society and the American Constitution Society. Makuyana is the legal department intern at International Speedway Corporation. After her internship, she plans on pursuing a career as a corporate lawyer with a focus on Contracts Administration and Negotiation.

International Speedway Corporation, Partnership Marketing: Ronald Alexander

Ronald Alexander is a recent graduate from Winston-Salem State University where he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Sports Management. Alexander is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. and has had previous experience as the Sports Marketing intern for Wake Forest University. Alexander is the Partnership Sales and Marketing intern at the International Speedway Corporation. He hopes to gain a full-time role with the company and one day create his own sports management agency.

Rev Racing, Public Relations and Marketing: Shawn Meachem

Shawn Meachem is a recent graduate of Johnson C. Smith University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Sports Management. She was a member of various organizations and honors societies on campus. Meachem gained experience in her field as an intern for her university’s athletic department. She is also a mother of twin girls. Meachem is an intern with Rev Racing and hopes to gain a full-time role in the sports industry and pursue a graduate degree soon after.

Richard Childress Racing, Marketing: Marisa Biggins

Marisa Biggins is a Masters of Business Administration candidate at the University of Oregon. She has seven years of experience as an NCAA Compliance officer at the George Mason University, Hofstra University and Colonial Athletic Association. She is currently utilizing her skills and knowledge during her internship with partner company, Richard Childress Racing. With plans of completing her final year of her MBA program, Marisa has dreams of working at Roc Nation and eventually starting a business working with professional athletes to help them transition into a post pro-athlete career.

Roush Fenway Racing, Licensing: Greg Carty

Gregory Carty is a graduate student at Old Dominion University pursuing his Masters of Education in Sports Management. He is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. and has served as the student manager for the Wake Forest University Football team. This is his third year participating in NDIP – he interned with NASCAR Industry Services in 2014 and with the NASCAR Licensing team in 2016. Carty is currently a Roush Fenway Racing licensing intern. Upon completing his graduate program this fall, Carty plans to pursue a full-time career with NASCAR.

Pocono Raceway, Public Relations and Marketing: Catherine Rivera Chardon

Catherine Rivera-Chardon is an upcoming senior at the Pennsylvania State University where she is working on obtaining a degree in Broadcast Journalism with a minor in Theatre. Catherine is involved in many on-campus organizations, such as The Daily Collegian and The Collegiate Review. She is currently utilizing her skill sets in the intern role for Pocono Raceway in Pennsylvania. After the internship, Catherine will continue her education and hopes to gain more experience in the communication field in hopes of one day working full-time at NASCAR.

Toyota, Engineering: Zane Smith

Zane Smith is a Mechanical Engineering student at Southern Methodist University and is currently and intern in Toyota’s Engineering department. Smith is part of his university’s football team and has an impressive list of accomplishments including his participation in the Formula SAE Race Car Build and becoming part of the Athletics Academic Honor Role. Smith has also interned at the BNSF Railway Company as the Operational Management Intern and plans to use his engineering knowledge in a career that involves vehicles. After his internship, Smith will pursue a full-time role in NASCAR’s Engineering department.

Toyota, Information Systems: Kevin Lee

Kevin Lee is an Information Technology and Systems student at the University of Texas in Dallas. He is a member of Lambda Phi Epsilon International Fraternity, Inc. and has had notable internship experiences with companies such as IBM. He is currently interning in Toyota’s Information Systems department. He plans on continuing his internship with Toyota during his final semester with hopes of gaining a full-time role. Lee’s dream job is to eventually become the CEO of a company or an entrepreneur.

Toyota, Supply Chain and Logistics: Cambric Moye

Cambric Moye is a graduate of the University of North Caroline at Greensboro with a degree in Information Systems and Supply Chain Management. Moye has had several internship experiences including a summer internship with the Logistics department for Glen Raven, Inc. He is currently based in Kentucky where he works in the supply chain and logistics department of Toyota. After his internship, Moye hopes to pursue a career with Toyota within the Supply Chain Trainee Program in hopes of one day becoming a Supply Chain manager.

Watkins Glenn International, Marketing: Justin Pintak 

Justin Pintak is student at Ithaca College majoring in Integrated Marketing Communications and minoring in Sports and Legal Studies. Pintak has previously interned with the Seattle Hawks and has worked with the Skyhawk Sports Academy serving various roles in the sports industry. Pintak is also a member of the Ithaca College Varsity soccer team. He is using his experience and knowledge this summer interning with partner company, Watkins Glenn International in the marketing department. After his internship, Justin is looking forward to graduating in 2018 with hopes of landing a full-time role in the sports industry.

NASCAR Diversity Luncheon held at Daytona 500 Club

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Today NASCAR celebrated the outstanding achievements of ground-breaking individuals and organizations who have made significant contributions to the advancement of diversity initiatives at the sixth annual NASCAR Diversity Awards Luncheon.

“At the luncheon, we have an opportunity to celebrate a few of the people and organizations whose dedication and commitment are shining examples of our industry understanding the importance of diversity and inclusion in all aspects of our sport,” said Marcus Jadotte, NASCAR vice president of public affairs and multicultural development.” From the competitors on tracks to the employee’s across our offices, NASCAR is more diverse than ever and we have positioned ourselves to place the sport in front of new audiences like never before.”

During a ceremony held at The DAYTONA 500 Club at Daytona International Speedway, NASCAR recognized the following individuals and organizations across the industry:

NASCAR Diverse Driver: Kyle Larson
In his first season of NASCAR competition, Kyle Larson – a Japanese-American from Elk Grove, Calif. – raced into the record books in impressive fashion. In 2012, Kyle scored two wins and 12 top 10s in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East. He capped his season off with Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors en route to bringing home Rev Racing and the NASCAR Drive for Diversity’s first series championship. Kyle became just the third driver in NASCAR K&N Pro Series East history to capture the championship and Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors in the same season.

Kyle signed on with Earnhardt Ganassi Racing and will make his national series debut this season in the NASCAR Nationwide Series where he has a full-time ride with Turner Scott Motorsports. He has already been to Victory Lane once in 2013 when he won the opening race of the UNOH Battle At The Beach on Monday, Feb. 18.

NASCAR Diverse Crew Member Award: Tesfa Lee
The NASCAR Pit Crew Development Program Presented by Sprint is designed to identify, coach, train and develop minority athletes who possess the skill, ability and attitude to be a successful NASCAR pit crew member. Today’s crew member award winner, Tesfa Lee, exemplifies the desire and talent the program was created to develop.

When Tesfa Lee showed up to the 2009 Combine with very little background in NASCAR the coaching team did not know what to expect. He proved to be a fast learner and in seven months had already started working with a team in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Tesfa has followed that up with consistent improvement and has gained excellent experience as part of several championship-winning teams. In 2010, he was part of the Germain Racing team that won the NASCAR Camping World Truck championship with Todd Bodine. Then last year, he was a member on Ricky Stenhouse Jr.’s NASCAR Nationwide Series team that won the title for Roush Fenway Racing. In 2013, Tesfa will continue his great work with Roush Fenway as a member of Trevor Bayne’s No. 21 NASCAR Sprint Cup and No. 6 NASCAR Nationwide Series crews.

NASCAR Diversity Internship Program Award: Stacey Houston
Stacey Houston, a senior at Davidson College (N.C.), interned in Charlotte, N.C., with the Market Research Group in the NASCAR Marketing Department. During the course of his internship, Stacey worked on a variety of projects, one of which was the development of a database that allows the department to create more impactful and meaningful questionnaires for the official NASCAR fan council.

Institution Award: Ten80
The Ten80 Student Racing Challenge is a project-based STEM curriculum and annual competition league that provides students with professional development opportunities in related disciplines. Ten80 Student Racing Challenge teams are mini-race teams that compete using a 1:10 scale electric radio-controlled car. This program has helped thousands of students not only develop a passion for NASCAR and motorsports but also to cement their interest in careers based on science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

NASCAR Partner Award: Octagon
As the agency of record for several of NASCAR’s key partners including Sprint and Sunoco, Octagon has diligently worked with NASCAR to create and support initiatives that help to expose the sport to new audiences in unique ways. Octagon’s dedication has led the company to annually bring on an intern from the NASCAR Diversity Internship Program, a commitment that has given several minority students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the sport.

NASCAR Young Racer Award: Ryleigh Lemonds
Nine-year-old Ryleigh Lemonds is making her mark as a future driver to watch. During 2012, Ryleigh competed in 29 races and wheeled off 10 wins, 27 top 5s and 29 top 10s, winning on five tracks in three states. Ryleigh’s epic season ended with her winning the Langley Speedway Bandolero Track championship and the 2012 INEX Virginia State Bandolero Bandit championship.

In 2013, Ryleigh will be a developmental driver with Rev Racing, participating in arena racing and driving one of the team’s Bandolero cars at select tracks throughout the southeast.

NASCAR Industry Ambassador: Bryan Sperber
As president of the Phoenix International Raceway, Bryan Sperber sets the strategic direction for one of NASCAR’s most popular tracks. Under Sperber’s leadership, Phoenix International Raceway has become embedded in the local community and continuously seeks to form partnerships with minority organizations such as the Arizona Hispanic Chamber Of Commerce. In 2013, Phoenix International Raceway will host the NASCAR Toyota Series’ inaugural race in the United States, where some of Mexico’s best drivers will compete during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series weekend.

Wallace, Thomas Honored During Luncheon

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – NASCAR celebrated the outstanding achievements of ground-breaking individuals and organizations in the area of diversity at the fifth annual NASCAR Diversity Awards Luncheon Wednesday.

“NASCAR, its teams, tracks, sponsors and industry stakeholders are committed to diversity throughout the sport,” said Marcus Jadotte, NASCAR vice president of public affairs and multicultural development. “Coming together to acknowledge the outstanding work of these individuals and organizations gives us the opportunity to heighten awareness of the strides that are being made in the sport.”

At a ceremony held at The Daytona 500 Club at Daytona International Speedway, NASCAR recognized the following individuals and organizations across the industry for their outstanding impact:

NASCAR Drive for Diversity Participant: Darrell Wallace Jr.
Wallace, 18, who lives in Concord, N.C., started racing when he was nine years old and has found plenty of success along the way. In 2005, Wallace’s first year of INEX Bandolero division competition, he won 35 of 48 races. The next year he moved up to INEX Legends cars, winning 11 races. He won his first late model race at Franklin County Speedway (Callaway, Va.) in 2008. At just 14, he became the youngest competitor to win a late model race at the historic speedway. Before late models, he raced karts, bandoleros and legend cars, often dominating the competition. In 2009, Wallace was named a development driver for Joe Gibbs Racing. With support from JGR, he competed with his family-operated team in a number of late model events throughout the Southeast. Darrell was a participant in the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Program in 2009 and 2010 competing in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East.  In 2010, Darrell became the youngest and first African American to win in the K&N Pro Series with his win at Greensville Pickens and scored a second win in New Hampshire to earn the Rookie of the Year Award. Darrell followed up his rookie season with a second-place finish in the K&N Pro Series East standings, winning races in Richmond, Columbus and Dover.

Young Racer Award: Walter Thomas III
Walter Thomas III, 13, is an Indianapolis, Ind., native. Walter’s young racing career began at four years old when he started racing quarter midgets followed by three years in junior dragsters. For the past two years, he has raced in bandoleros where he scored a win in a national qualifier as well as becoming the first African American to win the Outlaw Track Championship at Indianapolis Speedrome. Walter finished 2011 in a legends car where he will continue his racing career this season. Walter’s success and work ethic extends into the classroom, where he is an honor roll student.

NASCAR Diversity Internship Program Award: Perron Jones
An Augusta, Ga., native, Perron is currently enrolled in Georgia Tech University in Atlanta, Ga., where he majors in Computer Science. Perron interned via the NASCAR Diversity Internship Program with the IT department in Daytona Beach, Fla. During his internship, Perron worked in the service call center and wrote a valuable app that saved the department several additional man hours. In addition to his coursework, Perron also runs track at Georgia Tech and recently set a school track and field record in the 60m dash while holding a 3.37 GPA.

Educational Institutional Award: Hampton University
Hampton University is awarded this prestigious honor because of their role in the off-track evaluation of participants at the 2011 NASCAR Drive for Diversity Combine hosted by Langley Speedway. Both the Sports Managements School and Scripps School of Journalism and Communications participated in key initiatives. Professor Ralph Charlton and his sport management students organized a car show which enhanced awareness for Revolution Racing and the NASCAR Drive for Diversity program while promoting and advertising the Combine in the greater Hampton citywide. They also provided facilities to evaluate driver fitness. Professor William “Chris” Leonard’s 43 students from the Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications received real-world experience by staging a series of media exercises across multiple campus facilities which covered one-on-one interviews, live group press conferences, at-track coverage and news packages which ran on Air America.

NASCAR Partner Award: International Speedway Corporation
In an effort to increase participation and awareness of the sport among Hispanic fans, the NASCAR Diversity Affairs department partnered with ISC tracks to execute a pilot program entitled “Bienvenidos a NASCAR.” With guidance and support from several ISC tracks (Chicago, Miami and Phoenix), NASCAR increased its targeted Hispanic reach via advertising and promotions, as well as concerts and Spanish language garage QR codes that gave an overview of the sport. The resulting partnership enhanced the at-track experience for Hispanic fans by incorporating culturally relevant touch points throughout the race weekend.

NASCAR Industry Ambassador: Steve deSouza
This year marks Steve deSouza’s 14th year as vice president of NASCAR Nationwide Series operations at Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR). Over that time JGR’s NASCAR Nationwide Series operations has grown to include three teams, while the driver development program has flourished under deSouza’s watchful eye that continues to identify many of the sports’ talented young drivers. Through his work in the developmental series, he afforded drivers like Aric Almirola, Marc Davis and Darrell Wallace Jr. the opportunity to compete in the national series as well as providing test opportunities for several other minority drivers. Joe Gibbs Racing has been committed to diversity for years and Steve deSouza has been a key part of their team’s dedication in this area.

Walter Thomas III, 13, of Indianapolis, Ind., was presented the Young Drivers Award during Wednesday’s luncheon. Scott Hunter/NASCAR

Third Annual Luncheon Spotlights Recipients

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) celebrated the outstanding accomplishments of pioneering individuals and organizations in the area of diversity at the third annual NASCAR Diversity Luncheon Wednesday.

“Teams, tracks, sponsors and other stakeholders play an integral role in our efforts to further diversify our sport,” said Marcus Jadotte, NASCAR’s managing director of public affairs. “The NASCAR Diversity Awards are a small way to say thank you and recognize just a few of those making a difference in creating awareness and opportunity.”

AUDIO OF MIKE HELTON’S OPENING REMARKS

During a ceremony held in the Bill France Room at Daytona International Speedway, NASCAR recognized the following individuals and organizations across the industry for their outstanding impact:

Drive for Diversity Participant: Paul Harraka
Harraka, 20, of Wayne, N.J., returns to the Drive for Diversity program for the fifth year in 2010 and will race in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West. Harraka, who is of Syrian descent, has a racing resume that extends from go-karts to NASCAR K&N Pro Series cars. Harraka, who began racing at age seven, has won a total of 158 races in all types of race cars. In 2007, Harraka was named All-American Speedway’s NASCAR Late Model Rookie of the Year. In 2008, he won the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Championship when he won 11 times. Last year in his rookie season in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West, he won the Sunoco Rookie of the Year Award while winning two races. He is currently a sophomore at Duke University majoring in public policy.

Young Racer Award: Amber Colvin
Amber Colvin, 16, hails from Tallahassee, Fla. She’s been racing since 2004 in Bandoleros and Legends cars. Amber placed second in the Georgia Winter Points Series in her first season racing Bandoleros. In 2008, she made the switch to Legends cars. In the Legends cars, she had 39 starts, 36 top tens, 24 top fives and six wins. Last year she competed in six races. She’s also been affiliated with the Lyn St. James Driver Development Program.

AUDIO OF AMBER COLVIN INTERVIEW

NASCAR Diversity Internship Program: Arionne Allen
Arionne Allen, 23, of Mauldin, S.C., was an intern last summer in the NASCAR Series Operations department in Daytona Beach where she performed a number of integral duties. She was responsible for everything from the on-track schedule to ensuring all cars participating in racing events had the proper decals for the NASCAR contingency program, and that all decals were within NASCAR guidelines. She was very much on the front line of NASCAR’s business. She also worked very closely with drivers and teams to ensure compliance with NASCAR agreements. Allen currently works for Revolution Racing in Mooresville, N.C.

Educational Institutional Award: NASCAR Technical Institute
The NASCAR Technical Institute was recognized for this award given to a college/university that attracts and trains diverse students for careers in the motorsports industry with a relevant curriculum. NASCAR Technical Institute, a branch of Universal Technical Institute, is the exclusive educational partner of NASCAR located in Mooresville, N.C., Race City, USA. As the first technical training school to officially combine a complete automotive technology training program with NASCAR specific courses, NASCAR Technical Institute addresses the nation’s shortage of automotive technicians by boosting the number of entry-level technicians entering the workforce. Students get hands-on experience in engines and repair, fuel and ignition systems, power trains, brakes, transmissions, electronics and diagnostic equipment. In addition, students are introduced to NASCAR technology, specifically advanced techniques for building and testing NASCAR engines, fabrication and pit crew training.

NASCAR Sponsor: Sunoco, Inc.
“Sunoco is proud to be a supporter of NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity program,” said Dawn Zimmerman, regional marketing manager for Sunoco, Inc. “The [NASCAR] Combine specifically allows for a new generation of diverse drivers to gain experience not only in racing, but media training, lessons in building self-confidence and the lifestyle that is racing. And we’re especially excited to be fueling the next generation of drivers who will be carrying on the legacy of NASCAR racing.”

Individual Recognition: Lyn St. James
Lyn St. James runs the Lyn St. James Academy, which was established in 1994 through the Women in the Winner’s Circle Foundation. The academy is an educational and training program for talented women race drivers who aspire to the professional levels of motorsports. St. James is one of only five women to have qualified for the Indianapolis 500, and became the first woman to win the Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year in 1992. “I want to thank NASCAR for this honor and recognition,” said St. James. “ While I’ve been actively working in the area of diversity for many years, I really feel I’m only representing the many partners, such as Ford Racing, Mazda, VW, Goodyear, Pirelli, iRacing, Grand-Am, Rolex, NASCAR and our individual contributors who have enabled us to continue doing our Driver Development Academy and other programs.”