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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

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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.”

Posted on by Steve Luvender

It’s fun to look at early-season numbers and stats. Usually, they’re hardly an indication of what will really happen throughout the season, but it’s amusing to imagine. Like, one bad race in the first three will totally sink your points position, and one single solid race will make you look like a hero. It’s a luck thing, much like other activities that happen in Las Vegas. Here’s what earned our thumbs-up and thumbs-down in the Entertainment Capital of the World.

RELATED: Full race results | Social buzz: Johnson jabs playfully ay ‘young guys’

Thumbs Up: An attempted pit strategy play

When you don’t regularly contend for solid finishes, you have to get creative.

That’s what Front Row Motorsports did in Stage 1 at Las Vegas Sunday. While most drivers elected to split the 80-lap stage into two 40-lap runs, pitting around Lap 40, Front Row Motorsports drivers Michael McDowell and David Ragan stayed on track — running first and second place — until around Lap 55, when they finally made it to pit road.

If a caution had come out in that window while the duo was out front, it’d likely enjoy the benefit of track position, assuming the entire field would pit under such a caution. You know how well “ifs” and assumptions work in racing.

It didn’t quite work out for Team FRM — McDowell finished last with a mechanical issue, and Ragan finished three laps down in 23rd — but the team can say it led some laps Sunday.

Thumbs up for trying something a little off-the-wall.

Thumbs Down: The word “dramastically”

Early during Sunday’s race coverage, Jeff Gordon said Las Vegas Motor Speedway would change “dramsatically” — we assume that’s a combination of “dramatically” and “drastically” — due to tire wear and the track surface.

While Gordon’s description was quite accurate, with lap times falling off several seconds throughout the course of a green-flag run, the word he used to describe the amount of fall-off was not a word found in most dictionaries.

 

We love you, Jeff Gordon, but thumbs down for making up a new word. Although, it’s better than Darrell Waltrip’s “coopetition.”

Thumbs Up: Paul Menard’s Solid Start

A quiet guy has made some noise in the opening races of 2018. Paul Menard scored his second top-10 finish in three races this season driving for the Wood Brothers. 

To contrast, he scored just three top 10s in all of 2017 driving for Richard Childress Racing. If these solid runs continue to pile up, Menard might find himself in contention for the playoffs. Surely, he’d be so thrilled that he just wouldn’t shut up about it. Chatterbox.

Thumbs up for starting the season on the right note.

Thumbs Down: Another miss for Hendrick Motorsports

Chase Elliott got caught up in a crash Sunday. Jimmie Johnson is 29th in points. (We know, it’s only been three races.) The team has just one lead lap finish this season in twelve total outings — Elliott’s 10th-place run at Atlanta — the organization’s only top-10 finish.

While we’re only one-twelfth of the way through the season, it’s been an uncharacteristic start for Hendrick Motorsports.

Thumbs down for a slow 2018 so far — but if we know Hendrick Motorsports, Jimmie Johnson will win the next six races. It always happens.

Biggest Thumbs Up of the Week: Total domination

214 laps led. Three of three stages. Two victories in a row. More playoff points than everybody else in the field combined. It’s looking like a Kevin Harvick sort of year — so far, at least.

And while we appreciate the free Bloomin’ Onions, Kevin, you only need to score a top 10 for us to benefit. No need to overachieve.

Oh, and we’re headed to Phoenix next week, where Harvick’s won eight times. Prepare the onion fryers.

Well, technically, we’re going to ISM Raceway, where Harvick’s never won, if we’re going by the name of the track alone. Dale Earnhardt Jr. is undefeated at Jeff Gordon Raceway, by that line of thinking.

A 214-laps-of-267-size thumbs-up for The Happy Cactus King Closer.

Posted on by Holly Cain

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Kevin Harvick’s dominating victory in Sunday’s Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube at Las Vegas Motor Speedway was head-turning in its standard of excellence. For NASCAR West Coasters like the Californian Harvick, winning on NASCAR’s Western Swing has become a particular source of pride.

And statistics show, winning happens a lot for the West Coasters on the sport’s Western swing.

This week’s top-three finishers at Vegas, for example, all hail from the region. In addition to Harvick, from Bakersfield, California, runner-up Kyle Busch is a Las Vegas native and third-place finisher Kyle Larson is from Elk Grove, California.

RELATED: Full race results from Las Vegas | Harvick cracks 100 national series wins

Five Monster Energy NASCAR Cup drivers from the West — Harvick, Busch, Larson, Jimmie Johnson and Kurt Busch account for 33 wins at the three #NASCARGoesWest tracks — Las Vegas, ISM Raceway in Phoenix, and Auto Club Speedway in California.

Add another six wins — covering all three venues — if you count in California native, retired four-time champion Jeff Gordon’s work there.

AJ Allmendinger, of Los Gatos, California, hasn’t won yet on the Western Swing, but did earn the pole position at ISM Raceway in 2010 and has two top-10 starts in his last four Auto Club Speedway races. And Phoenix native, Alex Bowman won the pole position at his hometown track in 2016 driving for the sidelined Dale Earnhardt Jr.

With a pair of trophies in three races already this season, Harvick is riding a huge swell of momentum into this week’s TicketGuardian 500 (3:30 ET on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) at ISM Raceway. It is a venue where he has already produced a career-highlight mark on his resume.

He has a series-best eight wins at ISM Raceway and 19 top 10s in 30 starts. He won five of six races between 2013-2016, finishing runner-up in the only race during that stretch that he didn’t win. He hasn’t finished worse than sixth in the last nine ISM Raceway races.

For Harvick, spending time out West is something he particularly looks forward to and this year he’s doing something he’s never done before — competing in a NASCAR K&N West Series race at Kern County Raceway in his native Bakersfield.

RELATED: Race named after Harvick | Full schedule for Phoenix

“To be brutally honest with you I am looking forward to going to race the K&N car more than any of them next Thursday — not because I don’t enjoy what I do here, but because I have never raced at Kern County Raceway in my hometown,” Harvick said last weekend in Las Vegas.

“I like coming to all three of these races because I get to see so many fans and friends. The race of the three weeks that we are out here, the four that I am going to race, the one I am looking forward to the most is the K&N race because it isn’t something I get to do all the time.

“If I had to pick one out of the three (Cup races he is most fond of) I would pick California just because I love the surface and how much the cars wear out the tires and slide around and the multiple grooves and all the things that come with Auto Club Speedway.”

Competing in a sport once traditionally associated with the Southeast, for these West Coast natives, racing in places such as Las Vegas, Phoenix and California has been a chance to shine in front of the fans and supporters who watched them establish themselves and ascend at the local tracks throughout the region.

That those same drivers seem to naturally fare so well “at home” is appreciated by team, by fan and by driver.

A trophy this weekend would surely be welcomed by Californian Jimmie Johnson, the sport’s seven-time champion who hasn’t won a race since last spring. His mark of 26 races since a victory is the longest in his career, albeit a small time frame by any competitive standard. And he’s returning to the land of victory donuts and champagne toasts.

Johnson is second only to Harvick in trophy-hauls and optimism at ISM Raceway with four wins, three pole positions and 20 top-10 finishes in 29 starts at the track. He captured those four victories during a five-race span during the 2007-09 seasons. He has four top-11 showings — and a pole — in the last six races at Phoenix.

If Arizona doesn’t prove to be the place that restores his winning ways, Johnson is the gold standard in his native California, the track where he hoisted his first of 83 trophies. He boasts a series-best six wins at the 2-mile Auto Club Speedway and has accumulated 16 top-10 finishes in 23 starts at the track, his last win coming in 2016.

Similarly, the Elk Grove, California, native Larson has proven himself top-shelf at Auto Club Speedway, winning from the pole position there last year. He was runner-up at the track in his first premier series there four years ago.

With the exception of Larson (who was runner-up in the 2017 spring ISM Raceway race), Harvick, Johnson and both Busch brothers have victories at the always tough one-miler. Kyle Busch has finished in the top-five in his last five Phoenix races including runner-up in 2016. His older brother Kurt won at ISM Raceway in 2005 and has top-10 finishes in five of the last seven races there.

At Auto Club Speedway, Kyle Busch has three victories, including back-to-back wins in 2013-14. His older brother Kurt won at California in 2003 and has four top-10s in the last six races there.

The opportunity to compete in front of a “hometown” crowd is something Kyle Busch says he appreciates for competitive and sentimental reasons.

“Everybody hates the time change,” he said. “I use that to my advantage since I think I’m usually on West Coast time, anyway. I still haven’t gotten East Coast time down yet.

“It’s fun for me. It’s a cool atmosphere and the weather is great without the humidity. If it’s hot out, it’s nice and warm. And if it’s cold, it’s a crisp cold.

“It’s still home and I love being out West.”

Posted on by Pat DeCola

MORE: Harvick dominates Las Vegas | Picks up 100th career NASCAR win

Coming into the season, much of the talk — rightly so — was centered around NASCAR’s young talent set to take the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series by storm after big names such as Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Carl Edwards and Dale Earnhardt Jr. have stepped out of their race cars over the past few years.

With drivers like Kyle Larson, Ryan Blaney, Chase Elliott, William Byron, Daniel Suarez (the list goes on) making names for themselves at the top level, it’s easy to get excited about the future. Kevin Harvick, 42, took the conversation back into the present the past two weekends, however, winning both Atlanta and Las Vegas in convincing fashion.

Fellow 42-year-old Jimmie Johnson took notice, and playfully threw a jab at the “young guys,” and succinctly summed up his race via emoji.

Another … let’s just say, “not-so-young-guy” … chimed in to offer his congratulations to the 2014 champion.

Despite Harvick’s dominance, two “young guys” in Larson and Blaney both finished in the top five, but the Chip Ganassi Racing driver knows there’s a bit to make up when it comes to catching the No. 4.

Larson — along with Michael Waltrip — also made sure to give props to Matt DiBenedetto after the 26-year-old grinded out a season-best 22nd-place finish.

Kurt Busch, while he didn’t quite enjoy the same success as his victorious SHR teammate, still had a pretty good evening despite crashing out of the race.

MORE: Busch collides with Chase Elliott

And finally, a few other drivers chimed in on their respective races and one thing is clear — they all can’t wait to get to Phoenix for Sunday’s TicketGuardian 500 (3:30 p.m. ET, FOX).

Think we all agree on that one!

MORE: Las Vegas takeaways | Full schedule for Phoenix

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Educators Enjoy a Day at Monster Mile

On June 4, Delaware State University’s National Association of Black Journalists and NASCAR Multicultural Development teamed up once again to bridge the gap between young media students and the growing sports industry. This is my second opportunity to spend time at Dover International Speedway networking with industry insiders.  This year, I had the opportunity to be a part of a group of educators from the Baltimore city and central Delaware areas who were invited to NASCAR not just to see the race, but to learn how to bring a NASCAR stem curriculum to the classroom.

Twanda Pickett, Assistant Principal at The Historic Samuel Coleridge Taylor Elementary of Baltimore, Maryland recounts “I am excited to integrate NASCARS program with what the students are currently learning in the district,” she said.

In addition to learning about the stem initiative, Acceleration Nation, the group also met members of the NASCAR corporate team including Christopher Davis, Managing Director and Chief Security Office for NASCAR. Davis, a former NFL Player who also spent 23 years in the FBI, has been with NASCAR for six month.

“I’m excited about the opportunity to help elevate NASCAR security standards and to work collaboratively with all of our security partners,” Davis said.

The group also met with Dover International Speedway’s Gary Camp and learned about youth summer initiatives and the new kids ticket packages.

Once again, Lauren Houston of NASCAR Multicultural Development introduced a group of people who would have probably never thought of NASCAR as an educational resource.  This may be the start of some amazing opportunities for students to receive through NASCAR.

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Sanchez and Robusto Join D4D Program For 2017

CONCORD, N.C. —  Each year 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 also manages a youth racing initiative for kids 8-14 who want to compete in the INEX Legend cars.

Through a several week evaluation process, youth drivers were chosen by 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 a different series.”

This year, Rev Racing will offer a Legend car ride to two new-comers, Isabella Robusto and Nicholas Sanchez.

Isabella, from Fort Mill, South Carolina, began racing the go-karts in club races at Carolina Motorsports Park. Isabella had immediate success, with several podium finishes. As she gained experience she began racing go-karts at other local tracks and eventually in numerous national series’ like USPKS, WKA, Florida Winter Tour and the F-Series. At the age of 8, and while still racing go-karts, Isabella climbed into a Bandolero and began racing at Concord Motor Speedway and competed in her first of many Summer Shootout’s at Charlotte Motor Speedway as a Beginner Bandit. Within a year Isabella moved up to the Bandit division and raced the Winter Nationals in Orlando, Florida. With other INEX sanctioned races in Charlotte, Atlanta and Virginia, Isabella’s points scored her the 2016 South Carolina Young Lions championship.  While Isabella maintains a full karting competition schedule, she is very excited to get back on track in her Legend Car for Summer Shootout 2017.

Nicholas, from Miami, Florida, had a love of car racing from the age of 5 when he went to his first NASCAR truck race at Homestead Miami Speedway.  By the age of 12, he began kart racing in his hometown of Miami.  Over the last 3.5 years, he has raced on multiple national circuits including, Rok Cup USA and The Florida Winter Tour.  Nicholas has raced throughout the State of Florida at various racetracks competing in over 45 races.  He has fourteen top-10 and eleven top-five finishes in karting classes ranging from Junior, Senior and Shifter.  Nicholas one day wants to see his name among notable alumni Kyle Larson, Daniel Suarez, and Darrell Wallace Jr.

Both drivers will compete in the 2017 Summer Shootout, which will begin June 12 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

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Aspiring Pit Crew Members to Compete for Spots with Rev Racing Development Program

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – A select group of former college football, basketball, softball, and track and field athletes from across the country will put their pit crew skills to the test in the second annual NASCAR Drive for Diversity National Pit Crew Combine presented by Goodyear on Friday, May 26.

The 17 athletes earned invitations to compete as part of a nationwide talent search. They will be evaluated based on a series of fitness, agility and pit crew drills and competitions at the NASCAR Research & Development Center in Concord, North Carolina.

Top-performing participants will be invited to join NASCAR Drive for Diversity’s crew member development program, operated by Rev Racing, and will receive expert training as tire changers, carriers and jackmen as they pursue full-time employment with NASCAR national series race teams.

“As we saw with last year’s inaugural national combine, the caliber of athletes now competing for opportunities to train with NASCAR Drive for Diversity is stronger than ever,” said Jim Cassidy, NASCAR senior vice president of racing operations. “As the program grows, it’s attracting top-quality talent and competitors who we believe have the potential to excel at the highest levels of NASCAR.”

Current program participants like Lamar Neal, who attended the 2016 national pit crew combine, are already making their mark in the sport. A former linebacker at Norfolk State University, Neal has joined Richard Childress Racing and is now pitting for the team in the NASCAR XFINITY Series™.

In total, there are 35 NASCAR Drive for Diversity pit crew graduates now working in NASCAR, including 25 alums pitting across the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series™. In May, three graduates – Raphael Diaz, Kevin Richardson and Mike Russell – helped Roush Fenway Racing driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr. to his first career Monster Energy Series win at Talladega Superspeedway.

Earlier this year as part of the program’s scouting process, NASCAR and Rev Racing hosted tryouts at six universities: Alcorn State University, Arizona State University, Bethune-Cookman University, Norfolk State, San Diego State University and Virginia State University.

Thirteen men and four women from these schools and others will take part in Friday’s four-hour skills competition led by Phil Horton, Rev Racing director of athletic performance.

“We couldn’t be more proud as an organization to not only see our vision for the program come to life, but to also attract top talent from some of the nation’s best universities,” said Max Siegel, Rev Racing owner and CEO. “Coach Phil Horton is the best in the business. The performance and success of our graduates each week is a true testament to both the mission of our organization and Phil’s lifelong contribution to diversifying and pushing this sport to its limits.”

Ezell Ruffin was a standout wide receiver and his team’s offensive most valuable player at San Diego State before attending training camp with the Indianapolis Colts in 2015. This week, Ruffin will join former Aztec teammate Kevin Walcott as the football players attempt to “go pro” in NASCAR.

Kendra Cooper was a Historically Black Colleges & Universities first-team all-American basketball player at Bethune-Cookman in 2017, and finished her career as the school’s all-time leader in three-point shooting. Cooper will look to follow in the footsteps of Brehanna Daniels, a former Norfolk State point guard and current NASCAR Drive for Diversity tire changer who recently pitted her first race in the ARCA Series.

Tramel Topps worked out for scouts from 28 NFL teams at Arizona State’s Pro Day in March, but will now trade his football cleats for a set of Goodyear tires as he seeks to become a tire carrier with NASCAR Drive for Diversity.

NASCAR Drive for Diversity National Pit Crew Combine presented by Goodyear participants include:

First Last Hometown University Primary Sport
Charles Beatty Phoenix, Ariz. Arizona State University Football
Marcell Blair Charlotte, N.C. N/A Football
Bryce Bradley Richmond, Va. Virginia State University Football
Devin Byrd TBD TBD TBD
Trevon Byron Newport News, Va. Virginia State University Football
Sandy Chapman Raleigh, N.C. Norfolk State University Football
Kendra Cooper Spring, Texas Bethune-Cookman University Basketball
Torian Henderson Silver Springs, Md. Norfolk State University Football
Gerard Johnson Richmond, Va. Norfolk State University Football
Jalen Jones Indianapolis, Ind. Vincennes University Football/Track & Field
Sherry Lewis Dinwiddie, Va. Virginia State University Bowling/Lacrosse
Ryan Nantuna Elk Grove, Calif. Arizona State University Wrestling
Sophia Ortega Highland, Calif. Bethune-Cookman University Softball
Ezell Ruffin Los Angeles, Calif. San Diego State University Football
Tramel Topps Milwaukee, Wis. Arizona State University Football
Kevin Walcott Los Angeles, Calif. San Diego State University Softball
Alisha Williams Mississauga, Ont. Virginia State University Track & Field

Following Friday’s event, pit crew combine participants will attend the Hisense 4K TV 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Saturday, May 27 (1 p.m. ET, FS1).

NASCAR Drive for Diversity also offers a driver development program, operated by Rev Racing, and each year fields six drivers in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and NASCAR Whelen All-American Series. Successful graduates now competing in a national series include Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers Kyle Larson and Daniel Suárez and NASCAR XFINITY Series driver Darrell Wallace Jr.

For the first time, Goodyear becomes presenting sponsor of the NASCAR Drive for Diversity National Pit Crew Combine. The “Official Tire of NASCAR®” has been a longtime supporter of Rev Racing and NASCAR Drive for Diversity, and supplies the team with race tires for competition.

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series’ Coca-Cola 600 will be broadcast live from Charlotte Motor Speedway on Sunday, May 28 at 6 p.m. ET on FOX, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90, with additional coverage on NASCAR.com.

About NASCAR: The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc. (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States. NASCAR consists of three national series (Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR XFINITY Series™, and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series™), four regional series, one local grassroots series and three international series. The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series. Based in Daytona Beach, Fla., with offices in eight cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races in more than 30 U.S. states, Canada, Mexico and Europe. For more information visit http://www.NASCAR.com and http://www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat (‘NASCAR’).

ABOUT REV RACING: Headquartered in Concord, NC, Rev Racing, owned by Max Siegel, operates the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Program, which is the industry’s leading developmental program for ethnic minorities and women drivers and pit crew members. For more information about Rev Racing visit http://revracing.net or follow us on Twitter @RevRacin.

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First Female Late Model Winner In Track History

 

CONCORD, N.C. – Macy Causey, 16-year-old resident of York County, Virginia, won at South Boston Speedway in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Late Model Stock Car Division (LMSC) Saturday night. Causey, the youngest member in the history of the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Program, earned her first career LMSC victory, and became the first female to win a LMSC race at South Boston Speedway.

Causey survived an early race mishap when then-leader Lee Pulliam’s motor expired, bringing out the red flag for a lengthy clean-up during the first LMSC race of the Bojangles Twin 75s. Causey eventually went on to hold off Brandon Pierce in a two-lap dash to the finish.

This highly-competitive race had seven lead changes among five drivers. It took an hour and 23 minutes to complete the 75-lap race, with six cautions and two red flags. Causey’s teammate, Madeline Crane, unfortunately was part of a late race caution while running 4th and was unable to finish the first twin or compete in the second.

During this first race, Causey managed to hold off three NASCAR Whelen All-American Series National Champions, including Peyton Sellers (one-time national champion), Phillip Morris (four-time national champion), and Lee Pulliam (three-time national champion). Sellers, Morris, and Pulliam also combine for five South Boston Speedway track championships.

“It feels amazing,” said Macy Causey. “I’m super excited. I started crying during my interview in Victory Lane. I didn’t know what to do.”

Causey is the granddaughter of Diane Teel, the first woman to win a NASCAR-sanctioned race and the first woman from Virginia recognized in the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

“To see where NASCAR was when I was racing to now and watching my grandbaby win her first ever late model race is hard to put in words,” said Diane Teel. “Macy has done something so great that I think it will take awhile for her to understand how big of a deal this was. To win at a place like South Boston with all of its history is so overwhelming for all of us to take in right now. And, she did it the right way without wrecking people to win. That’s what was the best part for me.”

Causey and her Rev Racing team finished the second Twin in 5th position after being inverted to an 8th place start, due to winning the first Twin. Causey and Crane will be back in action at Hickory Motor Speedway next Saturday, May 27.

Macy Causey takes the checkered flag to win the 75-lap Late Model Stock Car feature at South Boston (Va.) Speedway Saturday night. F&S Enterprises

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Twenty-Six Students will Contribute to Motorsports Industry Throughout 10-week Internship

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The 2017 NASCAR Diversity Internship Program (NDIP) welcomed 26 of the brightest students from across the country seeking to learn about the motorsports industry during the Monster Energy All-Star Race weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina.

This year, 14 former NDIP interns currently working in the industry full-time will help mentor the students throughout the 10-week, paid internship. Mentors include Brandon Thompson, senior director of NASCAR touring series; Lauren Houston, manager of NASCAR Multicultural Development; Pedro Mojica, Richard Petty Motorsports engineer; and Jusan Hamilton, manager of NASCAR racing operations and event management. Hamilton made history earlier this year by becoming the first African-American to serve as a race director for a NASCAR national series event.

“For nearly 20 years, the NASCAR Diversity internship program has provided talented students with hands-on experience in the motorsports industry,” said Jim Cassidy, NASCAR senior vice president of racing operations. “The program has also helped NASCAR identify future leaders in the industry and continues to serve as an important part of our efforts to promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace.”

In its 18th year, NDIP has introduced hundreds of students from diverse backgrounds to professional opportunities in NASCAR. The program has also served as a pipeline for identifying and hiring top talent across the motorsports industry. In addition to NASCAR, 2017 interns will be working at NASCAR partner companies including Rev Racing, Roush Fenway Racing, Pocono Raceway, Toyota, and the International Speedway Corporation.

The 2017 NDIP class began its NASCAR experience with an orientation session at the NASCAR Research and Development Center in Concord. The group visited the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte and the NASCAR Production Studio, as well as the race shop for Rev Racing, which fields cars for the NASCAR Drive for Diversity program.

The class also put its own racing skills to the test at Victory Lane Karting. In addition, the interns met with key stakeholders in the NASCAR industry including Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series crew members, drivers, and NASCAR executives.

For many, attending the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race, Monster Energy Showdown and Monster Energy All-Star race from Charlotte Motor Speedway this weekend will be their first live NASCAR experience.

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

The NASCAR Diversity Internship program offers diverse students an opportunity to work in one of the largest professional sports industries in the United States. Each year, the internships are available to college sophomores, juniors, seniors and graduate students across the country. To be eligible, students must be in good standing with their school and community and have a minimum 3.0 GPA.

The 2017 NDIP class includes the following students from colleges and universities across the nation:

Name Department/Organization University
Alex Alvarado NASCAR Public Affairs University of Central Florida
Alton Peques NASCAR Marketing, Media Research University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Ashleigh Young NASCAR Creative Design University of Southern Mississippi
Bria Dixon NASCAR Weekly and Touring Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Cabrell Cooper NASCAR Productions Engineering Delaware State University
Cambric Moye Toyota, Logistics University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Carter Allen NASCAR Brand Platforms Marketing Arizona State University
Catherine Rivera-Chardon Pocono Raceway Penn State University
Dejah Gilliam NASCAR Integrated Marketing Communications Syracuse University
Federico Morales NASCAR Finance Georgia State University
Glen Charlton NASCAR Digital University of Maryland
Greg Carty Roush Fenway Racing Old Dominion University
Jorge Jones NASCAR Integrated Marketing Communications University of the Incarnate Word
Kenneth Lee The NASCAR Foundation Tuskegee University
Kevin Lee Toyota, Information Systems University of Texas Dallas
Kim Brian Fadul NASCAR Digital Media North Carolina State University
Lillian Hermina NASCAR Industry Services University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Monica Matias ISC Public Affairs University of Central Florida
Natalia Mendoza NASCAR Green Innovation Wake Forest University
Precious Makuyana ISC Legal Florida A&M University
Ronald Alexander ISC Partnership Marketing Winston-Salem State University
Sandra Prieto NASCAR Member Services University of Miami
Sarah Torres ISC Finance Penn State University
Shawn Meachem Rev Racing Johnson C. Smith University
Tylar Williams NASCAR Human Resources Texas A&M College Station
Zane Smith Toyota Engineering Southern Methodist University

About NASCAR

The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc. (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States. NASCAR consists of three national series (Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR XFINITY Series™, and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series™), three regional series, one local grassroots series and three international series. The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series. Based in Daytona Beach, Fla., with offices in eight cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races in more than 30 U.S. states, Canada, Mexico and Europe. For more information visit http://www.NASCAR.com and http://www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat (‘NASCAR’).