Drive for Diversity
Encyclopedia
The Drive for Diversity program is a development system instituted by NASCAR
in 2004 in order to attract minorities
and women to the sport in positions such as ownership, driving and crew members. Before an applicant is accepted into the program, their resumes are checked by NASCAR officials. The system is similar to the driver development program where applicants slowly progresses through minor-league racing organizations. This program came about during the 2004 season by NASCAR marketing executives in order to attract minority fans and drivers to the sport.
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
in 2004 in order to attract minorities
Minority group
A minority is a sociological group within a demographic. The demographic could be based on many factors from ethnicity, gender, wealth, power, etc. The term extends to numerous situations, and civilizations within history, despite the misnomer of minorities associated with a numerical statistic...
and women to the sport in positions such as ownership, driving and crew members. Before an applicant is accepted into the program, their resumes are checked by NASCAR officials. The system is similar to the driver development program where applicants slowly progresses through minor-league racing organizations. This program came about during the 2004 season by NASCAR marketing executives in order to attract minority fans and drivers to the sport.
2011 roster
- Jorge Arteaga - Whelen All-American
- Mackena Bell - Whelen All-American
- Jessica Brunelli - Whelen All-American
- Michael Cherry - K&N Pro Series East, 14th in points
- Trey Gibson - Whelen All-American
- Ryan Gifford - K&N Pro Series East, tenth in points
- Tayla Orleans - Whelen All-American
- Bryan Ortiz - Whelen All-American
- Sergio PenaSergio PenaSergio Pena in Winchester, Virginia is an American NASCAR driver who is one of eleven drivers who is part of the Drive for Diversity program. He impressed people with his second place effort only to be behind Joey Logano at the Toyota All-Star Showdown at Toyota Speedway after starting on the pole...
- K&N Pro Series East - Won races at South Boston, Hampton, and Greenville, fifth in series points - Darrell Wallace, Jr. - K&N Pro Series East - Won at Richmond International RacewayRichmond International RacewayRichmond International Raceway is a 3/4-mile , D-shaped, asphalt race track located just outside Richmond, Virginia in Henrico County. It hosts the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and Nationwide Series...
, Columbus, and Dover International SpeedwayDover International SpeedwayDover International Speedway is a NASCAR-sanctioned race track located in Dover, Delaware, owned by, and serving as the corporate headquarters of, Dover Motorsports, Inc. It is co-located with a harness racing track, Dover Downs, and shares the complex with Dover Downs Hotel & Casino...
; pole positions at South Boston, Loudon, and Dover, second in series points
2010
- Mackena Bell - K&N Pro Series East
- Jessica Brunelli - Whelen All-American Series
- Michael Cherry - Whelen All-American Series
- Ryan Gifford - K&N Pro Series East - First African-American to win a pole position in series (June 6 at Martinsville SpeedwayMartinsville SpeedwayMartinsville Speedway is an International Speedway Corporation-owned NASCAR stock car racing track located in Henry County, near Ridgeway, Virginia, just to the south of Martinsville. At in length, it is the shortest track in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The track was also one of the first paved...
) - Katie Hagar - Whelen All-American Series
- Paul HarrakaPaul HarrakaPaulie Harraka is a NASCAR driver from Wayne, New Jersey. He has raced in the Nationwide Series.-Career:Harraka began racing in karts as a youth. He won the New Jersey State Championship as a 7 year old in 1997. He won total of 158 kart races. In 2005 he moved from kart to legends car racing....
- K&N Pro Series West - Rebecca Kasten - Whelen All-American Series
- Sergio PenaSergio PenaSergio Pena in Winchester, Virginia is an American NASCAR driver who is one of eleven drivers who is part of the Drive for Diversity program. He impressed people with his second place effort only to be behind Joey Logano at the Toyota All-Star Showdown at Toyota Speedway after starting on the pole...
- K&N Pro Series East - Megan Reitenour - Whelen All-American Series
- Jason Romero - Whelen All-American Series
- Darrell Wallace, Jr. - K&N Pro Series East - In March 2010, he won the race at Greenville-Pickens SpeedwayGreenville-Pickens SpeedwayGreenville-Pickens Speedway is a race track located in Pickens County, South Carolina, just west of Greenville, South Carolina, USA, and just east of Easley, South Carolina. The track hosts weekly NASCAR sanctioned races. Several touring series visit the track each year, including the Whelen...
and became the first African-American and the youngest driver to win in the series. http://hometracks.nascar.com/node/4508 He also won the Lee USA Speedway event in July. Overall, Wallace finished third in points and earned series Rookie of the Year honors http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2010/10/mobile_native_is_rookie_of_the.html. Per NASCAR rules, Wallace will not be eligible to compete in a national touring series event until October 18, 2011.
2009
- Mackena Bell
- Kristin Bumbera
- Michael Cherry
- Jonathan GomezJonathan GómezJonathan Gómez is a Paraguayan football midfielder.-Career:Gómez began his top-flight club career at Cerro Porteño. He later moved to Italy, where he played for Venezia. He then returned to Paraguay and was part of Sportivo Trinidense.-References:*...
- Katie Hagar
- Paul HarrakaPaul HarrakaPaulie Harraka is a NASCAR driver from Wayne, New Jersey. He has raced in the Nationwide Series.-Career:Harraka began racing in karts as a youth. He won the New Jersey State Championship as a 7 year old in 1997. He won total of 158 kart races. In 2005 he moved from kart to legends car racing....
- The first member to win a race in a NASCAR regional touring series event (Camping World West Series event at Colorado National SpeedwayColorado National SpeedwayColorado National Speedway is a paved oval in Dacono, Colorado spanning . The track is currently a member of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series and hosts the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West annually....
in August 2009) http://localracing.nascar.com/node/3475. He won the September event at All-American SpeedwayAll-American SpeedwayThe All-American Speedway is a 1/3-mile NASCAR-sanctioned racetrack located in Roseville, California, USA.-External links:*...
en route to series Rookie of the Year honors and fourth in the standings. - Laura Hayes
- Juan Pitts
- Megan Reitenour
- Natalie Sather
- Jonathan Smith
- Emily Sue Steck
2008
- Kristin Bumbera
- Michael Cherry
- Michael Gallegos
- Paul Harraka
- Jesus Hernandez
- Lindsey King
- Lloyd Mack
- Jonathan Smith
2007
- Michael Gallegos
- Paul Harraka
- Jessica Helberg
- Jesus Hernandez
- Peter Hernandez
- Lloyd Mack
- Jonathan Smith
2006
- Chris Bristol
- Brianne Cronrath
- Marc DavisMarc Davis (racer)Marc Davis , is a former NASCAR developmental driver for Joe Gibbs Racing . Davis graduated from Mooresville Christian Academy in May 2008.-Racing career:...
- Allison Duncan
- Paul Harraka
- Jessica Helberg
- Jesus Hernandez
- Peter Hernandez
2005
- Brianne Cronrath
- Allison Duncan
- Sarah FisherSarah FisherSarah Marie Fisher is a retired American professional racecar driver who competed in the IZOD IndyCar Series and Indianapolis 500...
- Michael Gallegos
- Joe Henderson III
- Jesus Hernandez
- Tommy Lane
- Terri Williams
2004
- Morty Buckles
- Bruce Driver
- Allison Duncan
- Joe Henderson III
- Reggie Primus
Invited drivers by year
2004- at Hickory Motorspeedway--First Class 18 total- Morty Buckles
- Bruce Driver
- Allison Duncan
- Joe Henderson III
- Reggie Primus
- Darin Martinez-Stahl
- Ricky Gonzalez
- Tommy Lane
- Sondie Eden
- Woody Pitkat
- Reggie Primus
Teams currently involved in the Drive for Diversity
- Bill McAnally Racing
- FDJ Motorsports
- Golden State Racing
- High Point Racing
- Roadrunner Motorsports
- RTD Motorsports
- TW Motorsports
Former minority-owned teams
- Angela's Motorsports
- BelCar Racing
- Watermelon Motorsports
- Border Jumper Racing
- Black Cat Racing
- Hispanic Racing TeamHispanic Racing TeamHispanic Racing Team was a NASCAR Busch Series team owned by Mike Vasquez, Rudy Rodriguez and former Winston Cup owner Larry Hedrick. The cars were driven by 1992 Indy 500 polesitter Roberto Guerrero, Carlos Contreras, Christian Fittipaldi, and former Busch Series champion David Green....
- Mansion Motorsports
- SCORE Motorsports
- Team Paradigm
- Washington-Erving Motorsports