Development Drivers / Drive for Diversity
News & Links
Development drivers linked with Sprint Cup, Nationwide or Truck Teams
& Drive for Diversity Updates
(See news below the driver lists)
(Note: Affiliations listed are what jayski.com has been made aware of)
Sprint Cup Development Driver Affiliations
- Joe Gibbs Racing [#11,#18,#20]
Brad Coleman, Nationwide
Matt DiBenedetto, K&N Pro Series
Darrell Wallace Jr.,UARA
- Michael Waltrip Racing [#00,#44,#55, #99]
Trevor Bayne, Nationwide
Brett Butler, USARacing
Ken Butler III, Nationwide Series
Ryan Truex, K&N Pro Series
- Penske Racing [#2,#12,#77]
Justin Allgaier, Nationwide Series
Dakoda Armstrong, ARCA Series [in conjunction with Cunningham Motorsports]
Parker Kligerman, Natiowide & Truck Series [in conjunction with Team 42 Racing]
- Red Bull Racing [#82, #83, #84]
Cole Whitt, K&N Pro Series East
- Richard Childress Racing [#3, #07,#29,#31,#33]
Austin Dillon, NNS, Camping World Truck Series
Ty Dillon, Dirt Modifieds
Tim George Jr., ARCA
Ryan Gifford, Late Model Series
Blake Koch, K&N Pro Series
Sean Caisse, K&N Pro Series
- Roush Fenway Racing [#6,#16,#17,#26,#99]
Colin Braun, Nationwide Series
Chris Buescher, ARCA Series
Erik Darnell, Nationwide Series
Ricky Stenhouse, Nationwide, ARCA Series
Nationwide Series Development Driver Affiliations
- JR Motorsports [#5, #7, #88]
Kelly Bires, Nationwide Series
Richard Boswell, Late Models
Owen Kelly, Late Models
Danica Patrick, Nationwide Series
- Spraker Racing Enterprises [#37]
Alex Kennedy, K&N Pro Series
Truck Series Development Driver Affiliations
- Brevak Racing [#31]
Brent Brevak, ASA Late Model North Series, ARCA
- Germain Racing [#30,#13,#15,#24]
Zach Germain, K&N Pro Series East
- Kyle Busck Motorsports [#51, #56]
Josh Hamner, Late Model
TJ Reaid, Late Model
- SS-Greenlight Racing [#07,#08]
Joey Gase, ASA Challenge Series, K&N Pro Series, PASS
Other Development Driver Affiliations
- BDI Racing [#4,#6#51]
Blaise Dillner
Meghan Dillner, Pro Challenge North
Kyle Plott, Legends
Michael Pope, Super Late Models
Josh Williams, Fastruck, Legends
- Bill Elliott Racing [#9,#51]
Chase Elliott, ASA Late Models, Legends
Casey Roderick, ARCA, Super and Pro Late Model
[TBA]
- BlackJack Racing [#51]
Dexter Bean, ARCA, NCWTS, Sprint Cup
- Cunningham Motorsports/Penske [#22, #77]
Dakoda Armstrong, ARCA [Penske Development]
Tom Hessert, ARCA
- David Stremme Racing [#35]
Ryan Glenski, Pro-All Stars Series
- Eddie Sharp Racing [#2,#20,#22,#81]
Craig Goess, NASCAR Camping World, ARCA
[TBA]
- Venturini Motosports [#15, #25, #35]
Mikey Kile, ARCA
Alli Owens, ARCA, NCWTS
- Hammer teams up with KBM for Gulf Coast Championship series: Josh Hamner may have grown up in Chelsea, Alabama, but his home away from home has always been Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida. The 2008 Blizzard Series Champion will chase that championship again at Five Flags, along with the Gulf Coast Series Championship - this time for Kyle Busch Motorsports. Hamner will run 10 races, half at Five Flags Speedway and the other half that make up the Miller Lite Championship Series at Mobile International Speedway, for the KBM team. Hamner has won races at both tracks and will now run for arguably the best Super Late Model team in short track racing. KBM has won the Winchester 400, the Snowball Derby and SpeedFest at Lanier in the last six months. The operation is headed up by Bond Suss and newly appointed crew chief Chris Gabehart, who is a former All American 400 winner. They field cars for Sprint Cup Series star Kyle Busch who spends his time away from NASCAR racing on the short tracks all across the county.(Josh Hamner PR)(3-11-2010)
- TJ Reaid to make first start for KBM: Late Model driver TJ Reaid of Acworth, Georgia will make his debut in a Kyle Busch Motorsports prepared Toyota this weekend in the Gresham 125. Fans can check out TJ in the #51 Kyle Busch Foundation Toyota this weekend at Gresham Motorsports Park in Jefferson, Georgia in the CRA Super Late Model Series 125 on Saturday evening, March 13th. (Kyle Busch Motorsports PR)(3-11-2010)
- K&N Filters award development scholarship to Josh Brock: K&N Filters announces the winner of their coveted $45,000 scholarship program to Josh Brock, 17, of Corbin, Kentucky. Brock won the top spot in the Ron Sutton's Winner's Circle Shoot Out, earning him a funded 10 race season in the 2010 NASCAR Grand American Modified Series, plus a one year driver development program. Long known for the company's ongoing support of grassroots racing across America, K&N Filter's heritage of motorsports involvement ranges from junior racers to the top tiers of NASCAR. Josh Brock will race with the Ron Sutton's Winner's Circle (RSWC) race team in the series on the West Coast. . Brock was also awarded a one year scholarship in Ron Sutton's Winner's Circle NASCAR focused driver development program. He will have a training program designed specifically for his age, experience and development stage. "The $45,000 race sponsorship and driver development scholarship we awarded to rising star Josh Brock is just the next step in K&N Filters long history of supporting young racers," stated Tony Yorkman, Sports Marketing Manager at K&N Engineering. "We couldn't be more excited about supporting Josh in his rise to stardom in NASCAR. We expect great things from him in the 2010 season and beyond."(Winners Circle Racing PR)(3-11-2010)
- Germain Racing adds K&N Pro Series East to schedule with Zach Germain:When Germain Racing was formed in 2004, Zach Germain saw his father, Steve Germain, and uncles Bob and Rick embark on an exciting adventure. He traveled to different NASCAR race tracks and enjoyed cheering for the family's successful race team. All the while, Zach Germain remained focused on his studies at Miami University and on preparing to be a part of the other family business…the top-25 automotive retail network Germain Motor Company. Zach Germain completed his Bachelor's studies at Miami University and decided to slide behind the wheel of a race car just to see if it was as fun as it looked. Germain comes into the driver's seat at Germain Racing with a studious attitude and complete commitment to the team effort behind the #24 Germain.com Camry. Germain will work with crew chief Mike Abner under close supervision from general manager Mike Hillman Sr. Germain Racing will field the #24 Germain.com Camry for the entire K&N Pro Series East season, possibly adding K&N Pro Series West and late model races to the schedule. Sponsorship and branding opportunities are available with the #24 Germain.com Camry.(Germain Racing PR)(3-4-2010)
- Revolution Racing embraces technology, hands-on training: Revolution Racing continues to evolve its driver development curriculum by combining technology with hands-on training in its academy-style development program. Strategic partnerships with iRacing and VisionRacer, along with contributions from Logitech, allow Revolution drivers to get behind the virtual wheel to prepare for the 2010 season. In addition to weekly, traditional on-track test sessions, Revolution Racing, which operates four NASCAR K&N Pro Series East teams and six NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Late Model teams, is embracing simulator technology as a way for its young, up-and-coming drivers to gain additional seat time. Revolution Racing is installing multiple simulators at its Mooresville, N.C. headquarters, allowing all 10 of the team's drivers to test at the same time, as well as compete against one another in head-to-head races.(Revolution Racing PR)(3-3-2010)
- Monolith partners with Bill Elliott Racing's Development program: Russ Sutton's company Monolith Hospitality is pleased to announce the sponsorship of Casey Roderick in five ARCA series events this season. Roderick, a member of the Bill Elliott Driver Development Program, will pilot the No. 51 Monolith Hospitality Dodge. The car will be fielded by a joint venture with Bill Elliott Racing and Phoenix Racing. Along with the five Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) events, Roderick will race in seven events at Gresham Motorsports Park in Jefferson, Ga. Roderick will compete in both the Super and Pro Late Model divisions including Gresham Motorsports Park's signature event, the World Crown 300.(Bill Elliott Racing PR)(2-23-2010)
- NASCAR celebrates Diversity accomplishments at third annual NASCAR Diversity Luncheon: The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) today celebrated the outstanding accomplishments of pioneering individuals and organizations in the area of diversity at the third annual NASCAR Diversity Luncheon. 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.
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."(NASCAR PR)(2-10-2010)
Individual Recognition: Lyn St. JamesLyn 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."
- Drive For Diversity introduces 2010 Driver Lineup: Having just completed perhaps the program's most exciting preseason to date, the 11-member 2010 Drive for Diversity Class was introduced Tuesday night at the Daytona 500 Experience's IMAX Theater. This latest group of young, talented and diverse NASCAR drivers was announced for the first time during Speedweeks. The evolution of the Drive for Diversity program, NASCAR's leading on-track diversity initiative continues its seventh year in 2010 as competitors relocate to Charlotte and enter "academy-style" development under a single team ownership structure. The 909 Group, which took over operational responsibilities for Drive for Diversity in 2009, will own and operate one team fielding 11 Drive for Diversity competitors. Under the Revolution Racing banner, these minority and female drivers will compete on five NASCAR K&N Pro Series teams and six NASCAR Whelen All-American Series teams.
"Drive for Diversity, under the day-to-day management of The 909 Group, will continue to provide strong opportunities for minority and female competitors," said Marcus Jadotte, managing director of public affairs for NASCAR. "This preseason provided key validation of the program's new structure for developing young drivers and crew members. Academy-style training is proving a welcome evolution of an initiative that has seen 31 drivers compete, winning 33 races. D4D drivers are located in the nerve center of NASCAR with greater access to industry resources, technology, training, testing, and shop experience."
The 909 Group, a sports and entertainment agency, will continue to provide marketing support to NASCAR's diversity initiatives. Max Siegel will maintain his role as chief executive officer of both Revolution Racing and The 909 Group.
"We spent most of 2009 thinking about ways to expand opportunities available to the drivers and crew members involved in Drive for Diversity," Siegel said. "To better assess and develop talent, we are putting drivers under one roof and in identically-prepared cars at Revolution Racing. Our extended evaluation process and training is allowing us to better identify talent and produce results for Drive for Diversity with the goal of getting drivers to NASCAR's premier series."
Andy Santerre, a four-time NASCAR K&N Pro Series champion as a driver and team owner, has joined Revolution Racing to oversee that developmental series' operations. Blair Addis, who has been involved with Drive for Diversity this past season as a team owner, oversees Revolution Racing's NASCAR Whelen All-American Series program. Current and former NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NASCAR Nationwide Series drivers will serve as coaches and mentors to the drivers, who will be given additional seat time and be allowed to compete in more than one series as they develop.
Revolution's drivers for the 2010 season were determined following the Drive for Diversity Combine presented by Sunoco last October at Motor Mile Speedway in Radford, Va. The 11 drivers in the 2010 class will also be featured in a television series, "Changing Lanes," developed in collaboration with the NASCAR Media Group and set to air this summer on BET. The eight-part series will showcase the development of young Drive for Diversity competitors trying to make it in the world of NASCAR racing.
The following 11 drivers were selected to compete in the program in 2010:
Mackena Bell of Carson City, Nev., returns to the Drive for Diversity program, and will race in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East. In 2009, Bell was the highest-finishing female in track history in Super Late Models at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale (Calif.), with a third-place finish
Jessica Brunelli of Hayward, Calif., will race in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series. She became the youngest competitor in the Modified division at All American Speedway in Roseville, Calif. to win a trophy dash.
Michael Cherry of Valrico, Fla., returns to the Drive for Diversity program and will race in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series. Last year he competed in the Late Model division at Greenville (S.C.) Pickens Speedway. In 2008, Cherry was rookie of the year at Motor Mile Speedway in the Late Model division.
Ryan Gifford of Winchester, Tenn., will race in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East. In 2009, Gifford, a Richard Childress Racing development driver, caught the eye of RCR Vice President of Competition Mike Dillon, with his success in dirt Late Models. He had three top-five finishes in four starts in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East last season, including a runner-up finish in the season finale at Dover International Speedway.
Katie Hagar of Damariscotta, Maine, returns to the Drive for Diversity program and will race in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series. Hagar set a track qualifying record at Stockton (Calif.) 99 Speedway in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series in 2009.
Paul Harraka of Wayne, N.J., returns to the Drive for Diversity program and will again race in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West. Harraka won two races and the Sunoco Rookie of the Year Award in 2009.
Rebecca Kasten of Mequon, Wis., will race in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series. Last year, Kasten competed in touring Late Model divisions at a number of tracks across the U.S. In 2008, she won two Late Model feature events.
Sergio Pena of Winchester, Va., will race in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East. In January, he made his series debut at the Toyota All-Star Showdown at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale, winning the pole and finishing second.
Megan Reitenour of Miamisburg, Ohio, returns to the Drive for Diversity program in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series. Last year she competed in the Late Model division at Tri-County Motor Speedway, winning the rookie of the year award. Reitenour is a three-time Ohio state champion in the Bandolero and Legends series.
Jason Romero of Cameron Park, Calif., will race in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series. Romero won the Late Model championship last year at All American Speedway in Roseville, Calif., also finishing 11th in the national standings.
Darrell Wallace Jr. of Mobile, Ala., will race in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East. A development driver for Joe Gibbs Racing, he got his start racing Legends cars. In 2008 he picked up his first Late Model win at Franklin County Speedway, becoming the youngest driver to win a Late Model race there.
(NASCAR PR)(2-9-2010)
- Red Bull Racing adds Whitt as development driver: Red Bull Racing Team will guide Cole Whitt out of his open-wheel comfort zone and into the world of stock cars, as the 18-year-old development driver will contend for the 2010 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East championship in the No. 84 Red Bull Toyota. A Red Bull athlete since 2004 and open-wheel phenom since he was 8, Whitt will make his stock car debut in the East Series' season opener March 27 at South Carolina's Greenville- Pickens Speedway. Whitt has already seen success in the upper ranks of the United States Auto Club. In 2008, Whitt, then 17, won the National Midget title to become USAC's youngest champion. A year later, he finished second in the National Sprint Car standings and sixth in midgets. On the local and national levels in 2009, he won a combined 17 races in 80-some starts on asphalt and dirt. Most recently, Whitt finished second in January's Chili Bowl Midget Nationals - the Daytona 500 of midget racing.(Red Bull Racing PR)(2-9-2010)
- Revolution Racing's Pena finishes second at Toyota All Star Showdown: Sergio Pena, driving for Revolution Racing and the Drive for Diversity program, made the most of his first start at Toyota Speedway in Irwindale, California this weekend. Saturday night the race began with Pena leading the first lap [after starting from the pole]. Pena raced with a competitiveness and confidence well beyond his years. However, his inexperience showed on restarts and the veteran [Joey] Logano used it to his advantage, winning the race while Pena finished second. In Victory Lane, the reporters gathered around [ race winner] Logano but all anyone wanted to talk about was Pena. After the race, Logano gave his impression of the rookie driver. "Initially on the restarts, it was easy to beat Pena and I didn't have to do nothing," Logano said. "But as I kept going I had to pull out all my tricks and try to find a little bit here and there to get him on the restarts." Pena's second place finish is even more amazing when you consider the fact that most of his previous racing experience has been in the karting and open wheel arenas. His background also includes racing late models where he won six races in his first year as well as receiving the Rookie of the Year award at Shenandoah Speedway in Virginia. His career in stock career racing was jump started when he participated in the Drive for Diversity Combine in October 2009. His performance earned him the opportunity to be invited back for further testing under the newly formed Revolution Racing banner later in the year.After this weekend, the young rookie has undoubtedly taken a huge leap forward in his stock car racing career and captured the attention of the NASCAR community.(BleacherReport.com)(2-2-2010)
- Penske's development driver, Kligerman aligns with Team 42 Racing in NNS: Penske Racing driver Parker Kligerman will continue his development in 2010, beginning the NASCAR Nationwide Series season behind the wheel of the #42 Dodge for Team 42 Racing. Kligerman, 19, will compete in at least the first five series races for the Eddie Smith-owned team, with the possibility of entering more events this season. In 2009, Kligerman joined Penske Racing's driver development program. Working with crew chief Chris Carrier in the ARCA RE/MAX Series, Kligerman posted a series-high nine victories last season while finishing a close second in the championship standings. He earned the chance to compete at the Nationwide Series level with the Penske team and won the pole at Kansas Speedway in his team and series debut before he produced a 16th-place finish in the race. Carrier, who brings more than 20 years of experience as a NASCAR crew chief, will continue to call the shots for Kligerman as crew chief for Team 42 Racing.(Penske Racing PR)(1-28-2010)
- SS Green Light Racing signs Gase for developmental program: The SS Green Light Racing team is pleased to announce that sixteen year-old Joey Gase has been signed by the Butch Miller led team for a multi-series developmental program for 2010. Under the guidance of three-time ASA National Champion Miller, Gase will run an A-B-C style multi-series schedule including the Pro All Star Series, the ASA Challenge Series and the team will enter Joey in two Camping World East Series races. The first race the team will run together will be January 30th in the PASS Winterfest Super Late Model event at the New Smyrna Raceway. Gase will also do some testing in SS Green Light Racing's NASCAR Camping World trucks this summer and may run a few late model races back home at Hawkeye Downs on off-weekends.(SS Green Light Racing PR)(1-25-2010)
- Caisse set for return to K&N Pro Series in 2010: Sean Caisse is returning to the division where twice championships have eluded him by one spot in the standings. Caisse, a native of Pelham, N.H., announced Wednesday that he will return to the K&N Pro Series [formerly Camping World East Series] full-time in 2010. Caisse, a developmental driver for Richard Childress Racing, will compete on the Camping World East Series for Old Lyme car owner Ted Marsh with support from RCR. Caisse finished second in the Camping World East Series standings to Mike Olsen in 2006 and then was runner-up to current Sprint Cup Series driver and Middletown native Joey Logano in 2007. In 39 career starts in the division Caisse has seven career victories, all of them coming during his two runner-up seasons.(Richard Childress Racing PR)(1-25-2010)
- K&N to be Title Sponsor for top Developmental series: The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) announced today that K&N Engineering, Inc., will be the title sponsor for NASCAR's top developmental series, formerly known as the NASCAR Camping World Series East and West, beginning in 2010. The NASCAR K&N Pro Series will continue to crown champions through separate schedules on the East and West Coast. The seven-year agreement illustrates NASCAR's commitment to the grassroots foundation of the sport. The NASCAR K&N Pro Series encompasses NASCAR's oldest stock car series in the West, which dates back to 1954, and the East that has evolved from the former Busch North Series. It runs on a challenging combination of speedways, short tracks and road courses, and the series has made its mark throughout the years with tough competition and exciting racing. The Riverside, Calif.-based K&N Engineering is the inventor and leading innovator of reusable cotton gauze filter technology for automotive applications. K&N, which has grown from a family-run business to a global company, traces its involvement with NASCAR back to the days of supplying parts for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at the old Riverside Speedway. K&N will make its on-track debut as the series entitlement sponsor at the 2010 NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown - NASCAR's prestigious postseason event which has earned the moniker of the "Daytona 500 of short-track racing." The event will be Jan. 29-30 at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale (Calif.) and will air live on SPEED and SIRIUS NASCAR Radio.(nascar.com)(1-21-2010)
- Drive for Diversity candidate files discrimination lawsuit: An aspiring candidate for NASCAR's Drive For Diversity has filed a discrimination lawsuit against NASCAR claiming that he was rejected from the program because he looked too Caucasian. Mike Rodriguez filed the discrimination lawsuit against NASCAR and Access Communications last week in U.S. District Court in Pennsylvania. Access Communications is the company that operated the diversity program from 2004 to 2008. Rodriguez does not specify a monetary amount of damages. Rodriguez, who is of Puerto Rican and European descent and who has fair skin and blue eyes, alleges a NASCAR or Access Communications employee stated that he was "the poster boy for the Ku Klux Klan" during the 2005 combine where drivers compete and during the 2006 selection process. He alleges that at the 2005 combine, he said he felt "unwelcome because of his racially identifiable characteristics," that he hit his head on a safety bar in the car and then was not allowed to drive despite being cleared by a doctor. The 15-year-old was never invited to the combine again. "[Rodriguez] was not chosen because defendants believe that [his] racially identifiable characteristics appear too Caucasian and do not fit defendants' stereotyped and preconceived notion of how [he] should look," the lawsuit states. NASCAR has not yet responded to the lawsuit. (SceneDaily.com)(1-21-2010)
- George to ARCA with RCR: Richard Childress Racing has signed Tim George Jr. as a developmental driver to compete full time in the 2010 ARCA RE/MAX Series. RCR will field the #31 Chevrolet Impala for George in the 20-race ARCA RE/MAX Series season, which competes at 17 different tracks. The season begins February 6 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla., and concludes October 9 at Rockingham (N.C.) Speedway. A crew chief for the team will be named at a later date. "The goal of RCR's driver development program is to enhance and strengthen the skills needed to compete at NASCAR's top levels," said Mike Dillon, vice president of competition for Richard Childress Racing who also oversees the driver development program. "A second season in the ARCA RE/MAX Series will allow Tim to further develop his driving skills in a stock car since he only has one year of experience. We'll put together a strong crew chief and team that will allow Tim the opportunity to develop his talents to the fullest."(Richard Childress Racing PR)(12-2-2009)
- Freightliner joins Revolution Racing for 2010 season: Freightliner Trucks, the leading heavy-duty truck manufacturer in North America, has teamed up with Revolution Racing as an official partner for the 2010 season. Revolution Racing, owned by Max Siegel and John Story, operates four NASCAR Camping World Series East teams and six NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Late Model teams in an academy-style development program for NASCAR's Drive for Diversity initiative. Freightliner will debut with Revolution Racing at the Toyota Showdown at Toyota Speedway in Irwindale, Calif., on January 29, 2010 and will serve as an associate sponsor of all 10 Revolution Racing teams throughout the 2010 season. "Freightliner is proud to team up with Revolution Racing and the Drive for Diversity program," said Melissa Clausen, Director of Product Marketing for Freightliner Trucks. "Their core values open doors for these young talented drivers. The partnership with D4D furthers solidifies Freightliner's commitment to diversity, both within the company and to all our customers. We look forward to an exciting year." Revolution Racing's driver line-up will be announced in early 2010. The driver selection process will be prominently featured in the upcoming television show "Changing Lanes," scheduled to air on BET in 2010.(Revolution Racing PR)(11-30-2009)
- Bayne returns to MWR: Diamond-Waltrip Racing announced that Trevor Bayne has signed a multi-year contract to drive the #99 Toyota in the NASCAR Nationwide Series beginning in 2010. Additionally, MWR has signed a contract with Bayne to run a minimum of seven NASCAR Sprint Cup races in 2011 with an eye on full-time Sprint Cup competition by 2012. Currently, Diamond-Waltrip Racing has limited sponsorship from Aaron's for the 2010 season and is still searching for additional sponsor support for the remaining races. "We are extremely excited to have Trevor behind the wheel of the #99 Toyota," said Gary Bechtel, co-owner of DWR. "Even though the No. 99 team is not fully sponsored, we are committed to running Trevor in the entire season so he can compete for the championship. He has shown a lot of promise this season and we expect him to be one of the frontrunners next year."(Diamond-Waltrip PR)(11-14-2009)
- Ron Sutton's Winner's Circle drivers participate in recent Talent Combine: Career bound young Drivers tested in front of top NASCAR Cup & ARCA teams last week at Caraway Speedway, near Charlotte. The drivers met and talked with key personnel from each team before, and after, their track tests. Drivers called for tuning changes they wanted on the cars with the crew. The on track test consisted of four 16 lap sessions, for a total of 64 laps, in USAR Pro Cup Cars provided by NASCAR Nationwide & USAR Pro Cup Team, Mac Hill Motorsports, of Mooresville, NC. The USAR Pro Cup Cars are very similar to top tier NASCAR cars with truck arm suspension, 3300 pounds and 650 horsepower on BFG Racing Radial Tires. The drivers scheduled to test were Bobby Grewohl (California), Benny Moon (California), Jace Meier (Nevada), Jesscia Brunelli (California) and Josh Richards (West Virginia).(Winner's Circle PR)(10-27-2009)
- Harraka headlines 10-driver diversity class: Paul Harraka, the first Drive for Diversity driver to win a race in a NASCAR regional touring division, was one of 10 finalists to emerge Tuesday from two days of tryouts for the 2010 class. The overhauled diversity program, now in its sixth season, brought 30 candidates to Motor Mile Speedway to compete for 10 spots. Four drivers will eventually earn rides in the Camping World East Series, while the other six will be placed with Whelen All-American teams
Program operations have been transferred for next year's class to the 909 Group, a sports marketing agency run by Max Siegel, who spent two seasons running Dale Earnhardt Inc. until the team merged with Chip Ganassi Racing late last season. He's created his own team, Revolution Racing, to field cars for all 10 drivers in the 2010 diversity class. Siegel then formed his agency and partnered with NASCAR to help its struggling diversity program. Since its inception, no participant has competed full time at any of NASCAR's top levels.
Emerging from the two-day tryouts was Harraka, who won two races and rookie of the year this season in the NASCAR Camping World West Series. The class includes four other 2009 Drive for Diversity participants:
- Mackena Bell, who finished eighth in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Late Model standings.
- Michael Cherry, who had 19 top-10s in the Late Model division at Greenville-Pickens Speedway.
- Katie Hagar, who set a track qualifying record at Stockton (Calif.) 99 Speedway in the Whelen All-American Series.
- Juan Pitta, who had 12 top fives in the Late Model Division at All-American Speedway.
The newcomers are: Jessica Brunelli of Hayward, Calif., Ryan Gifford of Winchester, Tenn., Rebecca Kasten of Mequon, Wis., Sergio Pena of Catharpin, Va., and Darrell Wallace, Jr. of Mobile, Ala.
Siegel will end the practice of sending the diversity program drivers to teams all over the country, and instead base them all out of Mooresville, N.C.(AP/ESPN.com)(10-21-2009)
- Truex & Harraka named Camping World East & West Rookies of the Year: Ryan Truex and Paulie Harraka made a big splash on opposite coasts in the NASCAR Camping World Series - winning races and even a championship in NASCAR's top developmental series. NASCAR announced today that Truex and Harraka are the Sunoco Rookie of the Year honorees for the 2009 seasons in the NASCAR Camping World Series East and West, respectively. Truex and Harraka - both from New Jersey - will be officially recognized at the NASCAR Touring Series Gala in Concord, N.C., Saturday, Nov. 14. By virtue of their wins in NASCAR Camping World Series races, the Harraka and Truex have also secured a spot in the prestigious post-season NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown on Jan. 29-30, 2010 in Toyota Speedway at Irwindale (Calif.).(D4D.tv)(10-15-2009)
- Penske/Cunningham Motorsports Kligerman wins Rockingham; ESR's Lofton wins championship: ARCA RE/MAX Series title contender Parker Kligerman did everything he needed to do to win the championship. The Westport, Connecticut rookie led the most laps and won Sunday's ARCA RE/MAX American 200 at Rockingham Speedway. However, it wasn't good enough to keep Justin Lofton from claiming ARCA RE/MAX Series title contender Parker Kligerman did everything he needed to do to win the championship. The Westport, Connecticut rookie led the most laps and won Sunday's ARCA RE/MAX American 200 at Rockingham Speedway. However, it wasn't good enough to keep Justin Lofton from claiming the Lofton, by virtue of his third place finish, secured the 2009 ARCA RE/MAX Series driving championship, edging Kligerman for the honor by just 5 points. It was the third closest finish in series history.(ARCA Racing PR)(10-11-2009)
- Roush Fenway Racing signs Chris Buescher as development driver: Roush Fenway Racing announced today it has signed Chris Buescher to a driver development contract. Buescher has spent the 2009 season competing part time in the ARCA RE/MAX Series under the direction of Gary Roulo and Roulo Brothers Racing. In just six starts so far this season he has three top-five and four top-10 finishes including an outside pole and a pole at Salem Speedway where Buescher set an ARCA record by becoming the youngest pole winner in the 57 years of ARCA Racing. This weekend he will again pilot the #17 David Ragan Fan Club Ford in Rockingham, N.C., for the ARCA Series final race of the season. In 2010 Buescher will continue to run a part-time ARCA RE/MAX Series schedule with Roulo Brothers in association with Roush Fenway Racing.(Roush Fenway PR)(10-9-2009)
- SS Green Light Racing's Brannon wins race & ASALM South Championship: Drew Brannon and the SS Green Light team dominated "The Best Show in Town 100" at the Charlotte County Motorsports Park in Punta Gorda, FL winning the race and the ASALM South Division Championship. After setting a new track record in qualifying, Brannon started sixth and drove to the front easily winning the 100 lap event.(SS Green Light Racing PR)(10-5-2009)
- Ryan Truex Wins Camping World East Series Championship: Dover International Speedway has been a special race track for the Truexfamily through the years, and today it became even a little more special. Ryan Truex finished off his rookie season in the NASCAR Camping World East Series by claiming the series championship with an eighth-place finish in the Sunoco 150 at Dover on Friday afternoon. Truex, 17, driver of the #00 NAPA Toyota, did so two-and-a-half years after his older brother Martin won his first career NASCAR Sprint Cup series race at the Monster Mile, which the family from Mayetta, N.J., has long considered their home track. Brett Moffit claimed the Sunoco 150 in what he called "the best win so far" in his young career. Moffitt, driver of the #44 Red Line Oil Chevy, led the majority of the race. Truex came into the race 30 points ahead of Eddie MacDonald and ended up winning the championship by 36 points. MacDonald finished in ninth, four seconds behind Truex. (Dover Speedway PR)(9-25-2009)
- Smith wins inaugural Humpy's Heroes Golden Wheel Award: Andrew Smith, a 21 year old former Legends Car National Champion from Pooler, GA., has been judged the winner of the inaugural "Humpy's Heroes Golden Wheel Award." This award is the top prize in an intensive program headed by legendary NASCAR promoter H.A. "Humpy" Wheeler. It pitted ten talented young drivers against each other in a unique five-month experience that saw the drivers tested at Rockingham Speedway in Cup-style cars, Carolina Speedway on dirt, and four actual races at Lowe's Motor Speedway. The drivers were also given intensive training in media relations, branding, sponsorship, and relationship management with sanctioning bodies, fellow competitors, sponsors and others involved to the sport. "At the end it was very, very close between Andrew Smith, Brandon Thomson (St. Cloud, FL) and Kyle Grissom (Concord, NC).
Smith received a hand built billet aluminum and Carolina walnut trophy worth more than $5,000 plus an opportunity to test with a Cup team as his prize. Thomson and Grissom will be given the opportunity to test a top ARCA car at Daytona during testing for 2010. "I was also very impressed with John Freeman (Concord, NC), Adam Gay (Dublin, GA), Taylor Hull (Winston, GA), Zac Kittle (Watkinsville, GA), Will Prance (Canton, GA), Justin Swilling (Cohutta, GA) and Josh Williams (Port Charlotte, FL).
Wheeler put together a special panel to monitor and teach the program that included former Cup winning crew chief who later became NASCAR's director of competition Gary Nelson, driver David Ragan, former NASCAR, Indy Car and ARCA driver Andy Hillenburg, national sprint car promoter of the year Roger Slack, current driver Kenny Wallace, sports marketer Trip Wheeler and racing agent Mike Congdon. Humpy's Heroes will be back in 2010 and will again be limited to 10 drivers. Interested drivers can get further information by contacting Mike Congdon mike@davidragan.com or visiting the Humpy's Heroes website HumpysHeroes.com)(9-17-2009)
- Drive for Diversity adapts academy-style training: The evolution of the Drive for Diversity, NASCAR's leading on track diversity initiative, will continue in 2010 as competitors relocate to Charlotte and enter "academy-style" development under a single team ownership structure. The 909 Group, which took over operational responsibilities for Drive for Diversity in 2009, will own and operate 10 teams fielding Drive for Diversity competitors.
Under the Revolution Racing banner, these minority and female drivers will compete on four NASCAR Camping World Series teams and six NASCAR Whelen All-American Series teams. In addition, Revolution will also create a youth racing initiative that will identify aspiring drivers who may eventually enter Drive for Diversity in late model stock cars. Drive for Diversity is one of the most aggressive competition-based diversity programs in all of sports. In 2009, 12 Drive for Diversity drivers have combined for six wins, 51 top fives and 125 top-10 finishes.
The 909 Group, a sports and entertainment agency, will continue to provide marketing support to NASCAR's diversity initiatives. John Story will serve as President of Revolution Racing managing day-to-day operations of the company. Max Siegel will maintain his role as Chief Executive Officer of both Revolution and The 909 Group. Andy Santerre, a four-time NASCAR Camping World Series champion as a driver and team owner, will join Revolution Racing to oversee its Camping World Series operations. Blair Addis, a current Drive for Diversity team owner, will oversee Revolution Racing's NASCAR Whelen All-American Series program.
Current and former NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NASCAR Nationwide Series drivers will serve as coaches and mentors to the drivers, who will be given additional seat time and be allowed to compete in more than one series as they develop. The coaches will share information with the drivers in the shop and during their intense on-track testing program which will begin in early November and continue throughout the 2010 season. In addition to drivers, Revolution, along with corporate partner Sprint, will continue to build on developing over-the-wall athletes led by long-time NASCAR pit crew coach Phil Horton, who has trained a significant number of current NASCAR Sprint Cup Series crew members.
Revolution's drivers for the 2010 season will be determined following the Drive for Diversity Combine presented by Sunoco Oct. 16-19. Those drivers will be featured in a television series, "Changing Lanes," developed in collaboration with the NASCAR Media Group and set to air in early 2010 on BET. The 10-part series will showcase the development of young Drive for Diversity competitors trying to make it in the big-time world of NASCAR racing.(D4D/909 Group PR)(9-16-2009)
