Engines Revved For 2015 NASCAR Drive For Diversity Combine

Engines Revved For 2015 NASCAR Drive For Diversity Combine

NASCAR, Rev Racing Assess Top Multicultural and Female Drivers for Class of 2016

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (October 7, 2015) – Twenty-two drivers have three days to compete for a spot in the motorsport industry’s top driver development program, the NASCAR Drive for Diversity® (D4D), set to commence at Langley Speedway in Hampton, Va., Oct. 19-21, 2015.

Now in its 12th year, the annual Combine invites promising ethnically diverse and female drivers, ages 14 to 26, from across North America to test their skills over a three-day period in order to identify members of the NASCAR D4D Class of 2016.

"Finding and developing diverse athletes who will represent the future of NASCAR is at the core of our organization’s mission," said NASCAR Senior Vice President of Racing Operations Jim Cassidy. "Every year, the bar is raised with talented applicants who have the potential and determination to succeed. We’re proud to watch our graduates in the national series and develop more diverse talent to join them in the years to come."

In partnership with Rev Racing, the Max Siegel-owned race team, D4D offers racing opportunities in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East (NKPSE) and NASCAR Whelen All-American Series (NWAAS) for one full season, providing drivers with equipment, mentoring, and competition experience.

"We could not be more excited about this year’s NASCAR Drive for Diversity Combine to select the 2016 Class of Rev Racing drivers," said team CEO Max Siegel. "Coming off of our sixth consecutive multiple race winning season, we are focused on continuing to make our program and approach world class, as we prepare these young drivers to advance into the national series."

The NASCAR D4D Combine has proven successful in identifying and developing future stars of the sport. Current D4D member Collin Cabre secured Rev Racing’s second win of 2015 with a victory at the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East season finale at Dover International Speedway. In addition, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Kyle Larson and NASCAR XFINITY Series drivers Darrell Wallace Jr. and Daniel Suárez, leaders in the series’ Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings, are among the graduates of the program.

This year’s athletes include 13 women, notably the youngest combine participant ever at 14 years old, Macy Causey. Also participating are four stars from the NASCAR Mexico Series: Abraham Calderón, Enrique Contreras, Rubén García Jr. and Santiago Tovar.

Returning to defend their spots in the program are current NASCAR Whelen All-American Series drivers Dylan Smith and Natalie Decker.

Driver combine participants will be evaluated on their driving skills and will also be tested on a series of strength and agility exercises at Hampton University.

Fans can follow the Combine on Twitter at @NASCARDiversity and @RevRacing.

Below are invitees to the 12th annual NASCAR Drive for Diversity Combine:

First Name	Last Name	Age	City	State/Country
Hannah	Adair	21	Tulsa	Okla.
Jairo	Avila	20	Alhambra	Calif.
Kayli	Barker	18	Las Vegas	Nev.
Nicole	Behar	17	Otis Orchards	Wash.
Abraham	Calderon	26	Monterrey	Mexico
Macy	Causey	14	Yorktown	Va.
Enrique	Contreras	22	San Antonio	Texas
Madeline	Crane	17	Meansville	Ga.
Claire	Decker	20	Eagle River	Wis.
Natalie	Decker	18	Eagle River	Wis.
Juan	Garcia	17	Bogota	Colombia
Ruben	Garcia Jr.	19	Mexico City	Mexico
Ali	Kern	22	Fremont	Ohio
Enrique	Limon	17	Mexico City	Mexico
Mariah	McGriff	20	Vail	Ariz.
Becca	Monopoli	26	Lakeland	Fla.
Erika	Newcome	20	Pickerington	Ohio
Hannah	Newhouse	18	Twin Falls	Idaho
Vanessa	Robinson	25	Las Cruces	N.M.
Dylan	Smith	23	Concord	N.C.
Walter	Thomas	16	Indianapolis	Ind.
Santiago	Tovar	22	Mexico City	Mexico

In addition to drivers, NASCAR Drive for Diversity has successfully identified and developed pit crew members to find employment opportunities within the sport. The NASCAR Drive for Diversity Pit Crew Challenge Tour will host its final Combine of the year at the NASCAR Research and Development Center on October 9, 2015 in Concord, North Carolina.

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. 

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 (the NASCAR Sprint 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 TUDOR United 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 at www.Facebook.com/NASCAR and Twitter: @NASCAR.