Multicultural and Female Drivers to Compete for a Spot in
NASCAR Drive for Diversity Developmental Program
Seventeen Drivers Invited to 13th Drive for Diversity Combine at New Smyrna Speedway
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Sept. 29, 2016)
–
Seventeen
drivers from across the country will compete for spots in the top
driver development program in motorsports, NASCAR Drive for Diversity,
during a national
tryout at Florida’s New Smyrna Speedway from Oct. 10-12.
The
13th annual NASCAR Drive for Diversity Combine invites promising
ethnically diverse and female drivers from across North and South
America to test their skills over
a three-day period as NASCAR evaluates talent for the NASCAR Drive for
Diversity Class of 2017.
“This
year’s NASCAR Drive for Diversity Combine will feature some incredible
talent and we’re excited to watch these young drivers compete,” said
Dawn Harris, NASCAR
director, multicultural development. “NASCAR’s first-class development
program has produced the likes of Kyle Larson, Daniel Suárez and Darrell
Wallace Jr., so it will be fun to see who rises to the top at New
Smyrna.”
In
partnership with Rev Racing, NASCAR Drive for Diversity offers racing
opportunities in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and NASCAR Whelen
All-American Series for one
full season, providing drivers with equipment, mentoring, and
competition experience.
"This
is an unbelievable opportunity for these up-and-coming drivers;
something I am very proud to be a part of for the sixth-consecutive
year," said Jefferson Hodges,
Rev Racing director of competition. "To see past Drive for Diversity
participants compete across all three NASCAR national series speaks
volumes for the solid foundation Rev Racing provides these drivers in
their budding careers.”
This
year, there are 13 female drivers competing for spots with Rev Racing.
Returning this fall is Macy Causey, who at 14 years old was the youngest
combine participant
in NASCAR Drive for Diversity history in 2015. Also participating are
Hailie Deegan, daughter of Brian Deegan, the most decorated athlete in
freestyle motocross history, and
Hope Hornish, the niece of 2006 Indianapolis 500 winner and current NASCAR XFINITY Series driver Sam Hornish Jr.
Drivers
under consideration to return to the team in 2017, but who will not
compete at the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Combine, include current
NASCAR K&N Pro Series East
and NASCAR Whelen All-American Series drivers: Jairo Avila, Enrique
Baca, Collin Cabre, Madeline Crane, Ruben Garcia Jr, and Ali Kern.
Collin’s brother, Chase Cabre, is also among the drivers selected to
compete in this year’s combine.
Driver
combine participants will be evaluated on their driving skills, take
part in a physical fitness assessment and receive additional training at
Bethune-Cookman University.
The
NASCAR Drive for Diversity Combine has proven successful in identifying
and developing future stars of the sport. Current NASCAR Drive for
Diversity members have
garnered four top fives and 13 top 10s combined in the NASCAR K&N
East and NASCAR Whelen All-American Series this season and are looking
to repeat last year’s season-ending victory by Cabre at Dover
International Speedway.
Program
graduate, Kyle Larson, earned his first victory in the NASCAR Sprint
Cup Series this year at Michigan International Speedway. Also this
season, fellow graduate
and NASCAR XFINITY Series driver Daniel Suárez became the first
Mexican-born driver to win a NASCAR national series race. Suárez and
fellow NASCAR XFINITY driver Darrell Wallace Jr., another NASCAR Drive
for Diversity alumnus, are currently competing in the
inaugural NASCAR XFINITY Series Chase.
Fans can follow the Combine live on Twitter at @NASCARDiversity and @RevRacing.
Below are the invitees to the 2016 NASCAR Drive for Diversity Combine:
First
|
Last
|
Age
|
City
|
State/Country
|
Ali
|
Kern*
|
23
|
Fremont
|
Ohio
|
Amber
|
Balcaen
|
24
|
Winnipeg
|
Canada
|
Ariel
|
Biggs
|
22
|
Castaic
|
California
|
Armani
|
Williams
|
16
|
Grosse Point
|
Michigan
|
Chase
|
Cabre
|
19
|
Tampa
|
Florida
|
Collin
|
Cabre*
|
23
|
Tampa
|
Florida
|
Enrique
|
Baca*
|
25
|
Monterrey
|
Mexico
|
Hailie
|
Deegan
|
15
|
Temecula
|
California
|
Hannah
|
Newhouse
|
19
|
Twin Falls
|
Idaho
|
Hope
|
Hornish
|
19
|
Defiance
|
Ohio
|
Jairo
|
Avila*
|
21
|
Alhambra
|
California
|
Jay
|
Beasley
|
24
|
Las Vegas
|
Nevada
|
Kayli
|
Barker
|
19
|
Las Vegas
|
Nevada
|
Luis
|
Rodriguez
|
22
|
Miami
|
Florida
|
Macy
|
Causey
|
15
|
Yorktown
|
Virginia
|
Madeline
|
Crane*
|
18
|
Meansville
|
Georgia
|
McKenna
|
Haase
|
19
|
Carlisle
|
Iowa
|
Nicole
|
Behar
|
18
|
Otis Orchards
|
Washington
|
Reegan
|
May
|
22
|
De Pere
|
Wisconsin
|
Ruben
|
Garcia Jr.*
|
20
|
Mexico City
|
Mexico
|
Santiago
|
Tovar
|
23
|
Mexico City
|
Mexico
|
Taylor
|
Jorgensen
|
20
|
Stockbridge
|
Georgia
|
Walter
|
Thomas III
|
18
|
Indianapolis
|
Indiana
|
* Current NASCAR Drive for Diversity drivers eligible for 2017 program; will attend but not compete in combine
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