Courtesy of DriveForDiversity.com

Mooresville, N.C. (Oct. 14, 2010) – Thirty-Five drivers from 18 states, Mexico and Puerto Rico are prepared to showcase their skills at the seventh annual Drive for Diversity Combine presented by Sunoco Sunday through Tuesday at Motor Mile Speedway in Radford, Va.
The drivers, ranging in age from 16 to 26, hope to earn a spot on the Revolution Racing team that will again field teams in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series. Drivers on the 2010 Revolution Racing team enjoyed the best on-track season in the history of the Drive for Diversity program, earning four victories, 42 top-five finishes and 80 top 10s in 141 starts. Included in that number were impressive results in the highly competitive NASCAR K&N Pro Series East. Ryan Gifford, Sergio Pena and Darrell Wallace Jr. each competed in all 10 Series races, while Mackena Bell (six races), Michael Cherry (three races) and Mark Davis (one race) each took turns driving the fourth Revolution Racing car. These four teams scored two wins, 10 top fives and 15 top 10s.

The drivers attending the Drive for Diversity Combine presented by Sunoco will be evaluated on multiple fronts during the Combine including on-track performance, marketing and media aptitude, physical fitness, personality and more.

Following the three-day assessment, the results will be evaluated by a committee that will select participants for the 2011 season.

Grandstands at Motor Mile Speedway will be open to the public Monday and Tuesday with on-track testing scheduled for 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Participating Drivers

• Jorge Arteaga – Agualcalientes, Mexico, Age 24
• Kelsey Bauer – Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, 21
• Mackena Bell – Carson City, Nevada, 20
• Juan Carlos Blum – Miami, Florida, 16
• Brandy Bower – Marysville, Ohio, 23
• Jessica Brunelli – Haywood, California, 17
• Katrina Canney – Charlotte, North Carolina, 20
• Cole Carbrera – Exeter, California, 16
• Michael Cherry – Valrico, Florida, 21
• Enrique Contreras – Mexico, 18
• Heather DesRochers – Granby, Massachusetts, 21
• Brittany Finley – Ardmore, Alabama, 24
• Cassie Gannis – Phoenix, Arizona, 19
• Trey Gibson – Easley, South Carolina, 18
• Ryan Gifford – Winchester, Tennessee, 21
• Katie Hagar – Damariscotta, Maine, 24
• Sloan Henderson – Franklin, Ohio, 17
• Rebecca Kasten – Mequon, Wisconsin, 20
• Ali Kern – Fremont, Ohio, 17
• Julia Landauer – New York, New York, 18
• Amanda Lynch – Greenville, South Carolina, 21
• Clinton Mills – Indian Trail, North Carolina, 23
• Dallas Montes – Bakersfield, California, 16
• Jeff Oleen – Bethesda, Maryland, 20
• Tayla Orleans – Randleman, North Carolina, 17
• Bryan Ortiz – Bayamon, Puerto Rico, 21
• Sergio Pena – Winchester, Virginia, 17
• Matthew Piercy – Conover, North Carolina, 16
• Troy Rave – Westby, Wisconsin, 21
• Ryan Reed – Bakersfield, California, 16
• Jason Romero – Cameron Park, California, 26
• Dylan Smith – Randolph, Vermont, 17
• Lacey Tuttle – Elmwood, Nebraska, 21
• Darrell Wallace Jr. – Concord, N.C., 17
• Kristen Wallace – Jasper, Georgia, 17

ABOUT DRIVE FOR DIVERSITY

Drive for Diversity is the industry’s leading development program for minority and female drivers and crew members. The Drive for Diversity program currently supports drivers in two of NASCAR’s development series – the NASCAR K&N Pro Series and the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series. Drive for Diversity also supports crew member candidate through a year-long pit crew training program. Crew members have gone on to compete in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, the NASCAR Nationwide Series and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

Diversity is NASCAR’s top corporate initiative. The Drive for Diversity program has been successful in creating meaningful opportunities for minority and female competitors. The program helps to further diversity NASCAR’s participant and audience base. The program has seen continuous growth since its inception in 2004.

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