Future Stars of NASCAR: Driving Diversity and Dreams

Future Stars of NASCAR: In NASCAR’s storied 75-year history, the landscape has evolved from a predominantly black and white realm, mirroring the faded photographs that capture its past. While diverse fans and aspiring drivers existed, it often felt like the sport’s upper echelons weren’t open to them.

In the early 2000s, Tennessee icon Reggie White, in collaboration with owner Joe Gibbs, initiated a diversity program. Soon after, NASCAR founded its own Diversity program, conducting its first Drive for Diversity Combine in 2004. This event aimed to identify and nurture top talents from various backgrounds, paving their way into the sport. Notable stars like Bubba Wallace, Kyle Larson, and Daniel Suarez emerged through this initiative.

This season, 15 young drivers from across the nation embarked on their journey at the Trackhouse Motorplex in Concord, North Carolina. The aim? To inch closer to their dreams by showcasing their skills, media acumen, and ability to represent corporate sponsors during the three-day combine.

“We are really trying to find the next crop of drivers for the next generation of NASCAR,” emphasized Brandon Thompson, NASCAR’s VP of Diversity and Inclusion. “We’re looking to continue the pipeline that has been started over the last 20 years.”

For 14-year-old Cassidy Keitt, her racing passion stemmed from her uncle, NASCAR Cup Series Crew Chief Ryan Sparks. “I was seven years old at the time when he asked me if I wanted to try out racing,” she recalled, a moment that sparked her racing journey. Not every participant grew up around racing; some, like competitor Nathon Lyons, discovered the sport through unique experiences, like a book competition that led to a NASCAR race attendance.

The combine represents a beacon of opportunity, a chance for young individuals from diverse backgrounds to pursue dreams they might not have had access to two decades ago. As Thompson emphasized, “Representation matters,” and the program is showing its impact as more aspiring drivers apply.

On the third day of the combine, participants transition to late models at the Florence Motor Speedway in Timmons, South Carolina. Here, NASCAR and Rev Racing evaluators assess the drivers’ abilities in a real racing environment.

Apart from driving skills, candidates are judged on their receptiveness to coaching, translating feedback into speed on the track. “One of the things they are being evaluated on is how well they take coaching and feedback and how they are able to translate that to speed on the track,” noted Thompson.

Later this month, the selected drivers will be announced, with hopes that this experience will open doors for these aspiring talents. The Drive for Diversity program, after all, isn’t just about drivers—it extends its reach to recruiting and developing crew members, fostering a diverse and inclusive NASCAR community.

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