Just Me Brandie

Congratulations! Brandie Jass, you have been selected to participate in the annual Drive for Diversity Testing & Evaluation Combine presented by Sunoco.

By participating in the Drive for Diversity Combine presented by Sunoco, you may be selected to compete with the Drive for Diversity program and drive for Revolution Racing in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series or NASCAR Camping World Series East in 2010. This year’s Combine will take place from Friday, October 16 to Tuesday, October 20, 2009 in the Charlotte, N.C. area. On-track testing will also be conducted at Motor Mile Speedway in Radford, Va. There are twelve seats available in the program, that we are trying to fill from the 25 drivers selected to participate in this Combine. So there are very good odds, if your performance is there, you could very well be driving in a NASCAR National Series in 2010, so bring your “A” game.

The Combine will consist of both on-track testing and off-track media and sponsor evaluations. All activities are mandatory. During the “on-track” session, each driver will be asked to drive a NASCAR Camping World Series car or NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Late Model around Motor Mile Speedway in a scripted test session. During the “off-track” session, you will be participating in media and sponsor related activities and assessments. Each participant may be interviewed by members of the media who attend the event and by NASCAR Media Group camera crews. Participants may also have the opportunity to meet with sponsors of the program. Participation in the Drive for Diversity Testing & Evaluation Combine presented by Sunoco does not guarantee placement in the program.

The Combine will also mark the start of filming for the new television series “Changing Lanes,” developed by Max Siegel in collaboration with the NASCAR Media Group. Produced by award-winning director Ken Mok, the creator of “America’s Next Top Model,” the movie “Invincible” and others, the eight-part series will showcase the development and struggles of young drivers trying to make it in the big-time world of NASCAR racing. “Changing Lanes” will be aired in early 2010 on BET.

Once again Congratulations and we will be forwarding you an itinerary and Hotel reservation information, ASAP.

We look forward to seeing you in October!

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Michelle Langley
NASCAR Drivers for Diversity
Public Relations
7930 W. Kenton Circle, Suite 160
Huntersville, NC 28078

DRIVE FOR DIVERSITY ADAPTS ACADEMY-STYLE TRAINING

Competitors to Work Together Under One Ownership Umbrella Based In Charlotte

DAYTONA BEACH, FLA. (September 16, 2009) – 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, 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, who oversees the sanctioning body’s diversity initiatives.  “This new structure for developing young drivers and crew members is an evolution of an initiative that has seen 31 drivers compete, winning 33 races.  D4D drivers will be located in the nerve center of NASCAR with greater access to industry resources, technology, training, testing, and shop experience.”

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.

“We’ve spent most of 2009 thinking about ways to expand opportunities available to the drivers and crew members involved in Drive for Diversity,” Siegel said.  “All of the teams involved in the initiative since its inception in 2004 have provided meaningful support for the program.  To better assess and develop talent, we are putting the drivers under one roof and in identical cars.  This new standardized structure will also create more meaningful sponsorship opportunities that will in turn provide resources necessary to compete at the highest level with the goal of getting drivers to NASCAR’s premier series.” 

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.