Minority infused NASCAR ...

[Robert Bandanza]

Changing the face of NASCAR

By Martin Henderson
Los Angeles Times; The Hamilton Spectator
(Aug 31, 2006)

Every colour of the rainbow will stream past the green flag Sunday at the start of the NASCAR Sony HD 500, but only one colour figures to be inside the 43 cockpits.

White.

NASCAR hopes to change that through a Drive for Diversity program that integrates minorities into racing.

The sanctioning body has thrown its endorsement and licensing muscle behind Access Marketing & Communications, a company in Montgomery, Ala., that runs Drive for Diversity, which places corporate sponsors with minority drivers in the NASCAR Dodge Weekly series. It has helped 16 drivers and placed 30 minorities in crew positions on NASCAR teams.

"Everyone's trying to find a diamond in the rough," said Bill McAnally, who runs a development program with Nextel Cup team owner Richard Childress that last year included two-time winner Allison Duncan. "If they find it, it's going to be huge."

Three years after its inception, Drive for Diversity has begun bearing fruit without funding from NASCAR. A Drive for Diversity minority driver in the Cup series, though, is years away.

Marc Davis, 16, of Mitchellville, Md., races Saturday nights in Newton, N.C., and seems the likeliest prodigy. Davis won three consecutive limited late model races this season at Hickory Motor Speedway and has won six times in 12 starts. Joe Gibbs Racing President J.D. Gibbs extended Davis' contract through 2011, but age restrictions prevent him from driving a Busch Series car until he is 18. "Even 2009 is pushing it," Gibbs said.

"I don't see anyone else out there who's going to jump in before him and make a big splash. If someone does, great. That first breakthrough driver is going to be a big deal."

Much is at stake for NASCAR'S minority sweepstakes winner, regardless of where the talent is developed.

"The economic value for those involved in the sport is immense, and if any particular driver has the ability to create more interest, more excitement and bring the more non-traditional fan to the party, it's better for everybody," said Paul Swangard, managing director of the Warsaw Sports Marketing Center at the University of Oregon. "At the end of the day, Tiger Woods has raised the earning potential for a lot of people, and he's got most of the attention, but that's capitalism at work."

NASCAR is all about capitalism. Money will flow if it finds a driver who transcends racial barriers, expands the fan base and integrates Nielsen ratings.

"It's a whole new market that corporate America is craving," McAnally said. "Can you imagine the first female driver that's banging fenders with Tony Stewart? Do you know how many die-cast cars you're going to sell?

"Corporate America has been sponsoring white Caucasian males forever."

The most heralded full-time minorities in NASCAR are Erin Crocker, a woman, and Bill Lester, an African American, who compete in the Craftsman Truck series. They are running 22nd and 23rd, with no top-10 finishes between them in 17 races.

Cuban driver Aric Almirola, a find by Gibbs, is 18th, with two top 10s. None are part of Drive for Diversity.

The more likely NASCAR candidate to create a stir in the minority fan base is Juan Pablo Montoya, who has a Champ Car World Series title, Indianapolis 500 victory and seven wins in Formula One. He will drive next season for Chip Ganassi Racing.

"He is actually even more well-known in other parts of the world than he is in the U.S., but I think that will change soon enough," Ganassi said. "We hired Juan Pablo because he knows how to drive a race car and can help us win. If by doing that he is able to bring more fans to the sport and open the door for other drivers, that's great too."

Montoya, a Spanish-speaking Colombian, is more Tony Stewart than Jeff Gordon, but to have a Woods-like impact in the coveted Latino community, he can't be racing for 30th place.

"It would be healthy for the sport if a minority swept it off its feet," said Jay Frye, chief executive officer of MB2 Motorsports.

"But it's not enough," said Marcus Jadotte, NASCAR managing director of public affairs. "One driver competing does not mean our sport is diverse and we celebrate ultimate victory."

Unlike most minorities, Montoya won't have to pay dues in the minor leagues, as do the eight 2006 Drive for Diversity participants, whose highlights include:

* Duncan became the first Drive for Diversity driver and the first woman to win at Stockton 99 Speedway last year for McAnally Racing. She won twice.

* Chris Bristol became the first African American to win at Hickory Motor Speedway in 2005, for Joe Gibbs Racing.

* Jesus Hernandez became the first Latino driver to win at Hickory this season for MB2 Motorsports.

* Peter Hernandez won twice this season at Stockton 99 Speedway for McAnally.

Drive for Diversity participants have combined for 10 victories, eight this season, and the program is seeking applicants for 2007. Its goal is to develop a steady pipeline of available minorities to NASCAR.

"When we put someone in Cup, that would be our ultimate goal, that would be a Super Bowl win," said Malcolm Calhoun, whose Calhoun Enterprises co-owns Access. "For us, it's just widening the scope and breadth of NASCAR. We're living in a diverse world, and we're just trying to bring awareness and opportunity for the black and brown and female community."

There is a down side to the diversity program. On both coasts, minority drivers have faced some resentment from local racers.

"They look at you like you got it for nothing," said Peter Hernandez, 37, a Chicago native who not only works on his car but also drives the truck and trailer to Stockton 99 Speedway. "At first, they were resentful, they ran against me really rough."

Track operator Sherry Clifton of Hickory Motor Speedway, which bills itself as the Birthplace of the NASCAR Stars, says she has noticed jealousy.

"It's such a tough business financially, physically and mentally for these drivers," Clifton said. "To see someone have it handed to them, or apparently handed to them, rubs them the wrong way. ... Other drivers have to secure their own financing, find their own car, and learn what makes it work."

Calhoun, though, says "the opportunity and the good of the program outweighs any negativity that might exist." Drive for Diversity's key component is opportunity. "If a guy's good, he's going to move on," said Gibbs. "Here, because of the financial barriers, it doesn't just happen I can go out to any short track and find five drivers, but they're never going to get the shot, whereas in football, baseball, basketball, you don't need the help."

http://www.hamiltonspectator.com/NAS...=1112274690734

[Ironguard1940]

IMO, there are four sports that can be considered lily White: hockey, golf, tennis and NASCAR. This is not to say these sports are 100% White. No sport is. However, these four sports have been targeted for "diversity,' code word for these sports are too White and need to have smiling niggers, spics, gooks, chinks, dotheads and other nonwhites in its ranks. NASCAR is of particular interest because of the $$$ and ratings it is generating. The kikes and niggers want "their share" of the pie, so to speak. As far as the other motorsports go such as Formula One, Indy Car, Champ Car, Drag Racing (NHRA and IHRA), all these sports are majority White but all have a larger percantage of minorities than NASCAR does. Also, these sports do not generate the revenue or $$$ that NASCAR does. I will be going to my first NHRA drag race in about a month, so I can see for myself how dark that motor racing division is.

[Unthinkable]

Are Jews behnd this by any chance?

[Robert Bandanza]

Drive for Diversity
Access Marketing & Communications
1435 W. Morehead Street
Suite 170
Charlotte, NC 28208

Drive for Diversity Driver Prerequisites

Interested drivers must submit all of the following information to be considered for the program:

DVD or VHS Tape of racing highlights

A 2-3 minute videotape of yourself explaining why you should be the next Drive for Diversity driver

Most Recent Season Stats (number of races, start and finish position etc.)

Resume/Biography

A minimum of 3 References/Recommendations

Off-Track Photos

On-Track Photos

Please note if each of the prerequisites listed above is not included, your information WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.

Please send all materials to:

Drive For Diversity
Attn: Drive for Diversity Competition Committee
1435 W. Morehead St.
Suite 170
Charlotte, NC 28208

All submitted materials are property of ACCESS Marketing and Communications and will not be returned to sender.

Please do not submit any material other than the information requested above.

Access Marketing & Communications (The Drive for Diversity Program) is not accepting applications or materials for any positions other than drivers so please understand that we cannot consider or respond to inquiries regarding other positions.

For information on opportunities in NASCAR, please direct inquiries to Linda Walker at (386) 386-681-4339 or email diversity@nascar.com or info@diversityinternships.com.

http://www.drivefordiversity.com/contact.asp

[Itz_molecular]

Can't wait to hear the absurd explanations for the spectacular crashes that will occur . ( Cars don't bounce off each other , like thug basketball players . )

[McKinley]

I would say it would not take long for one of the white drivers to get tired of listening to a nigger driver running its mouth (like all niggers do) and run the beast in to the wall for good.

[Itz_molecular]

Hmmm , just had a thought . How many blacks hold world air racing titles , or air records of any kind ? How many black faces do you see at the Oshkosh Fly-In ? Got to have more black pilots .

[McKinley]

Originally Posted by Itz_molecular

Hmmm , just had a thought . How many blacks hold world air racing titles , or air records of any kind ? How many black faces do you see at the Oshkosh Fly-In ? Got to have more black pilots .

That sounds like a sure fire way to kill a lot of sumsabitches in a hurry.

[Adamic Man]

OK, they want to force black drivers upon the white inner circle of NASCAR racing.

Fine.

But insist that the driver's ENTIRE CREW be all black as well - mechanics, pit crew, sponsors, etc.

I want to see the loose parts come flying off of Willy T. Ribb's car. I want to see the brutha pit crew members put the new tires on wrong and get run over by the racecar. I want to see the fist fights on pit row. Fabulous entertainment - BRING IT ON!!!:cheers:

AM

[Itz_molecular]

Originally Posted by Adamic Man

OK, they want to force black drivers upon the white inner circle of NASCAR racing.

Fine.

But insist that the driver's ENTIRE CREW be all black as well - mechanics, pit crew, sponsors, etc.

What a joke , you know that it would never leave the starting line .

[elbwgreez]

Originally Posted by Itz_molecular

What a joke , you know that it would never leave the starting line .

It's hard to race when some niggas steal your tires.

[Itz_molecular]

Originally Posted by elbwgreez

It's hard to race when some niggas steal your tires.

It would give NASCAR some color . Driver's wearing purple boas , ho's workin the pits in red miniskirts and orange halters . ( Make a great comic parody ).