The NASCAR Drive for Diversity Pit Crew Recruitment Tour Kicks Off at Alcorn State
Concord, NC (March, 23 2017) – Today, the 2017 NASCAR Drive for Diversity Pit Crew Recruitment Tour will kick off at Alcorn State University, located in Lorman, Mississippi.
The NASCAR Drive for Diversity Pit Crew Development Program is a comprehensive training program for aspiring minority and female pit crew members. The program is designed to identify, coach, train and develop minority athletes who possess the skill, ability and attitude to be a successful pit crew member in one of the three NASCAR national series.
The recruitment tour will make six stops at universities across the nation to identify minority and female student athletes that have an interest in motorsports and a post-college professional sports career. This program offers any minority athlete the chance to become a pit crew member with a NASCAR race team; if that individual has the necessary talent to reach the highest level (The Monster Energy NASCAR CUP Series) of the sport.
“We seek student athletes with a general interest in motorsports, extreme sports, the auto industry, etc. and individuals who possess a strong sense of character and work ethic,” said Coach Phil Horton, Director of Performance for Rev Racing and the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Program. “We understand how athletes are built, and what athletes are capable of when it comes to teamwork, dedication and focus.”
The original participant selection process is based on athletes who are recommended by coaches and athletic directors. During the tour, participants will be challenged with drills that showcase their flexibility, agility and strength. Top participants at each of these tour stops could receive an invitation to compete against other competitors for a spot on the 2017 development team.
“We are excited to kick off the 8th year of the NASCAR Diversity Pit Crew Program with our combine here at Alcorn State University,” said Jusan Hamilton, NASCAR Racing Operations and Event Management. “This is the second year of the program under this current format and we have already seen great success from those student athletes who made it to the national combine last year. We’re committed to increasing diversity in the sport in all aspects, and we are already seeing great gains up and down pit road in participation from minority and female athletes.”
The NASCAR Drive for Diversity Pit Crew Program emphasizes education and training, while redirecting the talents that are already present in these individuals. Exposure to a career in NASCAR could be the next step in a professional journey for these athletes.
Over 75 individuals have participated in the program since its inception. The program bodes a 100% placement rate for those who complete the training program. Currently 25 of those individuals have succeeded in reaching the highest level of the sport and have went on to win numerous races and championships in the national series. It takes approximately three years to reach the highest level of the sport at which time the annual salary is between $80 – $100,000 from that point forward. For those who have reached the top level with five or more years of experience, it is not uncommon to receive salaries of upwards of $150 – $175,000 annually.
“Alcorn State University is excited to extend our relationship with NASCAR,” said Jason Cable Assistant Vice President for Athletic Compliance and Academic Services. “This partnership will inevitably provide multifaceted opportunities within the sports industry for our student athletes. Exposure to a corporation like NASCAR is priceless for our student-athletes and will positively impact their post student- athlete career.”
The participant registration will begin today (March 23) at 11:00 am, with the assessment following at 12:00 pm. All events will take place at the Davey L Whitney Health, Physical Education and Recreation Complex, on the Alcorn State campus.
About NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc. (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States. NASCAR consists of three national series (the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series™, NASCAR XFINITY Series™, and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series™), four regional series, one local grassroots series and three international series. The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series. Based in Daytona Beach, Fla., with offices in eight cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races in more than 30 U.S. states, Canada, Mexico and Europe. For more information visit http://www.NASCAR.com and http://www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat (‘NASCAR’).