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, TwitterInstagram, and Snapchat (‘NASCAR’).

Rev Racing Heads to South Boston for Season Opener

Concord, NC (March, 23 2017) – When the NASCAR Whelen All-American drivers take the green flag at South Boston Speedway for the inaugural race of the 2017 season, it will mark a new era for Rev Racing. Macy Causey joined NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity Program, under Rev Racing management, as the youngest participant in the history of its Late Model or NASCAR K&N Pro Series East roster. Causey will join teammate Madeline Crane, the returnee from last year’s NWAAS team. The female powerhouse will travel to the Speedway for a day of testing, on Friday, before going to battle in the Twin 100s this Saturday. Although both women have had a sizable amount of experience driving in this series, they will join all other race participants as the first drivers to run on South Boston’s newly paved track in the Speedway’s season opener. The track’s .4-mile oval will pose a competitive angle of speed, narrow straightaways and host post National Series champions such as Matt Bowling, Lee Pulliam, Phillip Morris and Peyton Sellers. “This will be my third trip to South Boston,” said Macy Causey, driver of the No. 33 Five Star RaceCar Body Toyota. “The track was already fast before, and I could not be more excited about the additional speed the paving will provide us during the Twins. The bar is set high with the participating competition and I am ready to get focused and run as hard and smart as I can from the green flag to the checkered.” Macy Causey (driver of the No. 33 Five Star RaceCar Body Toyota): Causey was honored with the NASCAR Young Racer Award in 2016. The year prior, she won the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Virginia State Rookie of the Year Award and earned top rookie honors at Langley Speedway in Hampton, Virginia, where in 1978 her grandmother became the first woman to win a NASCAR-sanctioned race. Teammate Crane, having a year of experience under her belt, is looking to capitalize on her driver/crew experience and momentum built in the previous year. “It takes the uncertainty out of my performance,” said Madeline Crane, driver of the No. 78 Honda Generators Toyota. “My crew chief knows what I am capable of and we can focus on getting the car where it needs to instead of ironing out our communication strategies and go-to-track plan.” Madeline Crane (No. 78 Honda Generators Toyota): The Georgia native began her career racing Bandoleros at Atlanta Motor Speedway at age 10. Crane, 19, moved into Legend cars, and by the time she was 14 had garnered 59 top-5 finishes in 82 starts. Returning for a second season with NASCAR Drive for Diversity, she will compete in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series following two top-5 and 12 top-10 finishes in 2016. Grandstand gates open at 12:30 p.m. with qualifying set to start at 1 p.m. The green flag flies on the Danville Toyota Twin 100s, featuring five races in four divisions, at 2 p.m. 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, TwitterInstagram, and Snapchat (‘NASCAR’).