Miami Area Schools Host NASCAR And The Fueling Your Dreams Tour
The final stop of the 2012 Fueling Your Dreams tour took place right where we started the year, in Miami, Fl. As part of the NASCAR Championship Weekend festivities, Rev Racing and NASCAR Diversity teamed with Lead Dog Marketing to present an interactive immersion to the sport with area middle-schools. The results were outstanding!
We made three stops in market: North Miami Middle School, Jose Marti Math and Science Technology Academy, and Rockway Middle School. Students there spent ½ the day in an informational session revolving around Ten80 and business aspects within NASCAR, including measuring battery voltage while learning to use a multi-meter, exercises about friction and race tires, and marketing scenarios using sponsorship locations on the racecar. A team building activity, where groups of students formed “race teams,” was the culminating event for the classroom portion of the In-School activation. Students split into driver, crew chief, and pit crew roles and raced each other in remote controlled cars.
Following the classroom session, students then had the opportunity to interact with the show car, most seeing an actual race car for the first time. Also on hand was the iRacing simulator, which tied a lot of the information they just learned in the classroom together by driving around Homestead-Miami Speedway and seeing how a race car reacts on the track. Drivers Kyle Larson, Mackena Bell and Trey Gibson were on hand to sign autographs and take pictures. Kyle and Mackena were able to meet with some of the students who viewed their videos in the first phase of the activation and spoke a little more with them about their experiences with racing. For more info about Ten80, click here.
Our first event of the weekend was an Opinion Leaders Reception, sponsored by the NASCAR Diversity Department, and held at the Hippodrome Theater in the historic Jackson Ward neighborhood of Richmond. This event introduced the sport of NASCAR and it’s diversity initiatives to some of the area’s professionals and community influencers, including, but not limited to, 100 Black Men of Richmond, the Virginia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Henrico Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission. The evening offered networking opportunities and featured guest speakers such as Max Siegel (Rev Racing’s CEO), Dawn Harris (NASCAR Diversity), and Dennis Bickmeier (Track President, Richmond International Raceway). A highlight of the night was an appearance by Sybil Scott, daughter of NASCAR legend and recent Hall of Fame nominee Wendell Scott. Rev Racing’s four K&N drivers were on hand to mix and mingle with crowd, answering curiosities and sharing their excitement of racing, gaining a few new fans in the process.
Race day found the Fueling Your Dreams Tour at Richmond International Raceway. Our Toyota show car and popular iRacing driving simulator was set up in the track’s fan area outside of the Commonwealth Grandstand. Fans who came to see our K&N drivers compete that evening were treated to an impromptu appearance by Kyle Larson. On his way back to the garage after an autograph session, Kyle stopped at the iRacing simulator to run a few virtual laps around Richmond before qualifying. It may have proved beneficial because later that day, he qualified in the Second position for the evening’s race!
On Friday, Rev Racing and NASCAR teamed with Virginia State University in Petersburg, VA for a Leadership Symposium offered to their Sports Management and Communications students. Max Siegel and Ryan Gifford participated in panel discussions, sharing their knowledge and experience in the sport with the VSU students, while the Toyota show car and iRacing simulator were on display outside. The university’s student body and faculty took laps around Richmond International Raceway, while receiving a little bit of coaching by drivers Jorge Arteaga and Ryan Gifford. Many took the opportunity to take pictures with the car and drivers as well, and there is a sense that a few walked away with more than a casual interest in what Rev Racing and NASCAR had going on.
The last day of our stop in Richmond found us in the Kid Zone at RIR. We partnered with NASA and their new Rockets to Race cars program, aimed at educating students in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). Ryan and Jorge were on hand to discuss aspects of STEM and how they relate to the technological and safety advances in racing. They also signed a few autographs and took pictures with the kids.
Overall, the weekend was busy, but we had a blast! The Richmond community was very welcoming to us and we can’t wait to go back and hang out with all of our new friends! 
The monotony of the school week was broken Monday when students at Vance High School were greeted by racecars, drivers and NASCAR representatives.
The NASCAR 2011 Fueling Your Dreams Tour made a pit stop at the school to teach students about opportunities for success in the motorsports industry.
About 200 juniors and seniors at Vance spent the morning learning about the motorsports industry by listening to a presentation, talking to drivers, playing on racecar simulators and viewing the No. 6 Army racecar.[callout_right]There are so many opportunities out there for students. It may not be right in front of them, so (the event) is helping to plant the seed[/callout_right]
“There are so many opportunities out there for students. It may not be right in front of them, so (the event) is helping to plant the seed,” said Alejandra Diaz-Calderon, NASCAR account executive in diversity affairs.
This is the Fueling Your Dreams Tour’s second year, in which it is visiting more than 20 schools and wrapping up in the Charlotte area, Diaz-Calderon said.
“The purpose is to expose young people to motorsports,” said Marcus Jadotte, NASCAR vice president of public affairs and multicultural development. “But the bigger message is to encourage high school students to stay in school and continue on the path to success.”
A part of the Fueling Your Dreams Tour, the NASCAR Fan Experience High School Outreach program is tailored to fit each school’s curriculum and teaches students about opportunities in the motorsports industry and informs them of available internships, mentorships and scholarships sponsored by NASCAR.
The event helps to identify students interested in becoming race-car drivers and provides them the tools to meet their goals. The NASCAR program is also used as a reward for excelling students.
This year, NASCAR partnered with Revolution Racing(now rev Racing) and the U.S. Army to put on the presentation.
Students were introduced to minority drivers Darrell Wallace Jr., 17, of Concord and Mackena Bell, 24, of Carson City, Nev.
[callout_left]”We just want to talk to young teens about what it means to be a driver,” said Wallace.[/callout_left]Both racers are part of the Revolution Racing(now Rev Racing) Drive For Diversity program, a development initiative for minority and female drivers and crew members. The two also recently finished filming the BET reality television show “Changing Lanes,” which will premier Sept.1.
“We just want to talk to young teens about what it means to be a driver,” said Wallace.
Wallace began racing at age 9 and has won multiple awards throughout his career, including Rookie of the Year honors in the 2010 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East. He also won his first start in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East at Greenville-Pickens Speedway on March 27, 2010, becoming the youngest winner and the first African-American to win in series history.
The Concord native’s advice to students hoping to enter the motorsports industry is to listen to their peers, stay focused and stick to their goals.
As for breaking into the industry, Bell said young minorities “have to have a tough skin, because people are always trying to put you down.”
She said it is especially hard to be female in a male-dominated sport. Bell’s career success includes the title of Legends division Rookie of the Year at Champion Speedway in 2005, making her the youngest driver and the only female to win in track history.
“I am fortunate enough to race with this team and show the opportunities involved in this sport,” said Bell.
Her advice to those students hoping to go into motorsports is to stay in school and surround themselves with positive, supportive individuals.
For Vance High School Spanish teacher Rick Whitmore, this is the second year his class has participated.
“My students need role models, and I hope they see that today,” said Whitmore.
One of Whitmore’s students, Uju Nwador, a junior, said she watches NASCAR occasionally, but at the event she just wanted to have fun.
The Fueling Your Dreams Tour finished the week at Garinger, McLeod Center and West Charlotte high schools.
“I hope they come away with the understanding and value of a good education and the skills (as to) how they can apply it,” said Jadotte.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — NASCAR announced Monday the 2011 Fueling Your Dreams Tour, a creative and multifaceted program whose aim is to identify talented drivers and provide them with the tools and opportunities to fulfill their dreams of becoming race car drivers.
Additionally, Fueling Your Dreams introduces a cross-section of young fans to NASCAR through resources, tools, experiential engagement and career opportunities within motorsports to help develop the next generation of motorsports executives.
“The Fueling Your Dreams Tour is an innovative, hands-on initiative that brings core elements of NASCAR to communities and new audiences across the country,” said Marcus Jadotte, NASCAR vice president, public affairs and multicultural development.
“NASCAR views this program as a necessary strategy to expose underserved communities to NASCAR and motorsports opportunities which can benefit all young people looking to connect with sports in non-traditional ways.”
Currently under way and continuing until the end of the racing season, the Fueling Your Dreams Tour will blanket the nation, touching youth and families through racing simulators, show cars, contests, giveaways and online racing. High school students can enjoy the NASCAR Fan Experience High School Outreach program brought to their schools exclusively. Among some of the other Fueling Your Dreams Tour programs: