Radford, VA (AHN) – Richard Childress Racing development driver Ryan Gifford, and 29 others, will compete in on-track and off-track evaluations at Motor Mile Speedway October 19 and 20 in the Drive for Diversity Testing and Evaluation Combine.

All of the drivers will be rated on driving skills, the handling of sponsors and field questions from media. “I’m excited about getting selected to participate in this program,” Gifford said. “The Drive for Diversity Combine should give me an opportunity to improve not only my driving skills, but also the other responsibilities that go along with being a top-level driver.” Gifford, a native of Winchester, Tenn., starte racing go-karts at nine and moved his way up the ranks on local dirt tracks before being seen by Mike Dillon, Vice President of Competition at RCR and owner of Team Dillon Racing.

“Ryan is a young driver with a lot of potential,” Dillon said. “He gives great feedback to his team, no matter what he’s driving, and he’s excelled in dealing with the media and sponsors. He’s adapted quickly to stock cars, and I think the Drive for Diversity program will help him grow even more.” Gifford, who was signed to a development deal by RCR in 2008, has driven dirt and asphalt late model stocks, along with five combined starts in the NASCAR Camping World Series East and West divisions.

In his NCWS starts, the 20-year old has two runner-up and four top-10 finishes and has completed all 715 laps contested to go along with his 6.2 average finish. “This season has been fun,” Gifford said. “We’ve had some solid runs and I’ve learned a lot about how these heavier stock cars handle. Being involved in the Drive for Diversity Combine is definitely going to teach me a lot more and, hopefully, will allow me to turn those solid runs into victories next season.”

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