Drive For Diversity Introduces 2009 Driver Lineup; Initiative expands to
twelve drivers; Max Siegel takes on leadership role
CONCORD, N.C. (Jan. 22, 2009) -- The Drive for Diversity (D4D) initiative
continues to move forward in 2009 with an expanded driver lineup and a new
management group. Twelve drivers will participate in the sixth season of
Drive for Diversity -- four in the NASCAR Camping World Series and eight in
the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series. In addition, former Dale Earnhardt
Inc. President Max Siegel and his new marketing and entertainment company,
909 Group, will take over day-to-day management of the initiative.
"We are proud of the progress this important initiative and its drivers have
made over the past five years," said NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France.
"The expansion to 12 drivers and 11 teams is a great sign of opportunities
that continue to be created for young diverse drivers. We look forward to
the leadership of Max Siegel and know he will help bring Drive for Diversity
to the next level."
Entering its sixth season, Drive for Diversity is NASCAR's leading on-track
diversity initiative. The program is designed to give young minority and
female drivers opportunities to compete with established NASCAR teams at the
grassroots level. Since 2004, 22 drivers have competed in Drive for
Diversity, winning 28 races. The 2009 expansion from eight to 12 drivers
comes two years after the program expanded to include teams in the NASCAR
Camping World Series.
This year's class represents drivers from across the country. Five drivers
will return from 2008 and will be joined by seven new drivers.
Last year, the eight drivers combined for 14 wins, 43 top fives, 90 top 10s
and a first-ever championship. Paul Harraka, who will return for his fourth
year, earned the title at All-American Speedway in the NASCAR Whelen
All-American Series. Harraka will be staying with Bill McAnally Racing this
season and will advance to the NASCAR Camping World Series.
Over 200 minority and female drivers applied to be part of the 2009 Drive
for Diversity class. Twenty-five of those applicants were invited to tryout
at the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Combine presented by Sunoco last October
at South Boston (Va.) Speedway. Drivers were selected by their team owners
based on their on-track performance and off-track interviews.
The following 12 drivers were selected by their respective team owners to
compete in the program in 2009 (Click on each drivers name for a full bio
and high-resolution headshot):
• Mackena Bell of Carson City, Nev., will race in the NASCAR Whelen
All-American Series for Position One Motorsports at Toyota Speedway at
Irwindale. In 2005, Bell became the youngest driver to win a championship in
the 42-year history at Champion Speedway in Carson City.
• Kristin Bumbera of Sealy, Texas, returns to the Drive for Diversity
Program for the second season and will race in the NASCAR Camping World
Series East for Bobby Hamilton Jr. Racing. Bumbera won two races last year
at All American Speedway, is the first female to win a Late Model race at
Houston Motorsports Park and the first female to lead the point standings in
a Texas Late Model series.
• Michael Cherry of Valrico, Fla., will race in the NASCAR Whelen
All-American Series for Addis Motorsports at Greenville-Pickens (S.C.)
Speedway. Cherry was rookie of the year in 2008 at Motor Mile Speedway in
the Late Model division and finished fourth in the point standings.
• Jonathon Gomez of Twin Falls, Idaho, will race in the NASCAR Camping World
Series West for RTD Motorsports. In 2008, Gomez won a championship, rookie
of the year title and 13 races at Magic Valley Speedway in Twin Falls.
• Katie Hagar of Nobleboro, Maine returns to the Drive for Diversity program
and will race in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series for Golden State
Racing at Madera (Calif.) Speedway. Hagar was the first female to win a race
at Canaan (N.H.) Fair Speedway.
• Paul Harraka of Fairlawn, N.J., returns to the Drive for Diversity program
and will race in the NASCAR Camping World Series West for Bill McAnally
Racing. Harraka has 174 career wins, 13 national and six world karting
championships and won the 2008 track championship at All American Speedway.
• Laura Hayes of Wilton, Calif., will race in the NASCAR Whelen All-American
Series for James Racing at South Boston (Va.) Speedway. Hayes has amassed 12
national, state and regional karting titles and over 100 wins.
• Juan Pitta of Galt, Calif., will race for Bill McAnally Racing in the
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series at All American Speedway in Roseville,
Calif. Pitta is a seven-time karting champion.
• Megan Reitenour of Miamisburg, Ohio, will race for Leicht Motorsports in
the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series at Tri-County Speedway in Hudson, N.C.
Reitenour is a three-time Ohio state champion in the Bandolero and Legends
series.
• Natalie Sather of Fargo, N.D., will race for Total Velocity Motorsports in
the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series at Evergreen Speedway in Monroe, Wash.
Sather became the first woman to win a major ASCS trophy in 2007 when she
won the Midwest Points Championship.
• Jonathan Smith of Beacon Falls, Conn., returns to the Drive for Diversity
program for a third season and will race in the NASCAR Camping World Series
East for Fadden Racing, Inc. Last year, Smith finished 19th in the NASCAR
Camping World Series East point standings.
• Emily Sue Steck of Holmen, Wis., will race for DMT Motorsports in the
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series at LaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway in West
Salem, Wis. Steck received 2007 rookie of the year honors at LaCrosse
Fairgrounds along with the most popular driver award. Steck was also awarded
the NASCAR Wendell Scott Trailblazer Award.
-credit: nascar
