Drive for Diversity Provides More Opportunities in 2005

Combine Dates Officially Announced

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Oct. 7 -- Drive for Diversity will increase the number of minority participants in its driver and crew member development program in 2005 from five to eight drivers and from six to 12 crew members. The program is managed by Access Marketing & Communications.

"Because of the commitment of our program partners and the progress made by the 2004 Drive for Diversity participants, we will provide more opportunities in 2005 to qualified minority and female drivers and crew members," said Greg Calhoun, president and CEO of Access Marketing & Communications. "This is exciting news to share with the motorsports community and reflects well on the entire industry's efforts to reach out to minorities and females to involve them in America's most exciting sport, NASCAR."

The Drive for Diversity Driver Combine Testing and Evaluation is slated for Oct. 18 and 19, 2004, at the Motor Mile Speedway in Radford, Va., while the initial Crew Member Evaluation Combine is scheduled for Oct. 21 and 22, at 5 Off 5 On Race Team Performance Center in Mooresville, N.C.

After reviewing more than 120 resumes from around the country, a team of motorsports professionals will select 18 drivers, including the five drivers who drove for teams in the 2004 program, to participate in the event. The selected drivers will showcase their skills to Drive for Diversity affiliated team owners by completing practice, qualifying and intermediate runs in Late Model Stock Cars. Candidates will also participate in interviews to determine their overall motorsports knowledge and racing philosophy. Owners will select the drivers to compete on NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series tracks during the 2005 season.

Meanwhile, the Crew Member Combine has been separated into two events. The October Evaluation Combine at 5 Off 5 On is open to potential crew members who submitted a resume to Drive for Diversity. They will be evaluated on their physical condition, functional attributes, fitness level, skills assessment and oral interviews.

Based on evaluation scores, the top 25 participants will be offered an eight-week scholarship to attend 5 Off 5 On to hone their crew skills. Upon completion of the training program, crew members will earn the opportunity to participate in the Selection Combine on Jan. 9, 2005, at 5 Off 5 On when they will be evaluated in front of team owners on simulated race day activities and interviews with team representatives.

Owners with teams competing in the NASCAR Busch Series or NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series will select the crew members to participate in the program next season.

Drive for Diversity ( http://www.drivefordiversity.com/ ) was created and is managed by Access Marketing & Communications, a Charlotte-based multicultural marketing firm founded in 2003 by Calhoun Enterprises and The Radiate Group. Drive for Diversity seeks to provide minority driver and crew member development programs as an initial step in a long-term solution to diversify NASCAR's participant and audience base.