NHRA News: U.S. Army continues sponsorship of YES Program

GLENDORA, Calif. March 9, 2006;  The U.S. Army will continue to sponsor the NHRA Youth
and Education Services (YES) program presented by the U.S. Army during
the 2006 POWERade Series season, NHRA officials announced this week.
The YES program demonstrates to young men and women the variety of
career opportunities within motorsports and the Army. Headlined by the
U.S. Army team of three-time and defending Top Fuel world champion Tony
Schumacher and the Pro Stock Motorcycle duo of Angelle Sampey and Antron
Brown, speakers encourage students to think about how the decisions they
make today will affect their career opportunities later in life.
Schumacher, Sampey and Brown are all teammates under Don Schumacher
Racing.
 "Since becoming the presenter of the YES Program in 2000, the Army has
encouraged hundreds of thousands of young men and women to identify and
strengthen their individual talents to achieve life-long success," said
Col. Thomas Nickerson, director of strategic outreach for the U.S. Army
Accessions Command. "We're proud to continue this program with a new
generation of young Americans."
The U.S. Army offers a variety of experiences for NHRA fans of all ages
- from an impressive interactive display complete with simulators and a
rock climbing wall in Nitro Alley to its marquee series of special
programs offered in the classroom or at the track.
NHRA's Youth and Education Services Department was founded in 1989 and
is one of the premier education programs in motorsports that provides
quality programs and activities for schools and youth organizations
nationwide. Since its inception, the department has worked directly with
more than a million youngsters in free trackside and classroom programs.
At the track, students attend a 45-minute presentation by officials from
NHRA, Don Schumacher Racing and the U.S. Army before receiving
complimentary tickets to watch a full day of POWERade Series Drag Racing
action.
In 2005, nearly 25,000 youth attended YES at events around the country.
This year two Funny Car drivers, '05 Auto Club Road to the Future award
winner Robert Hight and former high school teacher Gary Densham will
inspire youth with stories of their own ascents to the top ranks of the
world's fastest motorsport.
"The YES program has been invaluable to NHRA's efforts at youth
outreach," said Gary Darcy, NHRA senior vice president, sales and
marketing. "Our partnership with the U.S. Army has given us the chance
to give youth the motivation and ability to spot their unique talents
and choose a career path that makes the most of those abilities - all
against the exciting backdrop of NHRA POWERade drag racing."
As one of NHRA's fastest growing programs, YES develops track site and
classroom programs for students in kindergarten through college. Staff
members team with teachers and youth leaders to focus on four themes:
the need for continued education; the value of job specific training;
the relevance of establishing clear, attainable goals; and awareness of
the tremendous variety of career options.
Headquartered in Glendora, Calif., NHRA is the primary sanctioning body
for the sport of drag racing in the United States. It presents 23
national events through its NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. NHRA has
80,000 racers and members nationwide and 140 member tracks.
NHRA-sanctioned sportsman and bracket racing series' provide competition
opportunities for drivers of all levels. NHRA develops the stars of
tomorrow by offering the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, Xplod Sport
Compact Racing Series, NHRA Summit Racing Series and the Street Legal
Program presented by AAA. NHRA also offers the O'Reilly Auto Parts Jr.
Drag Racing League for youths ages 8 to 17.