CONCORD, N.C. — – NASCAR Drive for Diversity (D4D), the leading development platform for female and multicultural drivers and pit crew members, announced its 2015 class today. The program welcomes four talented program newcomers to the six-driver roster striving to transition into the sport’s national series spotlight. Rev Racing, the program’s competition arm, has played a key role in the development of 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Rookie of the Year Kyle Larson and NASCAR XFINITY Series drivers Darrell Wallace Jr. and Daniel Suarez.
“Taking steps to find and develop young female and multicultural athletes who could represent the future of NASCAR is at the core of our organization’s mission,” said Jim Cassidy, NASCAR senior vice president of racing operations. “We were impressed by the talent displayed at the Combine [in October of 2014], and are eager to help this group find their own strengths on and off the track.”
Rev Racing will field four teams in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and two in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series. The 2015 class is led by returning members Devon Amos, who after an impressive 2014 performance in the Whelen All-American Series earned a spot in the K&N Series and K&N Pro Series driver Jay Beasley
The 2015 roster includes:
Devon Amos: Returning to the team, the 23-year-old Rio Rancho, New Mexico, native will make the jump to the K&N Pro Series East after two full seasons in the Whelen All-American Series.
Jay Beasley: Finishing 13th overall and sixth in a loaded Sunoco Rookie of the Year field in the K&N Pro Series East last season, the 23-year-old from Las Vegas, Nevada will return for a second season with Rev Racing, aiming to best his rookie season.
Collin Cabre: After an impressive D4D Combine performance, the 21-year-old Thonotosassa, Florida, native will compete in the K&N Pro Series East in his first year with Rev Racing. Cabre has spent the past five years racing asphalt and dirt sprint cars.
Natalie Decker: A 17-year-old newcomer to the Rev Racing roster from Eagle River, Wisconsin, Decker collected feature wins in limited late models and super late models, as well as earning Rookie and Sportsman of the Year honors in SCAG Midwest Truck Tour. She will compete in the Whelen All-American Series in 2015.
Kenzie Ruston: Entering her third season in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and first with Rev Racing, the 22-year-old El Reno, Oklahoma, native is also a member of NASCAR Next, an industry initiative to identify tomorrow’s stars of the sport. Ruston broke her own record in 2014 as the highest finishing female driver in the K&N Pro Series East with a runner-up finish at Iowa Speedway on her way to finishing ninth in points.
Dylan Smith: The 22-year-old Randolph, Vermont, native earned a spot with Rev Racing in the Whelen All-American Series after competing in his own late model last year. The Stewart-Haas Racing employee ran 15 races and finished 38th in the Whelen All-American Series Division I national standings.
Under Rev Racing owner and CEO Max Siegel’s leadership, the development program aligns drivers with a team of executives, athletic directors, crew chiefs and mentors tasked with helping D4D drivers achieve career successes; thus, improving their chances of reaching one of NASCAR’s three national series.
“NASCAR Drive for Diversity goes much deeper than putting drivers behind the wheel of race cars,” Siegel said. “The program is all-encompassing, providing competition, athletic training and professional development opportunities for drivers who have the determination and talent to reach NASCAR’s top levels.”
“We’ve seen this with Larson, Suarez and Wallace Jr., and are excited about the potential of this talented group of drivers.”
ABOUT REV RACING: Headquartered in Concord, NC, Rev Racing, owned by Max Siegel, operates the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Program, which is the industry’s leading developmental program for ethnic minorities, women drivers, and pit crew members. For more information about Rev Racing visit revracing.net and follow us on Twitter @RevRacin.
