DAYTONA BEACH — A new motorsports team geared toward diversity unveiled an extensive plan Wednesday to bring money to historically black, Hispanic and other colleges while also attracting minority fans to racing.
Complete with a new hip-hop song promoting the joint venture, Racing For Education has been formed by a group that includes Evelyn Bethune, president of the Mary McLeod Bethune Legacy Preservation Institute, and Diversity Motorsports Racing, in collaboration with Bethune-Cookman University.
The program and new racing team were highlighted at a news conference in front of the statue of Bethune near the Mary McLeod Bethune Performing Arts Center.
A show car was also on display with the Racing For Education logo that will be similar to one that team officials said will race in the Nationwide Series race at Daytona International Speedway on July 1.
The driver of that car, which they said has already been confirmed, will be announced two days before the race. On the Diversity Motorsports Racing website, it lists “Our Drivers” as Mike Bliss, Hannah Baker and Ricky Byers.
“Racing For Education is in the arena. Failure is not an option,” said Terrance Cox III, co-owner of Diversity Motorsports Racing, formed last year.
Marcus Jadotte, vice president of public affairs and multicultural development for NASCAR in Daytona Beach, said NASCAR has not heard of the team or the initiative, but “we’re always excited about entrepreneurs wanting to come into the sport of team owners.
“We believe it is important for the sport going forward at every level to look like the country in terms of demographics. Having expanded minority participation in the ownership ranks of the sport, we would welcome that.”
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