Flashing an infectious smile, Lamott Ebron is clearly enjoying his 15 minutes of fame. That boyish grin, after all, helped land the Simon Gratz High sophomore a spot opposite Winston Cup driver Jimmie Johnson on national television in February. The duo teamed up in A Walk in Your Shoes, an educational series matching two people from different backgrounds learning about each other’s environment. The show, which was shot during a NASCAR weekend at Lowe’s Motor Speedway last season, was part of “The N” teen block on Noggin – Nickelodeon’s sister cable network. Earlier this month, when Johnson came to town to promote a race in Dover, Del., the two greeted each other as if they were longtime friends. “Jimmie is my favorite driver because, week after week, he performs at a consistently high level,” Ebron said. “He’s very competitive and I like his style of driving, although sometimes he gets himself in trouble by being a little too greedy on the track – just like me.” Chuckling at the comparison, Johnson called Ebron “a great kid” and gushed about the time they spent together at the track. His motor sports education shifted into high gear last year when Ebron enrolled in the Urban Youth Racing School , which has its headquarters on Parkside Avenue near Fairmount Park. The nonprofit organization provides inner-city youths – ages 8 through 18 – a chance to race go-carts and learn about career opportunities in motor sports and the automotive industry. Founded in 1998, the program has provided free instruction to more than 500 students. According to executive director Anthony Martin, the school is about to expand, with new schools set for Indianapolis; Charlottesville, Va.; Phoenix; and Kansas City, Kan. The Urban Youth Racing School held its annual awards banquet last night at Dave and Buster’s on Columbus Boulevard. The festivities were to include a screening of Ebron’s television debut.( Philadelphia Inqurier )(4-23-2003)
