Bring-a-child-to-work day will take on a whole new look at the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Dover International Speedway Friday, May 30. Craftsman Motorsports, in conjunction with NASCAR and Dover International Speedway, will sponsor “Urban Youth Racing School Day at the Races.” Fourteen students of the Urban Youth Racing School in Philadelphia will get a special behind-the-scenes look at the motorsports industry. The Urban Youth Racing School is a non-profit organization committed to the education, training and preparation of today’s urban youths through exposure to the automotive and motorsports industry. In 2002, 78 urban boys and girls successfully completed the 10-week motorsports orientation and training programs.
From turning wrenches on a NASCAR Craftsman Truck to enforcing rules as a NASCAR official to generating awareness for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, these students will get a first-hand look at the talented people who have driven NASCAR to become the No. 1 spectator sport in the country. The Urban Youth Racing School students will have a full day, beginning with a stop at the Sears and Sears Auto Center in Dover to learn about automotive technology careers. Following a visit at the store, the students will travel to the race track where they will spend the morning before the race talking with and learning a specific motorsports job from an assigned mentor.
Mentors will include NASCAR officials, public relations and marketing representatives and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series drivers and crew chiefs. Featured drivers and teams will include Bill Lester (No. 8 Bobby Hamilton Racing Dodge), Tina Gordon (No. 31 Brevak Racing Dodge), Brendan Gaughan (No. 62 Orleans Racing Dodge) and Terry Cook (No. 29 K-Automotive Motorsports Ford).
“I’ve supported the Urban Youth Racing School for several years now, and I think what they do is vital to the diversity movement within NASCAR racing,” Lester said. “I think it’s great that our team is going to have one of the students with us during the weekend. It should be a lot of fun for him or her, and it will give our guys a chance to talk to someone about what they do for a living and how they got involved in racing.”
The students also will be part of the driver/crew chief meeting and driver introductions for the MBNA America 200.
“Events like these are the most important for the kids in our school because they get a hands-on look at what happens on race day,” said Anthony Martin, executive director of the Urban Youth Racing School. “To have the opportunity to spend time with drivers, crew members, NASCAR officials and Sears Craftsman executives, the title sponsors for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, is really fantastic for these kids. A lot of these kids dream about this, so to actually be involved for a day and see what goes on means a whole lot to them and the school”
In addition to the students who will learn about the motorsports industry in the garage, other Urban Youth Racing School students will enjoy the MBNA America 200 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race from the grandstand that Friday.
More info about the Urban Youth Racing School at www.urbanyouthracingschool.com.(PR)(5-28-2003)
