Students from Virginia State University got a taste Tuesday of what goes on behind the scenes of NASCAR. The tour was part of a new class at VSU called the Business and Marketing of NASCAR. Taught by Keith Green, director of public relations for RIR, the intent is to attract minorities to the sport. The class has “opened up some eyes to how big the sport is and how powerful it is, and also about the possibilities of inviting more minorities into the sport,” Green said. They got to interview Jimmie Johnson, trudge through Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s hauler and wander the garage area of Richmond International Raceway as racing superstars and their crews tested the cars. Students spent a few minutes watching the cars speed around the track during testing, which was to run through Wednesday. They sat in on news conferences with drivers Ward Burton, Ricky Rudd and Johnson, and had a minute to ask Johnson questions. They talked to NASCAR official Kenneth Scott, an African-American. He led them though what’s considered sacred ground to millions of fans _ the hauler that transports Earnhardt Jr.’s cars _ and spoke about his job and how he got there. He encouraged the students to pursue a NASCAR job.(more at the Richmond Times Dispatch)(4-5-2007)
