MEMBERSHIP LOGIN
JOIN PRI
Kenzie Ruston Exceling At NASCAR Diversity Program
Image
As a member of the 2015 Drive for Diversity driver class, announced Monday by NASCAR, Kenzie Ruston is in a position to defy probabilities, succeeding first on the track and then in landing a sponsor to support her in a market that is unforgiving for young unknowns and minorities alike.
"I don't think there is going to be a group of females that's just going to pop up in the truck (series) or (Xfinity series) or even (Sprint) Cup," she said. "I think eventually there is going to be just one or two who kind of pave the way, and I think that's just how it's kind of always going to be. I don't think one day there is going to be six females at the Cup level. You're going to have to be a standout from all the other females and hopefully a company comes on and loves you and loves your personality and kind of becomes family."
Ruston, 23, will embark on her third season in the K&N Pro Series East after becoming the highest-finishing female in circuit history—second last season at Iowa Speedway for Ben Kennedy Racing. The former member of the NASCAR Next initiative to identify and promote potential future stars finished ninth in series points last season and was one of four new drivers in the six-person D4D lineup.
Ruston had no sponsorship and would have been unable to race this season without the D4D program.
Max Siegel, who owns the Rev Racing team that fields cars in K&N and Whelen Modifieds and All-American series for the D4D participants, called this "the most difficult year ever" to select a roster. Siegel has managed the program for seven of its 12 years. From 90 applicants, 25 were invited to a talent-evaluation combine and six were given the chance to follow Kyle Larson (Sprint Cup) and Bubba Wallace Jr. and Daniel Suarez (Xfinity) as graduates proving themselves and advancing to NASCAR national series.
The 2015 Drive for Diversity class will be comprised of the returners Devon Amos, 23, who will ascend to the K&N Pro Series East after two seasons in Whelen All-American; Jay Beasley, 23, returning to K&N Pro Series East; and newcomers Collin Cabre, 21, who begins his first K&N East season; Natalie Decker, 17, who will enter the Whelen series; Dylan Smith, 22, who will return to the Whelen Series; and Ruston.
Larson last season became the first program graduate to win a Sprint Cup pole (Pocono Raceway in August). In 2013, Wallace Jr. became the first African-American to capture a national touring series race since 1963 when he won a truck race at Martinsville Speedway. A first female victory would be a next major benchmark, Siegel said.
The diversity program has graduated 28 pit crew workers into higher series, a success, for certain, he said, but added that the program still has much work ahead to fulfill the mission statement of making NASCAR more reflective of society demographically, in its fan base and in its top-three series driver paddock.
"We are a long way away from the objective of having a strong pipeline of young, diverse talent," he said. "Even though it's a crowded field when jobs open up, over the next five years, we have to have a strong pipeline to compete.
"And an immediate long-term goal, as a minority owner, I would also like to be able to grow the team and be able to provide a seat in the Truck Series or the (Xfinity) series for the drivers as well. We are finding that as competitive as it is, there are not a lot of available seats for the graduates who move on from the K&N series."
Ruston feels the pressure and anticipation of being the one. She commences her season on Feb. 15 at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway.
"If we can win a race and be the first female to do that in the K&N Series, then I think doors will open," she said. "I really want to finish top-five in points and win a race or two. That would really be a success. I feel like once I get that first win, I feel like doors will open hopefully."
"I don't think there is going to be a group of females that's just going to pop up in the truck (series) or (Xfinity series) or even (Sprint) Cup," she said. "I think eventually there is going to be just one or two who kind of pave the way, and I think that's just how it's kind of always going to be. I don't think one day there is going to be six females at the Cup level. You're going to have to be a standout from all the other females and hopefully a company comes on and loves you and loves your personality and kind of becomes family."
Ruston, 23, will embark on her third season in the K&N Pro Series East after becoming the highest-finishing female in circuit history—second last season at Iowa Speedway for Ben Kennedy Racing. The former member of the NASCAR Next initiative to identify and promote potential future stars finished ninth in series points last season and was one of four new drivers in the six-person D4D lineup.
Ruston had no sponsorship and would have been unable to race this season without the D4D program.
Max Siegel, who owns the Rev Racing team that fields cars in K&N and Whelen Modifieds and All-American series for the D4D participants, called this "the most difficult year ever" to select a roster. Siegel has managed the program for seven of its 12 years. From 90 applicants, 25 were invited to a talent-evaluation combine and six were given the chance to follow Kyle Larson (Sprint Cup) and Bubba Wallace Jr. and Daniel Suarez (Xfinity) as graduates proving themselves and advancing to NASCAR national series.
The 2015 Drive for Diversity class will be comprised of the returners Devon Amos, 23, who will ascend to the K&N Pro Series East after two seasons in Whelen All-American; Jay Beasley, 23, returning to K&N Pro Series East; and newcomers Collin Cabre, 21, who begins his first K&N East season; Natalie Decker, 17, who will enter the Whelen series; Dylan Smith, 22, who will return to the Whelen Series; and Ruston.
Larson last season became the first program graduate to win a Sprint Cup pole (Pocono Raceway in August). In 2013, Wallace Jr. became the first African-American to capture a national touring series race since 1963 when he won a truck race at Martinsville Speedway. A first female victory would be a next major benchmark, Siegel said.
The diversity program has graduated 28 pit crew workers into higher series, a success, for certain, he said, but added that the program still has much work ahead to fulfill the mission statement of making NASCAR more reflective of society demographically, in its fan base and in its top-three series driver paddock.
"We are a long way away from the objective of having a strong pipeline of young, diverse talent," he said. "Even though it's a crowded field when jobs open up, over the next five years, we have to have a strong pipeline to compete.
"And an immediate long-term goal, as a minority owner, I would also like to be able to grow the team and be able to provide a seat in the Truck Series or the (Xfinity) series for the drivers as well. We are finding that as competitive as it is, there are not a lot of available seats for the graduates who move on from the K&N series."
Ruston feels the pressure and anticipation of being the one. She commences her season on Feb. 15 at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway.
"If we can win a race and be the first female to do that in the K&N Series, then I think doors will open," she said. "I really want to finish top-five in points and win a race or two. That would really be a success. I feel like once I get that first win, I feel like doors will open hopefully."
