NASCAR has announced 10 trailblazers and inclusion advocates as part of the 16th annual NASCAR Drive for Diversity Awards. Among the honorees are crew members, league partners, and a public school system, all of whom are making a real difference in the sport. And new this year, Ally Financial--the nation's largest digital-only bank and Official Consumer Bank of NASCAR--will be the first-ever presenting partner of the ceremony.

"Today we celebrate 10 individuals playing a key role growing our sport and welcoming new fans by making it more inclusive," said NASCAR president, Steve Phelps. "Having the support of sponsors like Ally is crucial because we share a common goal of making racing inclusive for all. We're elated to have them as the presenting sponsor of the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Awards."

Ally, widely known for its commitment to inclusivity on and off the track, entered racing in 2019 as a full-season sponsor of the Hendrick Motorsports No. 48 Team and expanded its presence by becoming an official NASCAR partner in 2023. Ally has since initiated a series of initiatives designed to elevate the contributions of diverse members of the racing community.

The 2024 NASCAR Drive for Diversity Awards recipients are as follows:

Crew Member: Mike Metcalf

• Metcalf previously worked as the co-head pit crew coach and director of culture and community at Trackhouse Racing. The Charlotte native and former football student-athlete graduated with honors from Appalachian State University. Metcalf first entered the world of NASCAR as a pit crew member in 2006. Metcalf started coaching pit crews in addition to competing in 2012 and is one of the few pit crew coaches to be a pit crew champion as both a crew member (08') and a coach (22').

Developmental Series Driver: Zach Herrin

• Herrin races part-time in the ARCA Menards Series. He's an out driver who has been an exemplary advocate for LGBTQ+ people in the motorsports industry, integrating inclusion into his ethos through building partnerships with organizations such as Lambda Legal and representing the sport in a positive light both on and off the race track.

Sam Belnavis Industry Ambassador: Jefferson Hodges, Team Penske

• Hodges serves as NASCAR team manager for Team Penske and previously worked as Rev Racing's general manager and director of competition for 10 years. Hodges was instrumental in the growth and stability of the Rev Racing organization, helping train, advance and guide over 100 developmental drivers during his stint. Currently at Team Penske, Hodges continues to keep diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts at the forefront by working with Rev Racing to identify potential pit crew recruits.

Institution: Chicago Public Schools

• NASCAR and Chicago Public Schools collaborated to help introduce the sport to a new generation of racing fans when 43 CPS STEM and STEAM schools and 22,000 students from across the district participated in an in-classroom design challenge focused on driver helmets in 2023. Winning teams of K-12 students were invited to the inaugural STEAM Fest to compete in an engineering-focused design challenge with help from NASCAR Cup Series driver Daniel Suárez and a team of STEM professionals from the NASCAR industry. Following the success of the 2023 program, NASCAR's Research and Development Team has furthered its partnership with CPS to build a NASCAR-themed STEAM curriculum to be rolled out to an additional 17,000+ 8th graders across the city in 2024.

National Series Driver: Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing

• Reddick, driver of the No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota, has participated in several events to promote dialogue on social justice as an integral part of NASCAR's diversity and inclusion work with its drivers. Reddick also leverages his partnership with Jordan Brand and his team, 23XI Racing, to engage celebrities and influencers like J. Balvin as an opportunity to expand NASCAR's reach to diverse audiences.

Outstanding Intern: Chandler Love, University of Miami

• Love joined the NASCAR Diversity Internship Program with a strong passion for human resources. Over the summer, Chandler supported various functions within NASCAR's HR department, contributing significantly to processes and the overall employee experience. Chandler's dedication and exceptional performance earned her a part-time opportunity with NASCAR as a learning administrator as she completes her senior year at the University of Miami.

Partner: Keurig Dr Pepper

• Keurig Dr Pepper has shown commitment to NASCAR diversity, equity & inclusion goals through the Dr Pepper 23XI SPEED Institute Tuition Program, which began in 2021. Through this alliance between Dr Pepper and 23XI Racing, Dr Pepper has offered vital financial support by awarding 23 deserving students $5,000 each in tuition assistance. Additionally, several tuition recipients have had the opportunity to gain work experience in motorsports through internships at 23XI.

Team: Venturini Motorsports

• Venturini Motorsports has played a pivotal role in the careers of drivers throughout the years. During the 2023 season, Venturini Motorsports earned an ARCA Menards West Championship with Sean Higorani while also competing in the ARCA Menards Series with drivers Toni Breidinger, Amber Balcaen and Taylor Reimer. In addition to developing driver talent, Venturini has continued to advance engineering talent, hiring Monon Rahman, who won his first race as a crew chief with Sean Hignorani in 2023. Venturini's longstanding commitment to advancing careers and the sport began with The Ultra Blue Crew in 1987, which was an all-female pit crew that competed in ARCA races.

Track: Phoenix Raceway

• Phoenix Raceway utilized the NASCAR Championship Ignition Luncheon benefiting Phoenix Children's Hospital to generate excitement for the 2023 NASCAR Playoffs and NASCAR Championship Weekend while also promoting NASCAR's commitment to DEI. The luncheon, which featured a cross-section of NASCAR's past, present and future that showcased the changing face of the sport to an influential audience, was built on a successful event earlier in the year highlighting STEM's important role in NASCAR and introducing underrepresented cultures to our sport. The track has also been a sponsor of Phoenix Pride for the past two years.

Young Racer: Katie Hettinger

• In 2023, Hettinger was crowned CARS Tour Rookie of the Year, finishing the season second in driver championship points, and receiving the fan vote as the "Most Popular Pro Late Model" driver. She also received the Wendell Scott Trailblazer Award in 2022.

For more information, visit nascar.com.