Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd (MGP) and Formula E Operations Ltd have signed an agreement by which Mercedes have taken an option to enter the FIA Formula E Championship in season five.

According to the option agreement, Mercedes may choose to be one of the maximum of 12 entries to be proposed by the championship promoter to the FIA to enter from the 2018/19 season.

Mercedes could take one of the two new entries that will be allocated in season five - subject to approval of the FIA - when the all-electric racing series goes from the current format of two cars per driver, to a single car for the entire event.

The current 10 teams in Formula E are all expected to continue in season five and beyond in their existing format, or joining forces with other OEM’s.

Alejandro Agag, CEO of Formula E, said: “Formula E wants to become the platform where car manufacturers test and develop the technologies that they will then introduce on their road cars. Formula E is becoming an exciting mix of consolidated manufacturers like Renault, Citroen-DS, Audi, Mahindra or Jaguar, and new futuristic brands like Faraday Future, NextEV, or the likes of major component manufacturers like Schaeffler and ZF. Mercedes would be a great addition to that growing line-up.”

Toto Wolff, Head of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport, said: “We have been watching the growth of Formula E with great interest. At the current time, we are looking at all the options available in the future of motor racing, and we are very pleased with an agreement that secures us an opportunity to enter the series in season five. Electrification will play a major role in the future of the automotive industry - racing has always been a technology R&D platform for the motor industry, and this will make Formula E very relevant in the future.”

To follow the latest news and information visit the Formula E website.

The FIA Formula E Championship is the world’s first fully-electric single-seater racing series, competing on the streets against the backdrop of some of the most iconic cities - including Hong Kong, Marrakesh, Buenos Aires, Monaco, Paris, New York and Montreal.

The championship represents a vision for the future of the motor industry, serving as a platform to showcase the latest innovations in electric vehicle technology and alternative energy solutions. Future seasons will see the regulations open up further allowing manufacturers to focus on the development of motor and battery components, which in turn will filter down to everyday contemporary electric road vehicles.

The 2016/17 FIA Formula E Championship sees 10 teams and 20 drivers go wheel-to-wheel in 10 cities spanning five continents in the fight to be crowned Formula E champion. The inaugural season of Formula E sparked into life in September 2014 around the grounds of the Olympic Park in Beijing. The third season of the all-electric racing series gets underway on October 9 in Hong Kong, with the season finale double-header in Montreal on July 29 & 30.

The international technology company Continental on Tuesday announced the acquisition of Lakeville, IN-based Hoosier Racing Tire Corp., a manufacturer of specialty tires for racing applications.

“This acquisition showcases the consequent execution of our long-term growth strategy Vision 2025, characterized by strategic planning and systematic implementation of technological progress. The acquisition of Hoosier Racing Tire is an exciting next addition to our product portfolio and will support our growth strategy, especially in the ultra high performance segment,” said Nikolai Setzer, Executive Board Member for Continental’s tire business.

Dr. Jochen Etzel, CEO of Continental Tire the Americas, LLC (CTA) added, “Hoosier’s management team has built an impressive business. We believe Hoosier Tire is well-positioned to continue its strong growth, and we look forward to supporting that development through our complementary knowledge and extensive footprint. Hoosier’s management team will continue to run the racing tire business. We are committed to the employees, and the communities in which Hoosier operates. We look forward to the future of working together to accelerate growth.”

Hoosier was founded in 1957 and has a legacy of technical product knowledge, quality manufacturing, outstanding service and consistent performance. Hoosier supplies tires for most racing applications throughout the world, with an emphasis on high performance and quality. The company currently employs nearly 500 people.

Joyce Newton, Hoosier’s president and CEO said, “Continental and Hoosier share a similar vision for continued growth and sales excellence. Hoosier has fantastic brand recognition, a high-performing team, established customer relationships and a great lineup of products. This acquisition will provide a stronger and more sustainable organization for Hoosier moving ahead.”

Continental and Hoosier have worked together over the past several years on a variety of technical and motorsports projects.

Terms of the transaction are not being disclosed.
 
Continental develops intelligent technologies for transporting people and their goods. They are said to be a reliable partner, an international automotive supplier, tire manufacturer, and industrial partner that is said to provide sustainable, safe, comfortable, individual, and affordable solutions. Continental currently employs approximately 215,000 people in 55 countries.
 
Based in Fort Mill, S.C., Continental Tire the Americas, LLC manufactures and distributes a complete premium line of passenger, light truck and commercial tires for original equipment and replacement markets.

Badlands Motor Speedway in Brandon, South Dakota, announced today its 2017 racing schedule and total payout amounts. The well-known 3/8-Mile oval will continue to race on Saturday and Sunday nights in 2017.

Saturday nights will feature three classes of Sprint Cars. The 410 Outlaw Sprint Cars, MSTS 360 Sprint Cars and IMCA RaceSaver 305 Sprint Cars will all be battling for $40,000 in prize money, still the highest paying Sprint Car program in the country.

On top of the already guaranteed prize money, BMS is implementing “Chuck’s Challenge”, a bonus payout named after Badlands owner and CEO Chuck Brennan. “Chuck’s Challenge” gives Sprint Car drivers each week a chance at big money if they race in all three classes. Any driver who wins two of the three A-Main events on Saturday night will receive a $5,000 bonus on top of their winnings. If someone wins all three A-Main events, it’s a $25,000 bonus on top of their normal winnings.

BMS will continue its Travel Assistance Program this season for all 410 Outlaw Sprint Car teams. Those teams will receive $1.50 per mile to travel, with a cap of $400. The Speedway paid out over $70,000 in Travel Assistance money in 2016.

Sunday nights will feature all bodied cars with the addition of two USRA classes. A total of four classes will compete on Sunday night with the return of the Late Model Street Stocks and the USRA Hobby Stocks. BMS will also add the USRA B-Mods and the USRA Stock Cars for 2017. These four classes of cars will be competing for $20,000 in prize money each Sunday night.

The season will open again with the $100,000 Silver Shootout on May 13 where all drivers will be paid in silver bars. Depending upon the price of Silver, the payouts could increase greatly before May.

The 2nd Annual $250,000 Rock N Roll Gold Cup will be a two-day show in 2017 on July 28-29. The Gold Cup will feature winged Sprint Cars, non-winged Sprint Cars from USAC, and also the USAC National Midget Series. The Season Championship will again be $100,000 with seven classes battling for the money.

BMS will also feature two one-day body car specials on June 4 and August 5. Details on those two specialty events will be announced at a later date.

Breakdowns of the 2017 purse structure will be announced at the End-of-Season Championship Banquet at Badlands Pawn Gold & Jewelry at 1600 Russell Street in Sioux Falls on Saturday, January 14.

General Admission prices will remain the same with no increases for 2017. Saturday’s tickets will remain $20 in advance and Sunday’s tickets will remain $10 in advance.

The 2017 schedule and payout structure is subject to change. Specialty shows and the completion of some of the dates listed below will be announced at a later date.

2017 Badlands Motor Speedway Schedule
DAY, DATE, EVENT; CLASS
Saturday, May 13, $100,000 Silver Shootout; 410 Sprint Cars, LMSS
Saturday, May 20, Sprint Car Saturday Night; 410, 360, 305 Sprint Cars
Sunday, May 21, Stock Car Sunday Night; LMSS, USRA Hobby, USRA B-Mod, USRA Stock Car
Saturday, May 27, Sprint Car Saturday Night, Folkens Brothers Trucking Sprint Car Spectacular;410, 360, 305 Sprint Cars
Sunday, May 28, Stock Car Sunday Night; LMSS, USRA Hobby, USRA B-Mod, USRA Stock Car
Sunday, June 4, SPECIAL–All Body Cars; TBD
Saturday, June 10, Sprint Car Saturday Night; 410, 360, 305 Sprint Cars
Sunday, June 11, Stock Car Sunday Night; LMSS, USRA Hobby, USRA B-Mod, USRA Stock Car
Saturday, June 17, Sprint Car Saturday Night; 410, 360, 305 Sprint Cars
Sunday, June 18, Stock Car Sunday Night; LMSS, USRA Hobby, USRA B-Mod, USRA Stock Car
Saturday, June 24, Sprint Car Saturday Night; 410, 360, 305 Sprint Cars
Sunday, June 25, Stock Car Sunday Night; LMSS, USRA Hobby, USRA B-Mod, USRA Stock Car
Saturday, July 1, World of Outlaws; WoO, 360, 305 Sprint Cars
Sunday, July 2, World of Outlaws; WoO, 360, 305 Sprint Cars
Saturday, July 15, Sprint Car Saturday Night; 410, 360, 305 Sprint Cars
Sunday, July 16, Stock Car Sunday Night; LMSS, USRA Hobby, USRA B-Mod, USRA Stock Car
Saturday, July 22, Jamison Const. $10,000, Celebrity Endruo Extravaganza; Enduro Cars
Friday, July 28, 2nd Annual Gold Cup; 410, Sprint Cars
Saturday, July 29, 2nd Annual Gold Cup; 410, Sprint Cars
Saturday, August 5, SPECIAL–All Body Cars, TBD
Saturday, August 26, Sprint Car Saturday Night; ASCS, 410, 305 Sprint Cars
Sunday, August 27, Stock Car Sunday Night, LMSS, USRA Hobby, USRA B-Mod, USRA Stock Car
Sunday, Sept. 3, Huset’s Flashback Night, HoF induction; 410, 360 Sprint Cars with Body Support
Saturday, Sept. 9, Sprint Car Championship; 410, 360, 305 Sprint Cars
Sunday, Sept. 10, Body Car Championship; LMSS, USRA Hobby, USRA B-Mod, USRA Stock Car

Visit the Badlands Motor Speedway website for more information.

Daily session schedules for November’s RPM@Vegas and December’s RPM@Indy Workshops are now available.

The Workshops, produced by Racing Promotion Monthly, the idea newsletter for auto racing promoters, mark their 44th year when they convene for the RPM@Vegas gathering, which will kick off with a “get acquainted” social hour Sunday, November 13 and sessions, Monday and Tuesday, November 14, and 15.

The Workshop Series, known as “The network place for short track promoters,” will continue when the Fourth Annual RPM@Indy Workshop convenes at 8 a.m., Wednesday, December 7, in the Media Center, Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The RPM@Daytona schedule will be set in January with Speedweek Workshop offering the same sessions as RPM@Vegas. The RPM@Vegas and RPM@Indy session schedules may be downloaded from the the Racing Promotion Monthly website. Promoters attending RPM@Vegas can check out an exclusive promoters’ airport-to-hotel shuttle schedule, lodging information, and credential application information as well from the publication’s website.

The RPM@Vegas Workshop is the 116th produced by Racing Promotion Monthly since 1974. Racing Promotion Monthly, the idea newsletter for auto racing promoters, and the RPM Promoters Workshops, the networking places for short track promoters, are produced annually courtesy of K&K Insurance Group, Inc. and Hoosier Racing Tire.

After a nearly decade long absence, the Trans-Am Series will make its return to the West Coast, with The Trans-Am Race Company formally announcing an independent West Coast Championship that will begin next year.

A stand-alone competition, the Trans-Am West Coast Championship will have its own points championship and will be independent of the Trans-Am Championship — which is held primarily on tracks throughout the East Coast, Midwest and South.

“The West Coast has always been core to the spirit of Trans-Am,” said John Clagett, president of The Trans-Am Race Company. “Some of the greatest races in Trans-Am history took place on the West Coast, and some of our greatest talents called it home. From 1996 to 2005 nearly a quarter of all Trans Am events were held in the West, so many of our competitors and race shops were based there—the region is engrained in our history. The Trans-Am West Coast Championship is the first of many steps towards rebuilding that core competitor base and making Trans-Am a national brand for our stakeholders, drivers and fans.”

Trans-Am will partner in the endeavor with the Sportscar Vintage Racing Ass’n (SVRA), as it does for many of its events in the Trans Am Championship. The series will continue with the format of 100-mile sprint races and will enforce a modified version of the Trans-Am rulebook while staffing the events with core members of the Trans-Am Series staff, including the Series’ Technical Director and Chief Steward.

“The timing is just right for Trans-Am,” said Clagett. “The Trans-Am Championship is stable and continuing to grow as we bring in additional marketing partners for 2017. Our relationship with SVRA has presented us with the opportunity to expand westward with minimal risk while providing the vital components for success, quality venues and competition platforms, while we work to rebuild Trans-Am’s presence in a region it has historically called home.”

Visit the Trans-Am website for more information.

2017 Trans-Am West Coast Championship Schedule
Date – Venue – Location

• Feb. 6-7 – Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch – Pahrump, Nev.
• April 29-30 – Auto Club Speedway – Fontana, Calif.
• July 29-30 – Portland Int’l Raceway – Portland, Ore.
• Nov. 4-5 – Circuit of the Americas – Austin, Texas

Now in its 29th year, the Performance Racing Industry Trade Show was recently dubbed “the cat’s meow of the motorsports capital of the world” by one longtime attendee. We couldn’t agree more, as dozens of first-time exhibitors will join over 1000 other top manufacturers and service providers on a packed Show floor for the three biggest business days in racing. Indeed, it won’t be long before the Indiana Convention Center is teeming with new and innovative parts, equipment and solutions for all segments of motorsports, from open-wheel to drag racing, road racing to stock car, off-road to modified, karting to land speed, and so much more. As we’ve proudly noted through the years, it truly is The Epicenter of New Racing Technology (our own description).

Not to be missed among all the activity in and around the exhibit halls is PRI’s Business Education Seminar Program, which takes place Friday and Saturday (December 9–10) mornings and features enlightening and energetic sessions on relevant and timely topics for racing professionals of all stripes.
 
Friday’s slate kicks off with a trio of talks on digital marketing, relationship building, and women in motorsports. In “Digital Marketing Unlimited,” expert presenter Erin Bemis of Constant Contact delivers a fast-paced, information-rich session packed with tips, techniques and tools to help motorsports entrepreneurs navigate the do’s and the don’ts of email marketing. For those seeking clarity on how to effectively initiate and build strategic partnerships, author and speaker Mike Brown of The Brainzooming Group highlights key lessons in “From the Sponsor Side: Building Successful Business Relationships.” And finally, four dynamic industry leaders—including former IndyCar driver Lyn St. James; driver, fabricator and TV personality Jessi Combs; Roush Yates Engines’ Jennifer LaFever; and Jeanette DesJardins of Car Chix and Crank It Media—will take the stage for a compelling panel discussion on opportunities for women in racing. We’ll talk about career paths, business relationships, sponsor attraction and more, while those in the audience are encouraged to ask questions and solicit advice from these highly accomplished professionals.

On Saturday, bestselling author and online thought-leader Corey Perlman presents a strategy session on what’s now, what’s new, and what’s next in the world of social media and online marketing in his popular seminar, “Social Media Overdrive.” Back for an encore presentation of his acclaimed “Driver Development Seminar: What If It’s You?” is world-class racer, broadcaster, entrepreneur, speaker and author Derek Daly, who will reveal the critical skills required to become a complete champion, including positioning for success, fundraising for a racing program, turning relationships into sponsorships, and much more. Rounding out the morning lineup is an exclusive sit-down interview and Q&A session with performance engine and turbocharging guru Ken Duttweiler, who will explain how he keeps pace with evolving technology, as well as his views on the modern workforce, the allure of land speed racing and a host of other hot-button subjects.

All PRI-sponsored seminars, which are offered free of charge to registered Show attendees, take place from 8–9 a.m. in Meeting Rooms 242–244, located on the second floor of the Indiana Convention Center. Guests are encouraged to arrive early, however, as seating is strictly first-come, first-served. For more information or to register for the Show, visit www.pri2016.com.

Charitable programs combined to raise more than $151,000 for Sonoma County youth groups during the Verizon IndyCar Series GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma weekend at Sonoma Raceway, September 16 to 18.

Proceeds from the majority of events will benefit Sonoma County youth organizations through the Sonoma Chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities (SCC), the charitable arm of the raceway, which has distributed more than $5.1 million to local youth-serving nonprofit groups since 2001.

To officially kick-off the Verizon IndyCar Series Championship weekend, SCC partnered with the Michael Andretti Foundation to put on the IndyCar Grand Prix Salute at Andretti Winery in Napa. The evening included a Q&A session with Andretti Autosport drivers, including Ryan Hunter-Reay, Carlos Munoz and Alexander Rossi, winner of the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500, as well as three generations of Andrettis: Mario, Michael and Marco. The event, which included a reception, sit-down dinner and silent and live auction raised more than $35,000 for SCC.

The SCC IndyCar online charity auction, which featured autographed memorabilia, photos with IndyCar drivers and weekend VIP experiences, brought in $3,200 before the weekend kicked off.

During race weekend, Great Clips raised nearly $2,500 in donations at its mobile hair salon in the main paddock, an additional $900 was raised through various donations throughout the weekend.

In addition to the proceeds generated for SCC, Levy Restaurants, the official caterer of Sonoma Raceway, hosted seven local nonprofit groups to support concession stands around the facility. In return for their hard work, Levy gives back a portion of sales to support those nonprofit organizations. These groups, including Native Sons of the Golden West, Ohana ’Wa’a outrigger Club, Rancho Cotate Cheer, Benicia High School Band Boosters Club, Petaluma High School Athletic Club, California Martial Arts and Vallejo Raiders Youth Football programs, received a total of more than $110,000 after IndyCar weekend.

For more information about the Sonoma Chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities or to make a donation, visit the Somona website.

Oliver Askew and Kyle Kirkwood were confirmed today as the latest winners of the Team USA Scholarships which will see the pair race in the UK’s Formula Ford Festival and Walter Hayes Trophy this fall.

This year’s selection process began with a group of 11 candidates being interviewed by a panel of judges that included Mike Hull, managing director of Chip Ganassi Racing, Patrick Long, Charlie Kimball, Joel Miller, Josef Newgarden and Spencer Pigot, during the Verizon IndyCar Series weekend at Mid-Ohio.

Six finalists then progressed to a one-day shootout last week at Palm Beach International Raceway in Florida hosted by Cooper Tire and the Lucas Oil School of Racing. Askew and Kirkwood ultimately were chosen as the winners by a committee which included Gil de Ferran, Lawson Aschenbach, Tristan Nunez, Starworks Motorsport team principal Peter Baron and multi-time junior formula championship winning team co-owner Nicholas Cape.

Team USA Scholarship founder, Jeremy Shaw, said: “The standard was extremely high and we were faced with some difficult decisions. After much deliberation we chose Oliver and Kyle, but all of the youngsters performed well and would have been worthy recipients.”

Askew and Kirkwood, who both come from Jupiter, FL., will drive a pair of Cliff Dempsey Racing-run Ray GR15 Formula Ford 1600 cars in the Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch in late October and the Walter Hayes Trophy at Silverstone in early November. Newgarden, Conor Daly, Connor De Phillippi and Nunez (2012) have all proven victorious on in their Scholarship ‘raids’ on these prestigious British races.

“I am ecstatic and greatly honored,” said Kirkwood, a front-runner in the inaugural F4 U.S. Championship powered by Honda with Primus Racing. “To be able to represent the USA is a feeling no words can describe. I will work vigorously to prove that Jeremy and the Team USA Scholarship judges have chosen the right person for the job.”

Askew, who has shone in Formula Masters China and Skip Barber events, added: “I cannot express how excited I am to represent the prestigious Team USA Scholarship.

“Kyle and I have been very close friends for over 10 years. We have been teammates in the karting ranks for many of those years, so we will keep working together to bring home great results.

“I’d like to send out a special thanks to those who support the Team USA Scholarship, especially Jeremy Shaw for putting in countless hours to help young talent fight for their dreams.”

The Team USA program was inaugurated in 1990 as a means of assisting talented young American drivers at an early stage in their careers. A young Jimmy Vasser was the first scholarship winner, followed by Bryan Herta in ’91. Subsequent winners include Buddy Rice, Charlie Kimball, Josef Newgarden, Conor Daly, Spencer Pigot, Andy Lally, Joey Hand, Bryan Sellers, Dane Cameron, Joel Miller and Tristan Nunez.

Originally reported by Motorsport.

Champion Brands, LLC announced this week it has received official certification for ISO 9001:2015 compliance from DEKRA, its official registrar, effective earlier this month. The company completed the required audits in July with zero non-conformities.  This makes Champion Brands, LLC one of the first companies in the United States to be upgraded to the 2015 standard, and re-certified as ISO compliant.

Champion’s General Manager Rick Pereles coordinated the Champion team effort with the certification organization to complete the review process and obtain the certificate for the Quality Management System, which specifies:

To meet the requirements of its interested parties through the processes of  the purchase of raw materials, blending, blow molding, production, packaging and distribution of products such as lubricants, automotive chemicals and brake fluid to our customers.

International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is an independent, non-governmental global organization with a membership of 162 national standards bodies. Through its members it brings together experts to share knowledge and develop, consensus-based, market relevant International Standards that support innovation, quality assurance, and provide solutions to global challenges.

ISO 9001:2015 provides the most current criteria for a quality management system and is the only standard in the family that can be certified. This standard is based on a number of quality management principles including a strong customer focus, the motivation and involvement of top management, the process approach and continuous improvement.  Using ISO 9001:2015 helps ensure that customers get consistent, good quality products and services, which in turn provide many business benefits.

Commenting on the distinction of being one of the first companies upgraded to the new standard, President and Managing Director David Lowe noted, "Clearly, we are very proud of this achievement. It directly supports our commitment to exceeding customer expectations, and is a testament to our standards for excellence at Champion Brands, LLC.”

Champion Brands, LLC, is a globally recognized company specializing in specialty lubricants for over 60 years. Champion Brands, LLC also produces and blends over 300 products including fuel, oil, engine additives, and lubricants for the racing, automotive, heavy truck, agricultural, industrial, and specialty markets. For more information, visit the Champion Brands website. 

Seventeen drivers from across the country will compete for spots in the top driver development program in motorsports, NASCAR Drive for Diversity, during a national tryout at Florida’s New Smyrna Speedway from October 10-12.

The 13th annual NASCAR Drive for Diversity Combine invites promising ethnically diverse and female drivers from across North and South America to test their skills over a three-day period as NASCAR evaluates talent for the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Class of 2017.

“This year’s NASCAR Drive for Diversity Combine will feature some incredible talent and we’re excited to watch these young drivers compete,” said Dawn Harris, NASCAR director, multicultural development. “NASCAR’s first-class development program has produced the likes of Kyle Larson, Daniel Suárez and Darrell Wallace Jr., so it will be fun to see who rises to the top at New Smyrna.”  

In partnership with Rev Racing, NASCAR Drive for Diversity offers racing opportunities in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and NASCAR Whelen All-American Series for one full season, providing drivers with equipment, mentoring, and competition experience.

"This is an unbelievable opportunity for these up-and-coming drivers; something I am very proud to be a part of for the sixth-consecutive year," said Jefferson Hodges, Rev Racing director of competition. "To see past Drive for Diversity participants compete across all three NASCAR national series speaks volumes for the solid foundation Rev Racing provides these drivers in their budding careers.”

This year, there are 13 female drivers competing for spots with Rev Racing. Returning this fall is Macy Causey, who at 14 years old was the youngest combine participant in NASCAR Drive for Diversity history in 2015. Also participating are Hailie Deegan, daughter of Brian Deegan, the most decorated athlete in freestyle motocross history, and Hope Hornish, the niece of 2006 Indianapolis 500 winner and current NASCAR XFINITY Series driver Sam Hornish Jr.

Drivers under consideration to return to the team in 2017, but who will not compete at the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Combine, include current NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and NASCAR Whelen All-American Series drivers: Jairo Avila, Enrique Baca, Collin Cabre, Madeline Crane, Ruben Garcia Jr, and Ali Kern. Collin’s brother, Chase Cabre, is also among the drivers selected to compete in this year’s combine.

Driver combine participants will be evaluated on their driving skills, take part in a physical fitness assessment and receive additional training at Bethune-Cookman University.

The NASCAR Drive for Diversity Combine has proven successful in identifying and developing future stars of the sport. Current NASCAR Drive for Diversity members have garnered four top fives and 13 top 10s combined in the NASCAR K&N East and NASCAR Whelen All-American Series this season and are looking to repeat last year’s season-ending victory by Cabre at Dover International Speedway.

Program graduate, Kyle Larson, earned his first victory in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series this year at Michigan International Speedway. Also this season, fellow graduate and NASCAR XFINITY Series driver Daniel Suárez became the first Mexican-born driver to win a NASCAR national series race. Suárez and fellow NASCAR XFINITY driver Darrell Wallace Jr., another NASCAR Drive for Diversity alumnus, are currently competing in the inaugural NASCAR XFINITY Series Chase.

Fans can follow the Combine live on Twitter at @NASCARDiversity and @RevRacing.

Below are the invitees to the 2016 NASCAR Drive for Diversity Combine:

First Last, Age, City State/Country

• Ali Kern,* 23, Fremont, Ohio
• Amber Balcaen, 24, Winnipeg, Canada
• Ariel Biggs, 22, Castaic, California
• Armani Williams, 16, Grosse Point, Michigan
• Chase Cabre, 19, Tampa, Florida
• Collin Cabre,* 23, Tampa, Florida
• Enrique Baca,* 25, Monterrey, Mexico
• Hailie Deegan, 15, Temecula, California
• Hannah Newhouse, 19, Twin Falls, Idaho
• Hope Hornish, 19, Defiance, Ohio
• Jairo Avila,* 21, Alhambra, California
• Jay Beasley, 24, Las Vegas, Nevada
• Kayli Barker, 19, Las Vegas, Nevada
• Luis Rodriguez, 22, Miami, Florida
• Macy Causey, 15, Yorktown, Virginia
• Madeline Crane*, 18, Meansville, Georgia
• McKenna Haase, 19, Carlisle, Iowa
• Nicole Behar, 18, Otis Orchards, Washington
• Reegan May, 22, De Pere, Wisconsin
• Ruben Garcia Jr.*, 20, Mexico City, Mexico
• Santiago Tovar, 23, Mexico City, Mexico
• Taylor Jorgensen, 20, Stockbridge, Georgia
• Walter Thomas III, 18, Indianapolis, Indiana

* Current NASCAR Drive for Diversity drivers eligible for 2017 program; will attend but not compete in combine