New York, NY -- In what is being viewed
as a historic and unprecedented event, four black racing teams will meet
today with NASCAR officials to discuss ways of identifying sponsorship
for minority teams. The meetings will take place at NASCAR's New York,
375 Park Avenue, suite #1202. The four black racing teams meeting with
NASCAR officials, including Senior Vice President Brian France, are Mansion
Motorsports; Miller Racing Group, D&A Motorsports, and Joyner Kersee
Racing, The meetings will conclude with a press conference at 4 p.m.
"This is part of our ongoing initiative
to increase minority participation in motorsports," said Charles S. Farrell,
director of Rainbow Sports, a division of the Rainbow/PUSH Wall Street
Project whose mission is the expand and promote minority opportunities
throughout the sports industry.
"NASCAR has been assisting white racing
teams in identifying and securing sponsorship," Farrell added. "We are
not asking for anything extra or special. We would just like equal treatment.
If NASCAR can assist other teams with securing sponsorship they can assist
these teams."
Each team will be making a presentation
to NASCAR. The presentations will consist of an introduction of team members,
an overview of team objectives, an overview of racing plans, and sponsorship
needs.
Greg Calhoun, president of Calhoun Enterprises
and minority diversity consultant for NASCAR, was the catalyst to setting
up the meetings. "It is important for all of us to realize this is an opportunity
to sell African American drivers and racing teams," said Calhoun. "While
NASCAR has made no specific commitments to black racing teams, the meetings
are a very positive first step toward minority diversity, which is positive
for the African American racing community, today and tomorrow."