What the Drive for Diversity Program Means to NASCAR

Over the course of NASCAR's 65-plus-year history, we've seen a major shift in the sport's demographic.

It has gone from being an all-white, all-male sport to a spectacle with a growing number of minorities in all positions. A large part of this has to do with the impact that NASCAR's Drive for Diversity has made.

Founded in 2004, the program's focus is aimed at attracting minorities and women to various positions within the sport, from driving to crew membership and everything in between.

Through this, the sport is able to attract a much larger fanbase from an otherwise untouchable demographic.

The program has introduced several talented drivers, such as Kyle Larson and Darrell "Bubba" Wallace Jr., two of the hottest names in the sport today. Larson, who is Japanese-American, and Wallace, who is African-American, are also met by Syrian-American Paulie Harraka and Mexico native Daniel Suarez among others in the program. 

Minorities and women are nothing new in the NASCAR ranks.

Ethel Flock and Janet Guthrie were competing long before the likes of Danica Patrick and Kenzie Ruston. Wendell Scott and Willy T. Ribbs were breaking racial barriers long before Ryan Gifford and Wallace.

We also have Cuban-American Aric Almirola and Colombian superstar Juan Pablo Montoya, both of whom reached NASCAR success without the Drive for Diversity program.

But the program brings minorities to the sport at a faster and more encompassing rate. There are more opportunities to get into the sport, be it a race team affiliated with the D4D program or something else.

This progressiveness helps to keep the sport moving out from under the decades-old stigma that it is a redneck, whites-only sport. Because it is obvious that talent transcends race or gender.

We need that.

I've mentioned before on more than one occasion that NASCAR has a lot going for it. We're a 21st-century sport making leaps and bounds economically and ecologically, social and technological.

Gone are the days of the rebel flag adorning the race track everywhere you look. Gone are the days of racial inequality and gender inequality. We're a sport for everyone, and that means everyone.

What the Drive for Diversity is doing for NASCAR is paying dividends.

We're reaching out to people who otherwise wouldn't so much as even care for the sport. That is integral for the growth of this sport, because it will never stop growing and never stop evolving.

With that, look to see the Drive for Diversity continue the role it plays in NASCAR's future for many years to come.