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Diversification Program ©1999 SpeedCenter Publishing During the race activities at Cleveland, Chris Miles announced the Millennium Motorsports Initiative, a program designed to facilitate minority participation in motorsports. Miles, the former host of "Inside CART" that aired on Fox Sports Net last year and Founder of Starting Grid, Inc., said the goal of the Millennium Motorsports Initiative is to "change the face of motorsports in the 21st century." "Starting Grid, Inc. will address the need to integrate all facets of the motorsports industry with more ethnic Americans, women and disabled individuals," Miles said. "Our goal is to become the "diversifying arm" for all minority participation in motorsports." The Skip Barber Racing School, the global leader in the performance driving and training industry, will provide product and promotional support for the program. Skip Barber has donated two scholarships to Starting Grid for this year. The scholarships consist of two Three Day Racing Schools, two Lapping Sessions and two Formula Dodge Race Series weekends. Participants will learn the fundamentals of driving a race car and then progress to actual race competition in the Formula Dodge Series, the largest open-wheel amateur championship in North America. Skip Barber also extended an invitation for Miles to become a driving instructor with The Skip Barber Racing School and agreed to promote diversity driven programs utilizing the Skip Barber brand. CART FedEx Championship Series driver Brian Herta is among the notable graduates of Skip Barber's formula race series. Miles said the Skip Barber scholarships would help Starting Grid find, develop and promote ethnic-American driving talent. "There is no question that the motorsports industry as a whole needs more diversity," Miles said. "They have been speaking about ways of making it happen for far too long. Well, Skip Barber has provided Starting Grid, Inc. with an opportunity to definitely make someone's hopes and dreams come true. The Skip Barber scholarships will give us a great opportunity to evaluate the skills of our candidates and see just how far we can take them." Skip Barber said the Starting Grid program is consistent with his philosophy of helping young drivers progress in motorsports. The Skip Barber Scholarship Ladder is the most comprehensive developmental program in motorsports and annually awards $1 million to assist drivers from karting to the CART FedEx Championship Series. "Chris' goal to increase minority participation in motorsports is a worthwhile one and we're happy to support it any way we can," Barber said. "It is extremely difficult, and expensive, to compete in motorsports today and we believe that racing needs more programs to help drivers advance their careers." Miles, who has been involved in the motorsports industry for the past 10 years has developed a keen business sense for his future in motorsports. "This is an incredibly exciting time for Starting Grid, Inc.," Miles said. "Skip Barber has been a tremendous help to us, but we're just getting started. We're looking forward to developing more programs to help minorities reach their goals in motorsports, and we expect to be unveiling more plans in the near future." For more information about Starting Grid, Inc. and the Millennium Motorsports Initiative visit www.startinggrid.com. | ||
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