• Loading stock data...
Friday, March 29, 2024
2024 Best Venues nominations are open now through April 8! Submit Now

How NASCAR’s Diversity Internship Program is Preparing Future Industry Leaders

The program lasts ten weeks and places interns in a variety of roles.

The 2017 NASCAR Diversity Internship Class poses with Kyle Busch, driver of the №18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, following his victory in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May. (Photo via NASCAR Multicultural Development/Getty Images)


For 10 weeks each summer, students interested in a career in NASCAR, get the chance of a lifetime thanks to NASCAR’s Diversity Internship Program (NDIP).

The program targets diverse, multicultural students who an enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program and have a 3.0 GPA or higher. Since the program’s inception in 2001, more than 350 interns have participated, with roughly 20% now employed in the motorsports industry.

About the Program

During their time in the NDIP, students engage in hands-on projects. It’s not simply a coffee fetching internship, but rather one where upon completion interns will possess the necessary skills to land a full-time job in NASCAR or the sports industry.

The program is overseen by Jordan Leatherman, Sr. Account Executive for NASCAR Multicultural Development. Leatherman actually participated in the program twice before taking a job away from NASCAR before coming back.

“My introduction to the Multicultural Development department began in 2014 when I was selected to participate in the NASCAR Diversity Internship Program and placed in the Multicultural Development department,” said Leatherman. “I participated in NDIP in 2015 at Switch: An Experience Agency, where I accepted full-time employment after completing my internship.”

Although she initially accepted a position on the agency side of NASCAR, when she saw a full-time opening in the sport’s Multicultural Department she jumped at the chance to return. Now, she oversees the very internship program that she participated in, in addition to the Drive for Diversity Program.

The biggest benefit of the internship, according to Leatherman, is that students truly dive into the NASCAR world.

“NDIP gets students fully immersed in the motorsports industry,” said Leatherman. “We begin the 10-week internship experience at the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race for a three-day orientation. Students tour the NASCAR Hall-of-Fame, Research and Development Center and race teams. They also meet NASCAR executives, officials and drivers during the two race days. Throughout the internship, many attend races as part of their job duties, work on high-level projects and all interns participate in weekly lunch and learns with industry leaders.”

The mentorship aspect of the program is important too. Enrolled students are paired with former interns who are current industry leaders in NASCAR.

As for the 2017 class of interns? Many were collegiate student-athletes or students at an HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities).

A Profile of Summer 2017 Interns — Athletes and HBCU Students

Bria Dixon, Soccer, Virginia Tech University: Dixon graduated with a degree in Public Relations from Virginia Tech and was a member of the women’s soccer team all four years. She was an Atlantic Coast Conference Academic Honor Roll Student and participated in the 2013 NCAA Collegiate Cup Final Four. During her time in the NDIP, she assisted with day-to-day operations and event marketing services for NASCAR’s regional series’ (NASCAR Whelen Modified Series, NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and West).

Zane Smith, Football, Southern Methodist University: A Mechanical Engineering student, Smith was known for working on homework during the plane rides to away games. He played linebacker at SMU for three seasons and earned numerous awards during his time on the gridiron. He is a motocross racer and served as the engineering intern for Toyota in Plano, Texas this summer.

Gregory Carty, Winston-Salem State University (HBCU): Carty received his B.S. in Sport Management from WSSU and is pursuing his M.A. in the same field from Old Dominion University. This year, he participated in the NDIP for the third time and was placed at Roush-Fenway Racing.

Dejah Gilliam, Johnson C. Smith University (HBCU): Gilliam had several internship opportunities in collegiate and professional sports before taking part in the NASCAR Diversity Internship Program. During her time in the NDIP, she put her B.A. in Communications to good use, working in the NASCAR Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) department.

An Alumni Makes History

Early in the 2017 season, 26-year-old Jusan Hamilton became the first African-American to serve as a race director for an event in a NASCAR National Series, calling the shots for the NASCAR XFINTY Series race (one step below the top-tier Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series) at Auto Club Speedway (CA) on March 25, 2017.

For the New York native, what began as participation in the NDIP with the sport’s Integrated Marketing Communications department led to a full-time position with the sanctioning body. Over the past four years, Hamilton has done the majority of his work with race operations and event management.

“I never really thought of (being the first African-American national series race director) in those terms. … I’m proud of it, and I’m really thankful for the team in the control tower,” Hamilton, whose job as race director includes making split-second decisions regarding officiating, safety and emergency services, told NASCAR.com.

“I’ve wanted to work in professional racing since I was a kid watching Kevin Harvick,’’ he said. “I’m very fortunate to have this opportunity. I’ve had the chance to learn so many different areas of the sport and business, that’s one of the things that’s best about working with NASCAR.”

The Next Success Story Could Be You

With the program in its 18th year, the NASCAR Diversity Internship Program continues to place outstanding students who are passionate about motorsports into full-time placements.

“We are excited about sourcing and developing top-level diverse talent. We encourage students who want to gain experience through a premiere sports internship to apply to NDIP18 to begin their sports careers,” said Dawn Harris, Senior Director of Multicultural Development.

Interested in learning even more about the NASCAR Diversity Internship Program? Follow @NASCARDiversity.

For more NASCAR articles follow @Kraig_Doremus on Twitter and Medium.


This piece has been presented to you by SMU’s Master of Science in Sport Management.


Front Office Sports is a leading multi-platform publication and industry resource that covers the intersection of business and sports.

Want to learn more, or have a story featured about you or your organization? Contact us today.

https://upscri.be/f32ae1/

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Kim Mulkey Finds Herself in Hole, Digs

The LSU coach’s in-your-face approach ‘backfired,’ said a crisis PR expert.

How Lack of Planning by NCAA, Gonzaga Led to Racial Abuse of Utah Athletes

The NCAA gave Gonzaga a waiver to place teams in an extremist hotbed.
Iowa’s Caitlin Clark (22) waits to be announced in the starting lineup against West Virginia in a NCAA Tournament round of 32 game Monday, March 25, 2024 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa.

The Women’s Trading Card Market Is Overlooked. Can Caitlin Clark Change That?

Traditionally, women’s sports cards have been a marginal part of collectibles.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

Why the Timberwolves Sale was Called Off

0:00
0:00

Featured Today

March 22, 2024, Brooklyn, NY, USA; Northwestern Wildcats guard Brooks Barnhizer (13) and Northwestern Wildcats guard Boo Buie (0) react in overtime against the Florida Atlantic Owls in the first round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament at the Barclays Center.

‘An Expensive Game’: March Madness and NIL Collectives Are Intertwined

At schools nationwide, collectives are fueling NCAA tournament runs and vice versa.
The Sports Illustrated cover signed by Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez, February 27, 2019, at Don & Charlie's, 7501 E. Camelback Road, Scottsdale. Don Charlie S
March 24, 2024

Everything You Need to Know About the Ongoing ‘Sports Illustrated’ Saga

Understanding the strange state of affairs for the nearly 70-year-old publication.
March 23, 2024

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Inside the Big East’s Bizarre Online Subculture

Peeling back the curtain on the ‘phenomenally weird’ Big East online ecosystem.
Mar 21, 2024; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Stetson Hatters guard Stephan Swenson (30) reacts during team practice at Barclays Center.
March 22, 2024

First-Time NCAA Men’s Tourney Bids Could Be on the Verge of Extinction

Power and success are consolidating around the richest teams in college sports.

Careers

Powered By

Careers in Sports

Looking for a new job? Check out these featured listings and search for openings all over the world.
Live Nation
Multiple - USA Careers
Adidas
Multiple - USA Careers
Spotify
Multiple - USA Careers
Sponsored

Temple Takes Your Sports Career to the Next Level

If you want to break through to the C-Suite , Temple University’s Executive Master of Science in Sport Business can help you up your game and accelerate your career. 
Sponsored

Networking With Purpose

Investing in the Ohio University PMSA unlocks access to one of the largest sports business alumni networks in the world.
Sponsored

University of San Francisco Is Your Ticket to the Game

Rated the No. 1 Sports Management program in California, USF has been a leader in educating industry professionals for more than 30 years.
Sponsored

How Daily Fantasy Sports Solved NBA Fantasy

The remarkable growth of the #1 Discord sports server in the world.
Sponsored

UMass, McCormack Department of Sport Management Introduce Groundbreaking Women in Business Course

UMass’s Mark H. McCormack Department of Sport Management has announced the addition of a Women in Business course launching Spring 2021.
Sponsored

Sacred Heart University Gives Athletes and Students Hands-On Learning Opportunities

Professor Matthew F. Moran is training the industry’s next generation of exercise scientists at Sacred Heart University.
Sponsored

Ohio University PMSA Prepares Sports Professionals For New Normal

Two alumni of the Ohio University Professional Master of Sports Administration explain how they feel prepared for the future of sports.
Sponsored

Temple’s Sports Business Master’s Program Gives a Sports Media Pro Unique Perspective

Temple’s School of Sport, Tourism & Hospitality Management gave Sean Hanrahan the tools to elevate his career even after 30 years in the business.