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This week NASCAR’s at Langley Speedway in Hampton, Virginia for the annual Drive for Diversity Combine. The event brings together some of motorsports best young female and minority drivers to compete for a small number of spots in NASCAR’s D4D program. This year the class includes 26 drivers from 10 states, Mexico and Puerto Rico.

The drivers, according to NASCAR:

“will be evaluated by a select committee on multiple fronts including on-track performance, marketing and media aptitude, physical fitness and personality.”

The ultimate goal for the drivers is of course a ride, in this case for the NASCAR backed Revolution Racing, while for NASCAR it’s to attract more minority and female drivers and fans.

This season the program has been among the most successful with prospects Sergio Pena and Darrell Wallace Jr. winning a combined six Pro Series races. It’s the most NASCAR wins of any D4D class to date.

Even with the success, NASCAR is now finding the limits of the program. Pena and Wallace, both in their sophomore year of the program, are reaching the end of what they can do in the series. Both are conceivably ready for opportunities in ARCA or the Nationwide or Truck Series but with a stagnant sponsorship market and shrinking teams, finding a ride independent of NASCAR is no easy feat.

Continuing as it is under the direction of Max Siegel and John Story at Revolution Racing, the D4D program is… what it is. It’s true that it’s a great opportunity to identify and cultivate talent. But if there is nowhere for these drivers to go once they’ve grown out of the program, has it really been successful? Has it really accomplished anything?

It was a step in the right direction when NASCAR put more resources and more emphasis into the program a couple of years ago. It had, up until then, been pointless. Even now though, after eight years, the program has yet to produce a regular competitor in a national series.

Still, I think it more important than ever for the sport find ways to build diverse audiences and fields. I’m just not sure, even with the added emphasis and added resources, the current model is going to work.

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About this time last year I wrote a post about NASCAR’s diversity. I called it “Strive for Diversity.” You see I’m among those who think there is value in having people of different backgrounds in our sport. We’re all at our best when we judge people for who they are and not what they look like.

In fact one of my very favorite things about sport is that it doesn’t matter who you are or where you come from; if you’re talented and devoted you can be successful. Sure, you may not become a millionaire or famous, but you can still have success (though I’m aware NASCAR is a little different than other sports). Sport can serve as a great equalizer.

As NASCAR held it’s Drive for Diversity combine this week, an effort to find ten talented, young minority drivers, I got to thinking about my post from last year. And you know I’m still not sure the NASCAR way is the best way

Since we spoke last, the program has changed quite a bit. Instead of placing drivers with teams across the country, NASCAR announced a while back they would begin fielding teams for those participating. They hired former DEI executive Max Siegel and his 909 Group to oversee the program.

Under the banner of Revolution Racing, Siegel and partner John Story (another former DEI exec) will run the 10 teams on behalf of NASCAR. Siegel has also, along with producer Ken Mok, created a show to air on BET promoting the program.

Now that’s all well and good, but I still have a hard time believing that forcing the issue is the answer. Perhaps one of these drivers is the next big thing, but until one of them wins (a lot), no major team is going to take a second look at them. NASCAR can provide an opportunity, but they can’t create raw talent (time will tell if they have that necessary talent in the new class).

I said above that sport is a great equalizer, and while I think NASCAR does have it’s differences, talent will win out in the end (yes, even over money). The fact is if you’re not any good, no one is going to pick you up. If you’re mediocre, no one’s going to pick you up. Only the best make it to the upper echelon of the sport.

Stepping back to NASCAR’s involvement though, they had originally refused to be directly involved with the teams that fielded these drivers, instead turning that over to independent team owners, citing a conflict of interest. Apparently that opinion changed, though I think clearly the conflict still exists.

The fact is, the program has a negative stigma inside the sport. It’s a joke to many who have seen lackluster results in its five year existence. Now with NASCAR directly involved, I think when one of these drivers does shine through, they will have to deal with people arguing they’re only good because they’re in NASCAR’s equipment. I don’t know if I was in one of these driver’s shoes, if that is something I would want to deal with.

I know what you’re saying right now: “Journo you’re quick to criticize but you have no solutions.” And honestly I’ll admit I don’t.

One thing I can tell you for sure though is that we need a more diverse sport. We’ll be better off for it and we’ll likely attract an even larger fan base.  I’m skeptical D4D can work, but I just don’t have a good alternative.