The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) today announced a collaboration with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) and the Universal Technical Institute (UTI) in an effort to further increase diversity in the sport. The NASCAR-HBCU Consortium will aim to increase the number and quality of job opportunities for African-American students in key racing and other related automotive business activities.

"This relationship with HBCU and UTI is something that we're proud of," said NASCAR President Mike Helton. "Working together, we will be able to raise awareness and provide more job opportunities for African-American students in the NASCAR industry as well as the entire automotive industry. We believe that our participation in this Consortium will increase the diverse pool of Americans that have the option to develop their professional careers in our industry."

The announcement of the Consortium came at a press conference on Capitol Hill. Speaker of the House J. Dennis Hastert (R-IL) and Members Mike Rogers (R-AL) and Mel Watt (D-NC) announced a Congressional Resolution recognizing the creation of the NASCAR-HBCU Consortium. The Members encouraged the U.S. Departments of Education and Labor and other appropriate agencies of the federal government to provide suitable assistance and support to ensure the success of this effort.

"I am pleased to be an original co-sponsor of this resolution recognizing the NASCAR-HBCU Partnership," Watt said. "I'm especially excited because Winston-Salem State University and North Carolina A&T University, two HBCUs located in my congressional district, have already agreed to join the NASCAR-HBCU alliance. This partnership certainly has the potential to open an exciting door of opportunity for many students in my district and across the country."

The groups will work together to help create opportunities for students pursuing undergraduate or graduate degrees at participating HBCUs. NASCAR, UTI and HBCUs will work together to increase awareness, access to and participation by minority students in the NASCAR Technical Institute curriculum. These students will receive proper training to enter the NASCAR workforce or other related fields including automotive engineering and technology, automotive safety, sports marketing and other automotive industry areas.

"Bethune-Cookman College is excited about the HBCU-NASCAR initiatives to assist students with job opportunities in key racing and other related automotive business activities. The College looks forward to a long-standing partnership with HBCU-NASCAR," said Trudie Kibbe Reed, Ed.D. President of Bethune-Cookman College.