Congress Approves Resolutions Favoring More Minorities in NASCAR

RALEIGH, N.C.

      A partnership between NASCAR and historically Black universities, intended to expand the number of minorities involved with auto racing, has gotten final approval from the U.S. Congress.

      A House resolution, co-sponsored by Rep. Mel Watt, D-N.C., and unanimously approved Tuesday, backs the creation of the partnership. The Senate passed similar nonbinding legislation last month.

      So far, NASCAR is working with 10 historically Black universities to teach NASCAR’s technical curriculum by linking them to the Universal Technical Institute, a multi-campus program used by the racing body. Among these schools are North Carolina A&T State University and Winston-Salem State University.

      The curriculum includes areas such as sports marketing, finance and personnel management.

      “This is yet another step forward in increasing minority representation in an industry that has realized the financial benefits of broadening its appeal to a more diverse audience,” Watt, chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, said in a statement. “As we have witnessed in golf and tennis, there is no limit to the accomplishments of minorities in competitive sports once the doors of opportunity are opened.”

      NASCAR President Mike Helton has acknowledged that selling the sport to minority fans continues to be difficult.

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