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08 October 2008 Wilton, Ca On October 13th-14th, Laura Hayes will attend the 2008 Drive for Diversity Testing and Evaluation Combine presented by Sunoco at South Boston Speedway in South Boston, Va. Laura is one of 26 drivers selected from over 200 applicants to showcase their skills in the presence of NASCAR team owners, where only fourteen will earn rides in NASCAR's developmental series. The Drive for Diversity program is run by Access Marketing and Communications, who seek to develop minority and female drivers in NASCAR's developmental Series, the Camping World series and the Whelen All-American Series.
"I'm very excited about the opportunity this presents and am honored to be invited to the Combine," says Hayes. "This is something that my family and I have been working towards for a number of years. I'm definitely going to make the most of this experience; it's what will allow me to continue racing next year if I am accepted into the program."
The 26 candidates will participate in both on and off track activities. The on track sessions include testing, qualifying laps and intermediate runs in Camping World cars provided by the Richard Petty Driving Experience. As for the off track evaluation, the drivers will participate in media and sponsor related activities. The Drive for Diversity affiliated team owners will then select the fourteen drivers who will be a part of the 2009 D4D team.
This was Hayes' third year applying for a spot in the program and her first invitation to attend the Combine. Last year, Laura made the top 40 cut but was told to gain some stock car experience and apply again the following year. With this in mind, Hayes stepped out of the 360 USAC Western States Sprint car and stepped into the full size Whelen late model stock car for the 2008 season. Hayes teamed up with Golden State Racing, leasing an older car from their stable to run for the season. Laura's crew consisted of her father and mother, Bill and Suzie, her uncle and cousin, Dennis and Melissa McLean, her grandpa Dan Haulot, and her friends, Jay Almstrom and Dave Onetto. Without their help, and the technical advice and support from Golden State Racing, Laura's successful year would not have occurred. Lauras racing and resulting invitation to the Combine would also not have been possible without the huge support and generosity of her major sponsor, Rob Miller of Peoplefinders.com.
In a race car completely different and with different challenges than the open wheeled vehicles she'd previously driven, Laura stepped up and adapted quickly and soon found herself running at the front of the field in the highly competitive late model series at All American Speedway in Roseville, Ca. With a bit of a rocky start at the beginning of the year, Hayes was sitting 18th in points but after resolving some car related problems, she started climbing in the points standings. In only her 8th attempt, Laura found herself celebrating in victory lane in both the trophy dash and the main event. By season's end, she was able to accumulate 12 top five and 18 top ten finishes in 21 starts, along with her win. She also set a fast time and made the trophy dash 7 times, winning once and finishing second on 3 occasions.
Laura would also like to thank her associate sponsors who contributed to her successful 2008 racing year: K&N Filters, Golden State Racing, GoneRacin.com, RPM-Race Place Motorsports, PHI-Phil Hayes Inc., Team MMI, Outlaw Graphics, FRE-Finishline Racing Equipment, Northbay Welding, Gold's Gym, Scribner Plastics, VIP-Voris Investment Properties, Radial Tire of Elk Grove, Lee Power Steering, Davis Motorsports of Reno and Penney Racing Supply.
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