[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.22″ custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px” bb_built=”1″ _i=”0″ _address=”0″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”2px|0px|8px|0px” _i=”0″ _address=”0.0″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||” _i=”0″ _address=”0.0.0″][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.22″ custom_padding=”2px|0px|37.9062px|0px” bb_built=”1″ _i=”1″ _address=”1″][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_margin=”10px|||” custom_padding=”0px|0px|18.9531px|0px” _i=”0″ _address=”1.0″][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||” _i=”0″ _address=”1.0.0″][et_pb_text admin_label=”News Story” _builder_version=”3.29.3″ custom_margin=”0px||0px|” hover_enabled=”0″ text_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” text_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” text_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” link_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” link_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” link_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” ul_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” ul_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” ul_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” ol_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” ol_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” ol_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” quote_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” quote_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” quote_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_2_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_2_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_2_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_3_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_3_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_3_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_4_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_4_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_4_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_5_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_5_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_5_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_6_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_6_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_6_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” box_shadow_horizontal_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_vertical_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_blur_tablet=”40px” box_shadow_spread_tablet=”0px” _i=”0″ _address=”1.0.0.0″]<\/p>\n
CONCORD, N.C.<\/strong> – Grab the air gun. Jump the wall. Change two tires. Wait, car clears. Jump back over the wall. Racing against the clock is Brehanna Daniels’ professional life since she became the first African American woman to change tires in NASCAR’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.<\/p>\n Daniels, a former Norfolk State basketball standout, was the first black woman to go through NASCAR’s pit crew development program in its NASCAR Drive for Diversity effort to involve minorities in NASCAR. \u00a0NASCAR Drive for Diversity\u00a0was created in 2004 to help diversify the sport. Now, the program has helped one woman make history.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m still shocked to this day, the fact I made history,” Daniels, 25, \u00a0said. “I became the first to do something in 2017, that\u2019s just two years ago. You would think that something like that has already happened but it hasn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniels was preparing for a career overseas, when a school employee introduced her to NASCAR.<\/p>\n “She was like \u2018you know the NASCAR pit crew is coming to our school for a tryout, and I think you should try out.\u2019 I was like ‘I don\u2019t even watch NASCAR.’\u201d<\/p>\n Daniels found herself at the tryout at 4 p.m.\u00a0that day. “I walked in the gym and I was the only girl that tried out. There was four of us; two football players, a guy that ran track, all them were big, and then just little ol’ me.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniels qualified and was selected for the national tryouts.<\/p>\n \u201cGod put me in this position for a reason. He knew I could handle the pressure and everything that comes with it,” Daniels said. \u00a0“I\u2019ve been through a lot in my life. I\u2019ve been through hell and back, and there\u2019s nothing I can\u2019t do.\u201d<\/p>\n NASCAR Drive for Diversity is an umbrella that houses a number of programs, like Rev Racing and the pit crew development program,\u00a0which recruits former athletes to the sport.<\/p>\n According to the NCAA, less than 2 percent of college athletes continue in their sport at the professional level. But NASCAR\u2019s pit crew development program has helped more than 50 athletes reach the pro level in a different way.<\/p>\n Phil Horton, director of athletic performance for Rev Racing, has coached Daniels and others in pit crew mechanics.<\/p>\n \u201cAt first we worked with mechanics,” he said. “But athletes performed better under pressure. We started recruiting athletes exclusively.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniels credits her athletic past to her smooth transition into her new role.<\/p>\n \u201cI had to have that quick hand speed. You have to be finessed, poised, calm, focused. You know? These are the same things I did as a point guard, so everything is tied in.\u201d<\/p>\n Although Daniels\u00a0is making history, she\u2019s also inspiring the next generation of women.<\/p>\n \u201cA little girl had dressed up like me for Halloween, she had the bandana on, she had a red one on, the fire suit. I said \u2018she looks like me,\u2019 but you know just seeing stuff like that is amazing, and I\u2019d like to see NASCAR 10 years from now. Hopefully there is more progress being made in the sport, more diversity. I live for stuff like that.\u201d<\/p>\n She believes she is changing NASCAR, and she’s doing it one tire at a time.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||” _i=”1″ _address=”1.0.1″][et_pb_image src=”http:\/\/carolinanewsandreporter.cic.sc.edu\/test\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/group.png” show_in_lightbox=”on” show_bottom_space=”off” align_tablet=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”Image 1″ _builder_version=”3.29.3″ custom_margin=”||2px|” custom_padding=”|||” animation_style=”slide” box_shadow_style=”preset2″ box_shadow_horizontal=”4px” box_shadow_vertical=”4px” always_center_on_mobile=”on” _i=”0″ _address=”1.0.1.0″]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Caption 1″ _builder_version=”3.29.3″ text_font=”|600|||||||” text_font_size=”12px” text_line_height=”1.4em” custom_margin=”8px|||2px” custom_padding=”|||” _i=”1″ _address=”1.0.1.1″]<\/p>\n Athletes are recruited into the Pit Crew Development program where they learn what it takes to be in a NASCAR pit crew.\u00a0<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”http:\/\/carolinanewsandreporter.cic.sc.edu\/test\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/coach.png” show_in_lightbox=”on” show_bottom_space=”off” align_tablet=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”Image 2″ _builder_version=”3.29.3″ custom_margin=”||2px|” custom_padding=”|||” animation_style=”slide” box_shadow_style=”preset2″ box_shadow_horizontal=”4px” box_shadow_vertical=”4px” always_center_on_mobile=”on” _i=”2″ _address=”1.0.1.2″]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Caption 2″ _builder_version=”3.29.3″ text_font=”|600|||||||” text_font_size=”12px” text_line_height=”1.4em” custom_margin=”8px|||2px” custom_padding=”|||” text_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” text_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” text_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” link_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” link_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” link_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” ul_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” ul_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” ul_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” ol_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” ol_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” ol_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” quote_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” quote_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” quote_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_2_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_2_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_2_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_3_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_3_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_3_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_4_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_4_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_4_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_5_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_5_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_5_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_6_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_6_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_6_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” box_shadow_horizontal_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_vertical_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_blur_tablet=”40px” box_shadow_spread_tablet=”0px” _i=”3″ _address=”1.0.1.3″]<\/p>\n Phil Horton, Rev Racings director of athletic performance, recruits athletes to the program because he says they\u00a0perform well under pressure.\u00a0<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”http:\/\/carolinanewsandreporter.cic.sc.edu\/test\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/tire.png” show_in_lightbox=”on” show_bottom_space=”off” align_tablet=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”Image 3″ _builder_version=”3.29.3″ custom_margin=”||2px|” custom_padding=”|||” animation_style=”slide” box_shadow_style=”preset2″ box_shadow_horizontal=”4px” box_shadow_vertical=”4px” always_center_on_mobile=”on” _i=”4″ _address=”1.0.1.4″]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Caption 3″ _builder_version=”3.29.3″ text_font=”|600|||||||” text_font_size=”12px” text_line_height=”1.4em” custom_margin=”8px|||2px” custom_padding=”|||” _i=”5″ _address=”1.0.1.5″]<\/p>\n A 2019 Pit Crew Development member works on her mechanics during practice as she aims for a career in NASCAR. \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”http:\/\/carolinanewsandreporter.cic.sc.edu\/test\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/stacked.png” show_in_lightbox=”on” show_bottom_space=”off” align_tablet=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”Image 4″ _builder_version=”3.29.3″ custom_margin=”||2px|” custom_padding=”|||” animation_style=”slide” box_shadow_style=”preset2″ box_shadow_horizontal=”4px” box_shadow_vertical=”4px” always_center_on_mobile=”on” _i=”6″ _address=”1.0.1.6″]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Caption 4″ _builder_version=”3.29.3″ text_font=”|600|||||||” text_font_size=”12px” text_line_height=”1.4em” custom_margin=”8px|||2px” custom_padding=”|||” _i=”7″ _address=”1.0.1.7″]<\/p>\n Teams arrive hours before to prepare for race day at Charlotte Motor Speedway.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.22″ bb_built=”1″ _i=”2″ _address=”2″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” _i=”0″ _address=”2.0″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||” _i=”0″ _address=”2.0.0″][et_pb_video _builder_version=”3.0.92″ _i=”0″ _address=”2.0.0.0″] Brehanna Daniels, a former Norfolk State basketball standout, is making history as the first black woman to go through NASCAR’s pit crew development program. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":191,"featured_media":24680,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":" \u00a0<\/p> I would just work on changing that first sentence a little bit to make it grab your attention more. I almost wish you could switch it around so the good quote about her being through a lot or making history is first and then go\u00a0into<\/span>\u00a0the stats just because I feel like that would grab my attention more, but\u00a0that's a personal preference.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p> NASCAR is a popular sport, but\u00a0O<\/strong><\/span><\/span>nly 20% of NASCAR'S of its<\/span> fan base is made up of minority groups <\/span>according to D<\/strong>igital <\/span>M<\/b>edia\u00a0S<\/b>olutions.\u00a0Not being known for its diversity, NASCAR is changing this status<\/span>\u00a0T<\/strong>hanks to a program in Concord, North Carolina, this status is being changed.<\/strong> That program is called<\/span> Drive for Diversity, and it was<\/span><\/span> created in 2004 to help diversify the sport, but its done more than that. It helped one woman make history.<\/strong>\u00a0and it even helped one woman make history.<\/span><\/span><\/p> Brehanna Daniels, a former Norfolk Basketball star,<\/strong> became the first African American woman tire changer to go over the wall (can you explain what over the wall means? As someone who has no idea I wouldn't know the significance of this\u00a0achievement<\/span>)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>at NASCAR\u2019s highest level. \u201cI\u2019m still shocked to this day, the fact I made history. I became the first to do something in 2017, that\u2019s just two years ago. You would think that something like that has already happened but it hasn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p> The way Daniels was introduced to NASCAR was \"pretty random.\u201d During her senior year of college, as she was preparing for a basketball career overseas, \u201ca lady by the name of Tiffai Sykes, she announced at our basketball games,<\/span> came up to me, \u2018hey Brehanna I see you\u2019re enjoying your sandwich.\u2019 I was like 'that I am,' and she was like \u2018you know the NASCAR pit crew is coming to our school for a tryout, and I think you should try out.\u2019 I was like I don\u2019t even watch NASCAR.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p> Brehanna\u00a0Daniels<\/strong><\/span><\/span>\u00a0found herself at the tryout at 4:00<\/span> p.<\/strong>m.<\/strong> that day. \"<\/strong>I walked in the gym and I was the only girl that tried out., and<\/span> There was four of us; two football players, a guy that ran track, all them were big, and then just little ol'<\/strong>e<\/span> me.\u201d<\/span><\/p> Brehanna\u00a0Daniels<\/strong><\/span><\/span> qualified and was selected for the national tryouts, \u201cGod put me in this position for a reason. He knew I could handle the pressure and everything that comes with it. I\u2019ve been through a lot in my life. I\u2019ve been through hell and back, and there\u2019s nothing I can\u2019t do.\u201d<\/span><\/p> Drive for Diversity is like an umbrella that houses a number of programs, like Rev Racing, which and<\/strong><\/span><\/span> the pit crew development program,<\/strong>\u00a0falls under. The pit crew development program<\/span> which\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>recruits former athletes to the sport.\u00a0<\/span><\/p> According to the NCAA less than two percent<\/span> 2%\u00a0<\/strong>of college athletes continue on in their sport at the professional level. But NASCAR\u2019S pit crew development program has helped more than 50 athletes reach the professional level.\u00a0(What professional level? be a little more specific here)\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p> Coach Phil Horton,<\/strong> the<\/span> director of athletic performance,<\/strong> said,<\/strong> \u201cAt first we worked with mechanics \u2026 but they (athletes)<\/strong> could perform under pressure. We started recruiting athletes exclusively.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p> Brehanna\u00a0Daniels<\/strong><\/span><\/span> credits her athletic past to her smooth transition into her new role, <\/span>\u201cI had to have that quick hand speed. You have to be finessed,<\/strong><\/span> poised<\/strong>, calm, focused?. Y<\/strong>a know these are the same things I did as a point guard,<\/strong> so everything tied in.\u201d<\/span><\/p> Although Brehanna Daniels<\/strong><\/span> <\/span> is making history, she\u2019s also inspiring the next generation of women. she\u2019s reminded of this when \u201cA<\/span><\/span>\u00a0little girl had dressed up like me for Halloween, she had the bandana on, she had a red one on, the fire suit,<\/span> and I was like 'Yo,' I didn\u2019t even see the caption<\/span>. I said \u2018she look like me,\u2019 but you know just seeing stuff like that is amazing, and I\u2019d like to see NASCAR 10 years from now. Hopefully there is more progress being made in the sport, more diversity. I live for stuff like that.\u201d<\/span><\/p> Brehanna<\/span> Daniels continues to change NASCAR, one tire at a time.<\/span><\/p> \u00a0<\/p> \u00a0<\/p>","_et_gb_content_width":""},"categories":[67,69],"tags":[1020,497,541,1003,138,1002,1004,326,1000,337,108,1001,1019,72,387],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/carolinanewsandreporter.cic.sc.edu\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23982"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/carolinanewsandreporter.cic.sc.edu\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/carolinanewsandreporter.cic.sc.edu\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carolinanewsandreporter.cic.sc.edu\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/191"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carolinanewsandreporter.cic.sc.edu\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23982"}],"version-history":[{"count":38,"href":"https:\/\/carolinanewsandreporter.cic.sc.edu\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23982\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30039,"href":"https:\/\/carolinanewsandreporter.cic.sc.edu\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23982\/revisions\/30039"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carolinanewsandreporter.cic.sc.edu\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/24680"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/carolinanewsandreporter.cic.sc.edu\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23982"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carolinanewsandreporter.cic.sc.edu\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23982"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carolinanewsandreporter.cic.sc.edu\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23982"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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