Urban Youth Racing School brings NASCAR to the inner city
By DAN GELSTON
The Associated Press
November 18, 2006 12:26 PM

PHILADELPHIA - The face of NASCAR might one day look a lot like Jade Gillis.

A ponytail tucked under a helmet. A couple of earrings. And black.

Maybe her crew chief will also be black. Or her tire changers. Perhaps no one on her racing team will boast of stock car bloodlines. Oh, and feel free to quiz them about the Gold and Glory Sweepstakes, because they'll know all the answers.

No one would feel as proud as Anthony Martin, the man who brought NASCAR to the 'hood with a bold plan to take kids from the inner city to the inner circle of stock car racing.

"Oh, I know it's going to happen," Martin said. "It's just a matter of time."

In a sport where minorities at all levels are still scarce, Martin has made it his mission to introduce inner-city youth, most of them black, to the motorsports world with his Urban Youth Racing School.

"When my mom tells people I drive cars, they're always surprised," said Gillis, a 15-year-old Philadelphia 10th grader.

Any kid of any color, any background can shoot hoops, toss a football or play catch. Not many tell mom at sundown they can't come home yet because they need to work on a chassis.

The racing school with a reputation for busting stereotypes gives kids that chance.

Opened in 1998, the school is for inner-city children ages 8 to 18 and teaches them about all parts of auto racing, including driving, history, sponsorships and interviews. For field trips, Martin takes students to tracks on the NASCAR circuit, like the one in Dover, Del.

More than 1,200 students have graduated and there's a waiting list of nearly 600. A second school was recently opened in Washington, D.C., and Martin is planning an expansion that could put schools in five more cities within five years.

"We found there were a lot of urban kids who were interested in the sport, but had no exposure to the sport," Martin said. "There was no way for them to get involved."
The typical kid is black, disadvantaged, and usually from a single-parent home. The student has little or no knowledge of auto racing. Either their parents sign them up to keep them off the crime-ridden streets or they think it would be fun to race go-karts.

And they'll race the go-karts. Just not before they go to class.

Each student starts with the school's five-week "Build A Dream" program. They're taught and quizzed on topics like the Gold and Glory Sweepstakes, an auto racing event for top black drivers in the 1920s and 1930s, and learn about the business side of the wildly popular sport.

"Most black people don't watch NASCAR, period," said 15-year-old driver Jeremy Ortiz. "They probably don't know who Bill Lester is."

Lester has a steady ride in NASCAR's Craftsman Truck Series and earlier this year became the first black driver to race in NASCAR's top series in 20 years. NASCAR hasn't seen a black driver win since Wendell Scott's victory in a 200-mile race in 1963.

The second five-week session is all about the on-track experience, where the eager students take what they've learned in the classroom to the go-kart track. The elite will eventually drive mini stock cars, modified models of the same cars their new favorite athletes race.

The school sees 50 kids every 10 weeks and the estimated $4,000-$5,000 tuition is paid for by sponsors.

"If they had to pay for it, they couldn't afford it," Martin said.

The curriculum can be as rugged as a postrace inspection. If students miss class without an excuse, they're tossed out. Martin accepts no nonsense and has zero tolerance. Students earn points for their UYRS work, and their school grades. Report cards are checked regulary.

The students in each age group with the highest point total win the coveted Xbox championship - and a huge trophy which gives them something to show off to often-stunned, skeptical friends who may not be aware that such a unique program exists in their own backyard."

Now they come and see the trophies I won and they believe me," said driver Ari Summers.The 21-year-old Summers remains a mentor in the program, which he said kept him in school when he was on the verge of dropping out. He wants to be first graduate to make the big time.

"I want to be a driver in a NASCAR Nextel Cup series," he said. "I'm trying to work my way up the ladder."Thanks to the school, there may be fewer steps to climb.

Growing up an auto racing fan in southwest Philadelphia, the 42-year-old Martin had no clue how to turn his love of the sport into a career. Where do you go to join a crew? Who do you talk to? How do you start? Martin needed answers.

Martin once posed as a reporter to meet Willy T. Ribbs, the first black driver in the Indianapolis 500, to ask him how to get more blacks in racing. Martin said Ribbs told him that would be impossible because racing is a rich man's sport and blacks couldn't afford to send their kids to a racing school.

But the entrepreneurial Martin wouldn't give in. After a business career that saw him work with some top athletes (like Charles Barkley), Martin brought his concept to former McDonald's CEO and Busch Series team owner Ed Rensi. Rensi gave Martin $50,000 to start the school, and business took off like the first lap at the Brickyard.

Martin has built relationships with NASCAR's big boys. Jeff Gordon went karting against some students. J.D. Gibbs is on the board of directors. He chats with chairman Brian France.

While all of this sounds promising, the school has yet to send anyone to any NASCAR job.

Martin said it's because he pushes all his students to go to college first, and has advised a few prospects to turn down potential jobs until they get their degree. Martin believes there are a few kids in the pipeline that could be excellent drivers.

No one knows for sure if the school will produce a driver, much less a future champ."I don't know the answer to if or when that will happen," said NASCAR spokesman Marcus Jadotte. "But the more kids are interested, the greater the possibility we'll produce an athlete out of that school."

NASCAR has backed the school, offering scholarships, trophies, and financial aid. While black drivers like Lester are an anomaly, Martin believes NASCAR wants to develop its own Tiger Woods because the lack of diversity is costing the sport millions."

I think NASCAR is an organization that wants to make money and be the biggest sport in the world, or in the United States. But the problem is a lack of exposure," he said. "If black kids are not exposed to something, then - guess what? - they're more than likely not going to be a part of it. Racing has pretty much been a rich man's sport."

Housed in a nondescript brick building without a sign, banner or anything to tell it's there, the racing school has been burglarized, with computers and even its trailer ripped off.

Speed Channel donated a 32-foot trailer, only this one is kept locked near the airport instead of the school. The students packed it with their mini stock cars for a recent practice session at Mountain Speedway in remote St. John's, Pa.

The mini-Cup cars are about a quarter the size of the ones Gordon and Jimmie Johnson spin around the track. The cars look like the real things, complete with sponsor logos, even a head-and-neck restraint device.

On one recent gusty weekend, the aspiring drivers were thrilled to get their chance to peak at about 80 mph, and some could use the practice: Cars whizzed - and weaved - around the 1/3-mile asphalt track.

No wonder the school has a $5 million insurance policy.

Even Gillis suffered a brief spin into the infield before righting the car and cruising round-and-round - no different from the closing minutes of Happy Hour, the final practice laps before a race.

"It's an adrenaline rush," she said. "You want to keep driving and you don't want anything to stop you from driving."

The drivers compete in mini-Cup races around the region, where they are the few faces of color that dot the starting lineup.

"They know what they're doing is something that no one else has ever done," said the school's director of operations, Michelle Kuilan. "They're trying to break down a barrier."
Mountain Speedway
Monday, October 16, 2006
Philadelphia's Urban Youth Racing School Gets Tuned in at Mountain Speedway
by Gene Ostrowski
ST. JOHNS, Pa. -- The Urban Youth Racing School, otherwise known as the UYRS took to the asphalt Sunday at Mountain Speedway for 4 hours of practice in their mini NASCAR look a like stock cars. The group traveled from Philadelphia to test and tune the racing vehicles. The main goal of the UYRS is to provide inner-city youths, ages 8-18 with an awareness of the motorsports industry through education, service learning, training and racing. Although many youths would love to dive into a racecar and hit the speedways, the UYRS group teaches its students that there’s more to racing besides just driving, as like football or baseball, it’s a team sport.

Michelle Kuilan is the director of operations, communications and marketing for the UYRS. Michelle commented, “The kids in the program just want to race and be a part of it. Many have hopes of being involved with NASCAR one day. Not all of the kids get to go to the track on race day, but all of them learn to work on the cars. They are all very dedicated to this program”. With help from NASCAR teams, along with many other sponsors, the program has been soaring since its inception in 1998. Currently, 25 kids are enrolled in the “Build a Dream” 10-week program (five weeks in classroom and five weeks on a karting track), and on average, the school caters to over 150 kids and young adults yearly and 1200 students have attended the school since it’s opening. Kuilan also mentioned that a second school has recently opened in the Washington D.C. area due to its success. Kuilan noted, “We have eight cars back in Philly. Hopefully we can bring them out for 2007 and race with the New York Mini Cups here”. Along with the weekly divisions, the New York Mini Cups run on occasion at the speedway.

A young driver, Michael Hobbs noted that the school teaches the children not only about the cars, but the promotion and marketing skills that are needed to succeed in NASCAR. “Along with all of the car stuff, the staff keeps a close eye on our grades. They stress that a lot”, he said. It’s a fact, as all of the drivers present mentioned that they had to do very well in school to be considered for the program.

The programs set their sites on the motorsports industry, education, safety, youth development, citizenship and service learning. Both programs integrate and reinforce math, science, technology, English and literacy skills, business and marketing, communications, and consumer and life skills.

Sixteen-year-old Brigette DeParma has been in the program for three years. She’s been driving mostly, but has recently started working on and setting up the racecars. Speaking very highly of the program, DeParma stated, “I tell my friends in school about the program all of the time. Mainly, that it’s so much fun and how it’s in touch with NASCAR. It’s more than just driving too, as it teaches you about all of the different areas of the sport”. DeParma is planning to major in communications once she graduates from high school, but hasn’t ruled out the possibility of working with or racing in the nation’s most popular series. “I would love to cover the television aspect of it. Being that I drove cars it will hopefully help me relay to the audience what the cars feel like to the drivers. However, I would also love to drive in any of the NASCAR series”.

Kenny Cook has spent one year in the program and appeared nervous and excited about visiting Mountain Speedway. He was excited because it was his first trip to the facility. Suited up and ready for “hot laps”, Cook was also nervous, as it would be his first time behind the wheel. Although he had previous karting experience, the mini cups are much faster, and Cook was ready for the experience. “I learned a lot in this program and am looking forward to the opportunity”, he said. “I spend a lot of time between school and this. You have to love what you do, and I definitely love doing this”. Upon graduation, Cook plans to major in communications at his local community college.

The educational skills, discipline, self-esteem, and sportsmanship our youths gain from the Urban Youth Racing School take them far beyond the racetrack. Kuilan had also mentioned that racing is a family sport. We see it preached all of the time in NASCAR racing and many see it in person at their favorite local short tracks. However, the folks who attended the test and tune Sunday at the speedway displayed character, teamwork and confidence, which is something that is needed to make any single driver and their team successful.
On the Fast Track to Washington, DC:
Urban Youth Racing School International Inc., Partnering with IDEA Public Charter School Launched Washington, DC Program
September 26, 2006, (Philadelphia, PA) On Saturday, September 23, the Urban Youth Racing School, headquartered in Philadelphia, PA and founded in 1998 by sports marketing expert, Anthony Martin, launched its  Washington, DC program.  In attendance for the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony/Opening Day activities were Linda Hamilton, UPS Corporate Public Affairs, who presented a $50,000 check from the UPS Foundation to Anthony Martin in support of UYRS-DC; Allstate's Sedrick Newbern, who pledged $10,000 and NASCAR's Lindsey Bowen, among others.

"The Saturday-only program will be housed at the IDEA [Integrated Design and Electronics Academy) Public Charter School located in Northeast Washington, DC.  IDEA's mission is to develop young people with the academic, social, leadership and occupational skills to compete successfully in post secondary education/training and enter challenging careers in the technical fields of work," said Anthony Martin.  "IDEA's and the UYRS mission is such a good fit.  We are delighted to partner with them in bringing our program to Washington."

Fifty lucky students in Washington, DC, got the green flag and started their race towards the UYRS/XBOX Points Championship, a coveted award given to UYRS students with good grades, behavior, and attendance, in their regular day school and UYRS, plus good racing at the Urban Youth Racing School. 
The first full day of classroom activities start Saturday, September 30 and on track instruction begins October 21. 

"I couldn't even dream about an opportunity like this, because none existed when I was growing up!" exclaimed Colonel Norman N. Johnson, IDEA's Headmaster.

As a part of an ambitious, national expansion slated to open six new schools over the next ten years, the new D.C. school will offer the nationally recognized program, which introduces to urban youths the opportunities available in the motorsports industry.  UYRS dangles motorsports as the magnet, attracting young people to the program, in order to enhance their knowledge of the sciences, mathematics, business, marketing, as well as hard-work, and teamwork needed to be successful, not only in motorsports, but at life.  The education they receive becomes the compass, providing more awareness of the options that are available and guiding the students of the school into a future that now possesses more opportunities.  It is the educational component that encourages students to think and dream bigger than they previously thought possible. 

The one-of a kind program offers youths, between the ages of 8 - 18, the opportunity to learn, race, compete and explore career opportunities in motorsports. Students learn about the industry through education, service learning, internships, training and racing. This is accomplished through two primary education programs, the "Build A Dream Program," a ten week classroom instruction and go kart racing program, and "The Driver/Team Development" program, a yearlong racing and educational program that encourages responsible driving and provides 25 advanced students actual racing experience and hands-on professional race team work opportunities.

"It's been my biggest dream to expand UYRS nationally and give other children across this nation and the world the same life changing opportunities and exposure that the students in Philadelphia have long benefited from. With the help of our sponsors, Allsports Grand Prix, Allstate Financial, The Annie E. Casey Foundation, Bank of America, GM, GMAC, IDEA Public Charter School, Joe Gibbs Racing, NASCAR, NASCAR.com, SEARS, SPEED, Sprint/Nextel, Sunoco, Team Rensi, UPS, UTI, and XBOX, my dream is becoming a reality," remarked Martin. "I am confident that we will impact just as many lives, if not more, in Washington, DC, as we have in Philadelphia." 

Urban Youth Racing School-Washington, D.C., will continue the legacy of the Philadelphia school, addressing the need for constructive activity for our youth, enabling them to achieve a better future.

About Urban Youth Racing School
UYRS is committed to the education, training and preparation of today's urban youth through exposure to the automotive and motorsports industry. 

Since it's inception in 1998, UYRS has had over 1100 children go through its 10 week "Build A Dream" and "Team Development" Programs involving over 60 mentors who have been a part of the school for over seven years. Additionally, the school has given away over $60,000 in educational scholarships, taken 50 UYRS students to Charlotte, North Carolina to visit and intern with NASCAR race teams, and participates in the annual Sears Craftsman/UYRS weeklong internship program. UYRS is committed to making diversity and youth issues a national priority.  For more information on UYRS, visit www.uyrs.com
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About IDEA Public Charter School

The IDEA Public Charter High School is a career focused, academic high school that prepares middle and high school students (grades 7-12) for college or for careers in electronics, networking, drafting or computer repair. IDEA was founded by a group of retired military instructors and civilian teachers in 1997. The school is based on the Department of Defense's JROTC Career Academy model. IDEA provides advanced placement college preparatory courses in English, calculus and chemistry. The computer repair class will lead students towards an A+ certification. The electronics class will allow students to receive training to become electrician apprentices. IDEA's JROTC program includes participation in Junior ROTC summer camp. Self-discipline, leadership training and citizenship skills are addressed through the JROTC program. In addition to the career-focused course of study, the school relies on partnerships with employers in the industry. These business partners will provide summer/part-time jobs and internships for students as well as providing mentorship, tutorial, instructional and curriculum support for teachers and students. The school's present location is in Ward 7 in the old Carver Elementary School at 1027 45th Street in Northeast Washington, DC. www.ideapcs.org
Fast Cars May Provide a Road to Success for Bored D.C. Kids
By Courtland Milloy

How's this for a bold idea: an urban youth racing school where fast-driving teens are cheered by fans instead of chased by police? Such a school opened Saturday in Northeast Washington, with about 50 teenagers showing up for a free education that could one day put them on the fast track to NASCAR fame and fortune.

"We want to expose these kids to the world of motor sports and use their interest in cars to teach them about racing as well as subjects such as mechanical engineering and physics," said Anthony Martin, 42, co-founder and executive director. "We promote education first, racing second. But in both areas we go hard and fast. No time for clowning. What could be more exciting?"

What a concept: excitement in learning. If only every school offered some of that. The Urban Youth Racing School opens at a time when boredom is one of the most common refrains heard from young people today. In the Washington area, car theft is epidemic -- and one reason cited is boredom.

Against that backdrop, opening a racing school seems almost too obvious, something that might have been done long before the District had to declare yet another "crime emergency" and put most of the city's teenagers under curfew.

Of course, a racing school alone won't solve juvenile delinquency. But such a program does represent a quantum leap in creativity when compared with the usual social remedies, such as midnight basketball and free tickets to hip-hop concerts. Those are just baby-sitting. Martin's idea offers skills that pay off for a lifetime.
A few years ago, the District government spent more than $1 million on an ill-conceived plan to bring in a Grand Prix auto race. Nothing was set aside for the kids. Adults got to act like kids, however, by racing 200 high-powered cars along a 1.7-mile course that cut through a residential neighborhood in Northeast. At the very least, the city could have used some of the money to lease, say, the Potomac Speedway in Waldorf and hold a demolition derby for teens.

What do the youngsters get instead? The mayor's annual "youth summit," where they get to talk about how much the city neglects them.
The racing school ingeniously shows how to put metal to the pedal. The classes will be held at the Integrated Design and Electronics Academy (IDEA), a public charter school at 1027 45th St. NE. There will be 10 weeks of classroom instruction (learn about apex lines, acceleration, combustion, centrifugal forces, gravitational pull, friction) for youngsters ages 8 to 18 -- boys and girls. The older ones will get to race modified stock cars, and the kids will race go-carts. Classes will be held on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Then students begin a year-long racing and educational program that encourages responsible driving and provides the 25 most advanced students with actual racing experience and professional race-team work experience.
"If you have the aptitude and the discipline, you can go a long way in this sport," Martin said. "Most people don't know that you can pull down $80,000 just changing tires on a pit crew."

Martin, founded the school in 1998.  Martin is a sports marketer,and has been a race car fan since childhood. He was disturbed by the dearth of African American race car drivers as well as fans, so he developed the program to acquaint Philadelphia urban youths with the sport -- and has put together an impressive list of sponsors to help them, including NASCAR and the Joe Gibbs Racing team.

The racing school in Washington is the first of six slated to open in cities other than Philadelphia during the next decade. More than 1,000 students have graduated from the flagship school in Philadelphia, Martin said.

"We get at-risk kids who completely turn their lives around," Dorsey said. Added Martin: "Not every kid will be able to slam-dunk, but nearly every one of them will be able to drive. We've found that kids from every background love the idea of auto racing so much that they are willing to go to school on Saturdays and to study throughout the summer to be the best at it. The next thing you know, their mind-set has changed."
Boys and girls, start your engines.
The Urban Youth Racing School is open for enrollment for the spring 2007 class. For information, call school supervisor Phyllis Berry Myers at 202-276-8730.

E-mail:milloyc@washpost.com
2006 The Washington Post Company

Uyrs students get a taste of life in nascar as they tour and do internships in Nascar Country, Charlotte, NC

Philadelphia, PA. - August 22, 2006 -  The Urban Youth Racing School is proud to have offered its 5th annual "Live It to Learn It" voyage to one of NASCAR's main hubs, Charlotte, North Carolina.  This exciting hands-on learning experience was a chance for 15 advanced students in the school to live in the exciting world of NASCAR in order to learn more about the motorsports world.  Held August 13th through the 18th, 2006, students participated in a full week of site visits and informative lectures from professionals who live and breathe NASCAR, in addition there where 5 students who worked with acclaimed race shops such as Joe Gibbs Racing and Hendricks Motorsports completing hands-on internships.

The tour of NASCAR Country encompassed all aspects of racing: construction and development of a team, press and media coverage, and the technology behind it all. Hendricks Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing, Penske Racing, Chip Gannassi Racing and Dale Earnhardt Inc. provided a crucial overview of racing teams, from their beginning stages to their flourishing legacies, along with a gourmet Lunch spread provided by Bank Of America at DEI's prestigious Country Club. 

Students were also be exposed to the media coverage that NASCAR receives by participating in a guided tour and informational where the students where able to go on the set and put their anchor and production skills to the test, hosted by Speed Channel, a cable television station dedicated to offering auto and motorcycle racing coverage, news and commentary. 

NASCAR itself opened its doors to the NASCAR Research and Development Center, giving the students a look at new and prevailing technologies such as NASCAR's car of the future.  The NASCAR Licensing office in Downtown, Charlotte gave the students serious insight into the world of the NASCAR licensing empire.

To further the educational exposure to innovative technology, Penske Technology Center, home of the most advanced moving ground plane wind tunnel commercially available in the world, provided an interactive learning experience for the students to gain a behind-the-scenes look at how science and technology become crucial to racing success.

Also included in the tour where Universal Tech Institute, and 5off 5on where UYRS students where treated to dinner and where addressed by Jeff Hammond, NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Commentator and Adrian Branch, former NBA star, who is now the color analyst for the Charlotte Bobcats.  The Urban Youth Racing School strives to present its students with a holistic view of the motorsports industry.
Congratulations to Reed Sorenson for winning the Bank of America Card Services Mid-Race Leader Award in Louden.

Presenting the check this week is Bank of America customer and founder of the Urban Youth Racing School, Anthony Martin
Allstate's "Good Hands®" Drivers Raise Funds for Inner-City Youth"



Indianapolis, IN July 18, 2006 - Allstate awarded the Urban Youth Racing School in Philadelphia  a check for $12,000 on behalf of the insurance company's "Good Hands®" Driver award. 

As part of its overall support for NASCAR diversity initiatives, Allstate developed the Allstate "Good Hands®" Driver award to one NASCAR Nextel Cup driver throughout a 12-week period.  Each week, the Allstate "Good Hands®" Driver of the race had $1,000 donated to the UYRS in his name.

Denise Owens, Allstate's recruiting and agency development director, presented the check during a test session for this year's Allstate® 400 at the Brickyard®, taking place August 6 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (NBC, 2 p.m. EDT).  Accepting the award on behalf of the Urban Youth Racing School were founder and executive director Anthony Martin, director of operations Michelle Kuilan and students Kiah Williams, Jeremy Ortiz and Christopher Lawrence.

"The 'Good Hands®' Award reflects excellent driving and responsibility," said Pam Hollander, director of sponsorship marketing at Allstate.  "We are very pleased the award donation goes towards a worthy cause such as the Urban Youth Racing School, which fosters greater opportunities for urban youths through motorsports."

"We thank Allstate for their generous contribution the Urban Youth Racing School," said Martin. "Our students can only benefit from the wealth of financial and automotive safety knowledge that only Allstate can provide."

Allstate is the official insurance sponsor of NASCAR, which includes the auto, home and life insurance, mutual funds and retirement products categories.

About Allstate
Now celebrating the 75th anniversary of the founding of Allstate Insurance Company, The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) is the nation's largest publicly held personal lines insurer.  Widely known through the "You're In Good Hands With Allstate®" slogan, Allstate helps individuals in approximately 17 million households protect what they have today and better prepare for tomorrow through approximately 14,100 exclusive agencies and financial professionals in the U.S. and Canada.  Customers can access Allstate products and services such as auto insurance and homeowners insurance through Allstate agencies, or in select states at allstate.com and 1-800 Allstate®. EncompassSM and Deerbrook® Insurance brand property and casualty products are sold exclusively through independent agents. The Allstate Financial Group provides life insurance, supplemental accident and health insurance, annuity, banking and retirement products designed for individual, institutional and worksite customers that are distributed through Allstate agencies, independent agencies, financial institutions and broker-dealers.

About the Urban Youth Racing School
UYRS is a non-profit organization committed to the education, training and preparation of today's urban youth through exposure to the automotive and motorsports industry. 

Since its inception in 1998, UYRS has had over 1,000 children go through its 10-week "Build a Dream" and "Team Development" programs involving over 40 mentors who have been a part of the school for over five years. Additionally, the school has given away over $40,000 in educational scholarships, taken 40 UYRS students to Charlotte, N.C., to visit NASCAR race teams, and participates in the annual Sears Craftsman/UYRS weeklong internship program. UYRS is committed to making diversity and youth issues a national priority.www.uyrs.com

 

RACING IS A REALITY FOR THESE KIDS
Sprint Nextel Donates $45,000 to Urban Youth Racing School
RESTON, Va.   July 27, 2006   Sprint Nextel (NYSE: S) today donated $45,000 to the Urban Youth Racing School (UYRS), a 501(c)(3) charitable organization dedicated to the education, training and preparation of today's urban youths by exposure to the automotive and motorsports industry.
The donation by Sprint Nextel and partnership with the UYRS is founded on the principles of education, equal opportunity and the ongoing commitment to the growth of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup SeriesTM. Both organizations have a proven track record of improving upon those principles.

A portion of the Sprint Nextel donation will be allocated to the UYRS expansion into the Washington, D.C. market tentatively slated for September 2006. Beyond the financial contribution, Sprint Nextel will continue to provide support through marketing and promotional efforts as well as leverage its position as the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series premier sponsor to generate more awareness for the UYRS. 

"The Urban Youth Racing School epitomizes the type of diverse organization that Sprint Nextel is truly committed to helping," said Tammy Edwards, director of inclusion and diversity for Sprint Nextel. "It's an organization that day in and day out is working to diversify the sport and allow growth opportunities for the next generation."

The Urban Youth Racing School was founded by Anthony Martin in 1998. When Team Rensi Motorsports provided the first round of sponsorship money for the UYRS, the first-ever motorsports racing school for urban youth was born in Philadelphia. Since then, sponsors such as NASCAR, General Motors, GMAC and Allstate have announced their support for UYRS.

"It is an honor to welcome the Sprint Nextel as a sponsor for the Urban Youth Racing School," said Anthony Martin, founder and executive director of the UYRS. "As an innovative technology-based company, we are confident that through their corporate sponsorship, Sprint Nextel will help propel the youth of today into the technologically-driven world of tomorrow."

For more information, please visit www.sprint.com/nextelcup or www.uyrs.com.

About Sprint Nextel
Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of communications services bringing mobility to consumer, business and government customers. Sprint Nextel is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including two robust wireless networks offering industry leading mobile data services; instant national and international walkie-talkie capabilities; and an award-winning and global Tier 1 Internet backbone.  For more information, visit www.sprint.com.
05.06
May 25-31, 2006/ Citypaper.net
Naked City

Lap Dog: Anthony Martin's Urban Youth Racing School has city kids driving in circles. by Dom Cosentino
CIRCUIT TRAINING: UYRS founder Anthony Martin (in hat) with, from left, Johny and Jeremy Ortiz (with car), Danny Colon and Ari Summers.
Mike m. koehler
In 1990, Anthony Martin was so eager to meet Willy T. Ribbs—the first African-American to race in the Indy 500—he lied. "My partner and I posed as reporters," Martin says. A West Philadelphia native and a lifelong fan of motor sports, Martin wanted to know how a kid in the inner city could get involved in auto racing. Ribbs, who grew up wealthy and therefore had the resources to attend camps and to travel, told him simply, "Racing is just too expensive."

Eight years later, after embarking on a sports-marketing career in which he developed the concept for Randall Cunningham's famous gold-tipped shoelaces—a career that allowed him to develop contacts throughout professional sports—Martin founded the Urban Youth Racing School (UYRS), still the only school of its kind in the country and a keystone of NASCAR's diversity efforts.

UYRS' offices may sit in a nondescript, one-story yellow building on North Front Street in Northern Liberties, but these days the school's impact extends all the way across the nation, if not the world: Hollywood producers have contacted Martin about a possible motion picture, MTV has expressed interest in a reality series, HBO: Real Sports is pursuing a feature story, and there will soon be a video game and new Speed Racer cartoon in which Velocity, Speed Racer's daughter, befriends kids from UYRS.

On Saturday at 1 p.m., the school gets to show itself to Philadelphia during the Second Annual UYRS Grand Prix of Philadelphia, a go-cart race along Eakins Oval.

The school has a waiting list of 800, with inquiries pouring in from all over the world, and officials from cities across the country have expressed interest in having it expand to their communities. UYRS is for children ages 8 to 18—many of whom are disadvantaged—and it is intensive and thorough: A five-week classroom training course that stresses everything from mathematics and science to the importance of being clean-cut and professional so as to attract sponsors, the lifeblood of the motor sports industry. The next five weeks emphasize on-track experience in go-carts at Arnold's in Oaks, where outside instructors, including NASCAR drivers like Dale Earnhardt Jr., tutor kids on the nuances of driving.

Those with the right interest and ambition move on to the school's advanced program, which allows students to travel to races along the East Coast. The school also has an internship program that places students directly with NASCAR racing teams. The kids learn not only to be drivers, but tire changers, mechanics, engineers, even crew chiefs—all of which present possible career opportunities in a sport that continues to grow.

And it's all free, paid for by sponsors Martin has been able to attract throughout the years—though only one is from Philadelphia (Sunoco).

"Philadelphia is a stick-and-ball town," Martin says.

A graduate of Frankford High School, where he played basketball, and Central State University in Ohio, Martin has been possessed with an entrepreneurial streak since his youth, when he once dreamed of building a Lamborghini bed and later saw someone else had begun selling that very product, thereby validating his ambitions.

"Anthony's different," says Gary Cobb, a former Eagle and current sports-talk host on WIP. "He grew up in the city, but he was into auto racing—that's not normal. But he's entrepreneurial, and they don't think the way that everyone else thinks. He makes things happen. He has a way of getting to the right people."

Despite auto racing's stereotype as a sport catering largely to Southern rednecks, Martin says he has encountered almost no resistance on account of his race, or the race of his students. There have been a few "crazy looks" from those in the stands, he says, but that's about it.

"They want people of color, they want Spanish people, they want all of that," says Martin of NASCAR. "The question becomes for NASCAR, how do we bring other consumers into our sport and not piss off the Southern redneck? And the answer to that question is, you're going to piss off the Southern redneck. There's really no way around it."

Cameron French, who grew up in Mount Airy and Roxborough, went through the program as a high school senior five years ago after reading an article about it. Though he had always had an interest in sports and in cars, French never had a way to get involved, to learn more.

"There was nothing, really, for me, at least in Philadelphia," says French, who graduated from University of North Carolina at Charlotte on May 13. "When I found the school it was the answer to my prayers."

French, 22, has since interned at UYRS and with the Joe Gibbs Racing Team in North Carolina. He plans to pursue a master's degree and will intern this summer with the Democratic National Committee. He's also been tapped by Martin to get a UYRS up and running in Washington, D.C., an idea that he says "absolutely" has his interest.

"It's very special," says French of UYRS, "because it gives you the opportunity to know you can do whatever it is you want, no matter what it is. That's the constant message that comes through."

While none of UYRS' students is currently working in NASCAR, several have internships, and some, like French, are interested in coming back to help the school as it grows.

"These kids who have come through our program, I like the idea of them coming back and wanting to help," Martin says, "because we helped them get to where they are."
UYRS GRAND PRIX OF PHILADELPHIA

PHILADELPHIA, PA, May 24th, 2006 - The Urban Youth Racing School (UYRS) commitment to promoting motor sports moves outside of the classroom to the world famous Art Museum of Philadelphia. UYRS will hold its 2nd Annual Grand Prix of Philadelphia on Ben Franklin Parkway in front of the Art Museum in Center City on Saturday, May 27, 2006 starting at 1pm. UYRS Driver Performance level students and invited participants, ages 13-17, will race against each other in karts capable of reaching 90+ mph on Philadelphia city streets for annual bragging rights. The Grand Prize will be to be Red Bull VIP guest at the only F1 Race in America and go to the NASCAR Busch Series race in Dover.

The UYRS Grand Prix of Philadelphia is another example of further introducing the historic City of Philadelphia to the recent phenomenon that is motorsports.

UYRS MISSION - The Urban Youth Racing School is dedicated to giving inner-city youth more opportunity and a chance to enhance their life skills by using motor sports as the magnet and education as the compass. UYRS is committed to making diversity, educational and youth issues a national priority.

Since it's inception in 1998, UYRS has had over 1000 children go through their 10 week "Build A Dream" and "Team Development" Programs involving over 40 mentors who have been a part of the school for over 7 years. Additionally, the school has given away over $40,000 in educational scholarships, taken 40 UYRS students to Charlotte, North Carolina to visit NASCAR race teams, and participates in the annual Sears Craftsman/UYRS weeklong internship program.

For more information please contact Michelle Kuilan (215) 923-2532 at the Urban Youth Racing School or by email at michellekuilan@uyrs.com.

More info can also be found online at  www.UYRS.com or www.redbulldriversearch.com
URBAN YOUTH RACING SCHOOL STUDENTS
STAR IN NEW NASCAR DIVERSITY COMMERCIAL
Urban Youth Racing School drivers (Pictured Left to Right):  Jeremy Orbitz-14,  Javan Lessane-Age 9, Jade Gillis- Age 13, girl Framed Photos (Left to Right):  Wendell Scott, Charlie Scott, Bill Lester
Photo credits:  Danny Clinch

PHILADELPHIA (Feb. 01, 2006)  - NASCAR is showing its support for Black History Month by showcasing some of the accomplishments of African Americans throughout its history and demonstrating its expanding diversity efforts today.

Highlighting the effort is a special television, print, radio and on-line campaign. The campaign's TV spot, which is attached, pays tribute to the past, present and future of African-American contributions to NASCAR, and features children from the Urban Youth Racing School (UYRS). The students pay homage to Wendell Scott, the first African American to win a NASCAR race, Sam Belnavis, a NASCAR Busch Series team co-owner, and Bill Lester, who currently competes in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.  

The UYRS, founded in 1998, is a non-profit organization in Philadelphia, dedicated to providing inner-city children (ages 8-18) an opportunity to enhance their education and life skills by using motorsports as the magnet and education as the compass. This is executed through two 10-week Build A Dream Programs, consisting of five classroom sessions and five track sessions, running from June - November, along with the year round UYRS Team Development Program that puts students behind the wheel of a race car.

These programs provide exposure to science, math, chemistry, mechanics, and business; and instill positive self-esteem, focus, passion, drive, determination, team collaboration and leadership skills. UYRS is committed to making diversity, educational and youth initiatives a national priority.

The new  "NASCAR Celebrates Black History Month" spot will begin running on SPEED on Feb. 6, then will continue throughout the entire month of February, including on the Daytona 500  (Feb. 19, NBC, 1:30 EST), which kicks off the 2006 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series season.   It will  also air on NBC, TNT, FOX and FX.

Boone/Oakley Advertising, Charlotte created the campaign for NASCAR.

*The UYRS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.  All contributions to support the work of UYRS are tax deductible.

***Download commercial to view           
Universal Technical Institute Sponsors Urban Youth Racing School

PHOENIX (Feb. 01, 2006) - Universal Technical Institute, Inc. (NYSE: UTI), a provider of technical education training, announced today it will support the Urban Youth Racing School (UYRS) in Philadelphia, Penn., to promote motorsports education for inner city youth.

Under this new agreement, UTI will provide 12 new Honda engines and technical installation assistance for UYRS' Mini Super Cup cars. UTI will also assist in rebuilding old engines that will be used as spares. In addition, UTI students and instructors will provide assistance at specified UYRS races held in the Exton, Pennsylvania area.

"UTI's vision is to help people achieve their dreams," says Dennis Hendrix, vice president of UTI Business Alliances Group. "Our relationship with URYS lights the way for these students to succeed in the motorsports industry."

"We are excited to have UTI on board as a new sponsor," said Anthony Martin, founder and executive director of The Urban Youth Racing School. "UTI's support will enhance our educational initiatives and offer our students a wide variety of educational options."

To further the commitment to inner-city youth, UTI will assist UYRS in developing and instructing a small-engine dynamometer lab and class. The UTI Exton campus will also hold two Open Houses during the year where UYRS students will enjoy lunch, tour the campus, and visit with UTI instructors and students.

ESPN THE MAGAZINE Features the URBAN YOUTH RACING SCHOOL
Available at news stands and where all fine books are sold.

In the Most current edition of ESPN THE MAGAZINE (available at newsstands right now) with NASCAR NEXTEL CUP Driver Carl Edward's on the cover, The Urban Youth Racing School is featured in a four page spread.

On page seventy (70) the segment titled "Block Party - Where are are NASCAR's stars of the future? If The Urban Youth Racing School has any say, it's where you'd least expect,," written by Chad Nielsen is now available at a newsstand or bookstore near you.

If you are a subscriber to ESPN the Magazine you can log onto www.espn.com to view or download the digital version of the entire magazine.