Race Weekend Central

2015 Drive for Diversity Class Announced: Kenzie Ruston, Dylan Smith, More

During the first day of the NASCAR Media Tour, Rev Racing announced its new lineup for the Drive for Diversity program. With four new drivers entering their stable for 2015, the organization is looking to continue bringing success to young drivers, similar to what has been seen with graduates Kyle Larson, Darrell Wallace, Jr. and Daniel Suarez.

Collin Cabre, Natalie Decker and Kenzie Ruston are the newest drivers to Rev Racing’s four-car program, which has been around for approximately a decade. Returning to Max Siegel’s team will be Jay Beasley, Devin Amos and Dylan Smith.

2014 Kentucky CWTS Darrell Wallace Jr CIA
NASCAR’s 2015 crop of Drive For Diversity candidates hope they can follow in the footsteps of one of the program’s most successful alumni: Bubba Wallace. (Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

Neither Sergio Pena nor Ryan Gifford return, following finishes outside of the top 10 in points last season.

“NASCAR Drive for Diversity goes much deeper than putting drivers behind the wheel of race cars,” said Siegel. “The program is all encompassing, providing competition, athletic training and professional development opportunities for drivers who have the determination and talent to reach NASCAR’s top levels. We’ve seen this with Larson, Suarez and Wallace, Jr. and are excited about the potential of this talented group of drivers.”

Amos rejoins the crew following two full seasons in the NASCAR Whelen All-American division. He will be moving up the ranks in a full-time ride in the K&N Pro Series East. Ruston, Cabre and Beasley will join him in that division.

Beasley finished 13th in points last season after earning two top 5s and four top 10s.  Cabre, 21, who has a background racing in dirt cars, will be running for Rookie of the Year honors in the division.

Ruston makes the move to Rev Racing following a one-year stint with Ben Kennedy Racing. After Kennedy’s team signed Kaz Grala for the 2015 season, she was left without a ride. Entering her third full-time season in the K&N Pro Series East, she is expected to be the leader of the organization in her first year driving a Toyota.

“I’m super excited for this year and how much they (the Drive for Diversity program) supports women in racing,” Ruston told Frontstretch. “A win is definitely expected out of this year. I feel like this year is the one that I’ll get my first win. Coming into the season with all of the new bodies, they are getting their stuff together and this is the most prepared that they have been going into a season in the K&N Pro Series.”

Decker and Smith will be racing in the Whelen All-American Series in 2015.

About the author

Joseph started with Fronstretch in Aug. 2014 and worked his way up to become an editor in less than a year. A native of Whitestone, New York, Joseph writes for NASCAR Pole Position magazine as a weekly contributor, along with being a former intern at Newsday and the Times Beacon Record Newspapers, each on Long Island. With a focus on NASCAR, he runs our social media pages and writes the NASCAR Mailbox column, along with other features for the site.

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