Diversity in motorsports is an increasing priority, especially in the nation's top Stock Car Circuit. This afternoon a major initiative was announced from 23XI Racing, which is co-owned by 3x Daytona 500 Champion Denny Hamlin, and NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordan. The specifics of the press release are included below.
Press Release - 23XI Racing
"Mooresville, NC (July 14, 2021) – Today 23XI Racing announced the creation of the SPEED (Scholarship, Professional Education, Executive Development) Institute, an initiative designed to support the team’s diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts and enhance opportunities for students and job-seekers in the motorsports field. The program will focus on scholarships, internships, professional education and executive development with 23XI Racing and its partners.
Visit SPEED Institute page.
As the motorsports industry takes a fresh look at its overall diversity and inclusion efforts, the establishment of the SPEED Institute is the latest step for 23XI Racing in the team’s overall commitment to creating a race team where a diverse workforce is a priority. The SPEED Institute will allow the team and its partners to fulfill this promise as the race team continues to grow and ensure that motorsports is a welcoming environment for all.
“It’s an exciting time for us at 23XI Racing to announce our SPEED Institute and continue to build on our diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in motorsports,” said Denny Hamlin, co-owner of 23XI Racing. “When we created 23XI, this was an important focus for our company and our vision for the future. We want to create an avenue for students to feel welcome in motorsports and help open doors for them, either through working with us directly or by working with our partners to find opportunities to learn and grow. We are fortunate to have a great group of partners who not only support our on-track efforts, but support us off the track with our DEI efforts, and the SPEED Institute is the next step in that growth.”
SPEED Institute Programs:
Scholarships: 23XI Racing and its partners will offer scholarship programs to students with an interest in areas such as marketing, communications, human resources, finance, engineering and trade disciplines in the automotive industry.
Internships: 23XI Racing will offer paid internships to students to increase participation from underrepresented groups in the disciplines of technology and engineering, and in the business of motorsports, including trade disciplines. The program is designed to give undergraduate and graduate students opportunities to learn the motorsports industry in various fields both virtually and in person at the 23XI Racing shop.
Fellowships: The 23XI Fellowship Program is an opportunity for students pursuing an undergraduate, graduate or doctoral degree in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines to receive a scholarship and be employed upon degree completion at 23XI Racing.
Diversity Recruitment and Executive Development: 23XI Racing is committed to creating a diverse workforce. These recruitment and development programs will provide opportunities for underrepresented individuals who are out of school and who have an interest in working in motorsports.
23XI Racing is proud to take this next step and is committed to a multi-year program providing internships and employment opportunities to a diverse group of students with the SPEED Institute and the 23XI Racing organization.
In the coming weeks, we will announce the SPEED Institute’s first program in association with one of our team partners. Additional partner programs will continue to be announced as plans are finalized.
About 23XI Racing
23XI Racing – pronounced twenty-three eleven – was founded by NBA legend Michael Jordan and three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin in 2020. Rising NASCAR star Bubba Wallace is the single car team’s driver. 23XI Racing’s No. 23 Toyota Camry made its NASCAR Cup Series debut at the Daytona 500 on February 14, 2021, at Daytona International Speedway.
About 23XI Racing’s SPEED Institute
SPEED Institute is 23XI Racing’s educational and professional development initiative, launched in 2021. The initiative expands on the team’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in sports, specifically in the motorsports industry. 23XI Racing, along with its partners under the SPEED Institute program, will provide educational opportunities as well as diversity recruiting and professional development in the motorsports field."