2016 NASCAR Drive for Diversity Class

2016 NASCAR D4D Class

Rueben Garcia Jr. (left) 2016 D4D Class, Daniel Suarez (right), and Abraham Calderon (Middle)

By Richard Tix

Six new drivers were selected to the 2016 Driver for Diversity class. The D4D class is a important developmental program within NASCAR that tries to highlight talent from different ethnic and multicultural backgrounds who may otherwise get overlooked in the industry. It is a nice way for drivers who may not easily get spotlight receive a spot on NASCAR fans and teams radar.

This same program has produced National drivers like Kyle Larson, Darrell Wallace Jr, and Daniel Suarez in recent years, which just helps proves it's success.

Each will be introduced into the class during the Media Tour in January (Jan 19th).

The program continues to develop as apparent by Jim Cassidy's comments, "NASCAR remains steadfast in its mission to develop multicultural and female athletes and we believe this class has the potential to compete at the highest levels of our sport," said Jim Cassidy, NASCAR senior vice president of racing operations. "The talent pool from which these drivers were selected was unprecedented for NASCAR Drive for Diversity -- a testament to the program's growth and success."

This class could one day be a big part in the youth movement within NASCAR. A new generation of young talented drivers are starting to hit the next level with the likes of Joey Logano, Kyle Larson, Chase Elliot, and Ryan Blaney already hitting Cup. Which means guys like Larson, Rico Abreu, Suarez and Wallace all continue to get a shot at Cup in large part to being discovered and developed through this D4D program.

The following six drivers were chosen for the class after a testing (combine) in October and will driver for Rev Racing in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and NASCAR Whelen All-American Series.

The 2016 NASCAR Drive for Diversity Class:

Jairo Avila Jr 20 Years Old

• Jario is a Columbia-American from California who ran a couple ARCA races in 2015 and made his K&N Series Debut in 2014 (but didn't run any in 2015). He has been competing with a family owned team (K&N series). In 5 K&N starts he posted 4 top 10's and an average finish of 10.2. He will run the K&N Pro Series East in 2016.

Enrique Baca 24 Years Old

• Baca hasn't competed much at the NASCAR level, but had an impressive showing that the D4D combine. He did run 3 NASCAR Mexico Series races in 2013. He is from Monterrey, Mexico and has competed in the 2015 Super Copa Telcel series, which is a series in his native Mexico. Not much is known about him at the NASCAR level, but he will get a shot racing the  NASCAR Whelen All-American Series in 2016.

Collin Cabre 22 Years Old

• Collin ran the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East as a D4D driver last season on his way to one win, two top 5's, and 3 top 10's in 14 races. That win was in the last race of the season at Dover International Raceway. He finished out the K&N season 10th in the standings and will look to improve on that in 2016 in the same series.

Juan Garcia 18 Years Old

• Juan is the youngest driver of the 2016 Class originally from Bogota, Colombia. He ran the 2015 Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown, but finished 27th of 36 after a wreck slowed his day. He also won the 2015 Wendell Scott Trailblazer Award for his competitiveness in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series. He will run the same series in 2016.

Rubén Garcia Jr 20 Years Old

• Rubén is a native to Mexico City and impressively won the 2015 NASCAR Mexico Series. He won 3 races, had 8 top 5's, and 12 top 10's in 15 race in the series last season after finishing 2nd in 2014 and 4th in 2013. After proving his talents in the Mexico Series he will run 2016  at the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East level. 

Ali Kern 22 Years Old

• Ali has run just a handful of races at the K&N level (3 total), but will get a better shot to run a full season in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East during 2016. She was also a second-place finisher in the ARCA/CRA Super Series so she will get to show her talents now in the D4D going against other K&N drivers.

Along with the NASCAR Next class, which spotlights ton's of the best young talent in NASCAR, it will also be fun to watch how these D4D drivers develop and move along there careers in racing. Every young driver needs help and support from fans and sponsors so be sure to check these guys out in 2016.