Panelists subject to change based on scheduling requirements without notice.


 

 

 

 

 

 
  KYLE BUSCH
Busch began racing at the age of 13, following in his brother's  
  footsteps to race in the still-new everyman's racing circuit, the Legends Series. 
  After 65 Legends wins, Busch moved up to NASCAR's late model series, winning
  ten races and signing on with Roush Racing. Still just a junior in high school,   
  Busch made his Truck Series debut with Roush in 2001... then shocked the
  NASCAR world by bolting for Hendrick.

  Just as stunning was team owner Rick Hendrick's decision to put the teenager
  in the #5 Chevy, replacing NASCAR legend and two-time Cup champion Terry  
  Labonte, and racing as a teammate to four-time champ Jeff Gordon.

  The 2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup Rookie of the Year is a new addition to the panel 
  and will prove to be a valuable one.

 

                      

  DAVID STREMME made the move to the ASA Series in 2000 and then things  
  began to happen. The first year he competed in eight races and earned one  
  pole and four top-10 finishes. His big break though, came after his most
  successful season in 2002 where after four second-place finishes he won his
  first ASA race at Salem Speedway. His second ASA win came at Indianapolis
  Raceway Park. He finished the season fourth in the standings and earned the
  Pat Schaurer Memorial Rookie of the Year Award. Stremme's ASA success
  grabbed the attention of Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates driver talent  
  coordinator Lorin Ranier. He was brought to Lakeland International Speedway to
  test alongside of future CGRFS teammates Jamie McMurray and Casey Mears. He
  also became the first driver in the team's driver development program. Today,
  David is a regular competitor on NASCAR's Nextel Cup Series competing in his
  sophomore year againgst some of the stiffest competition in the series today.
  David will take you on the step-by-step journey as he moved from local short
  track racing to the top tier of motorsports.

REED SORENSON'S trek up the racing ladder started at six-years-old when he began in the Quarter Midget Division. He won nine Southeastern championships before being crowned the National Champion in 1997. From there, he raced his way through the Legends Series and ASA. In 2003, he signed a Driver Development contract with Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates. By 2005 he had won his first Busch Series race and now competes in NASCAR'S Nextel Cup Series, where he is a candidate for Raybestos Rookie of the Year. "Racing has been a part of me and my family for as along as I can remember. It's always been a family affair," said Reed. Reed's father, Brad, has been the greatest influence in his racing career. Reed is the perfect model to illustrate superior career progression. Reed continues to be one of NASCAR's rising stars and a weekly threat on the race track.

BRAD SORENSON has literally made a career out of helping his son. In addition to running a successful business, Brad a former racer himself -- and his wife, Becky, made sacrifices to ensure their son's future in professional motorsports. While learning a lot by trial and error, they sought out others who have run the same course successfully. Taking bits and pieces of the entire process, they helped bring Reed to his current stature. Brad is a no-nonsense, straight-the-the-point dad, who won't just tell you what you want to hear. He's lived the process and will bring un-paralleled viewpoint to the clinic.

 

BECKY SORENSON has literally made a career out of helping his son. In addition to running a successful business, Brad a former racer himself -- and his wife, Becky, made sacrifices to ensure their son's future in professional motorsports. While learning a lot by trial and error, they sought out others who have run the same course successfully. Taking bits and pieces of the entire process, they helped bring Reed to his current stature. Brad is a no-nonsense, straight-the-the-point dad, who won't just tell you what you want to hear. He's lived the process and will bring un-paralleled viewpoint to the clinic.

BRYAN CLAUSON has an amazing future ahead of him. Clauson rose to stardom last season in the USAC National Sprint Car division when he took over the Keith Kunz Motorsports seat overseen by USAC staple Keith Kunz. With a win at Columbus Motor Speedway (Ohio), he became the youngest driver in the 50-yearhistory of the sanctioning body to win a National Feature event at just 16 years, three months and 23 days. Over the past nine years, Clauson has won several championships on both dirt and pavement in a variety of cars. At the tender age of five he began cutting his teeth in a race car, and has won titles and races in every one of the biggest venues and series he's tried his hand at.

Like Sorenson, Bryan is part of the Ganassi Development program and is being touted as a true star in the making. This season he will run a limited schedule in the NASCAR Busch Series. While only sixteen, he has the poise and conduct of a driver far beyond his years. He's try it -- he's made it -- and he'll bring insight to every young hopeful at the clinic.

On April 23, 2006, Bryan Clauson wrote another page in the history books by winning the feature event at The Winchester Speedway; he recently captured the Toyota Showdown at Concord Motorsports Park for his second win this season. To the delight of fans and the awe of his competitors, Bryan continues to do the unthinkable, conquering the treacherous Speedways at such a youthful age.

TIM CLAUSON, like Brad Sorenson has dedicated his daily life to bringing Bryan along in the proper manner. As an open-wheel racer himself, Tim knew the trials and tribulations of success. He understood the sacrifices, long hours and persistence that it takes to finally "make it". Since Bryan began racing at age five, Tim has been there every step of the way. And he knows it's not easy. But he does understand that by following the lead of winners and surrounding himself with good people, he's been able to bolster his son into the National spotlight. Tim Clauson is truly an expert on "the process" and wants to share his experience and hope with young candidates and their families. Said Tim, "I don't think there is anything on this Earth better than seeing your child succeed and being able to witness their dreams coming true."

J.J. YELEY is a second generation driver. He was behind the wheel of a quarter midget at the age of 10, later raced go-carts and at the age of 14 began racing midgets. Three years later he was in a non-wing sprint car setting track records. From there, Yeley has risen to the top level of NASCAR racing as one of the three drivers of the Joe Gibbs Racing stables.
JOSH WISE  is a part of a developmental program that Michael Waltrip Racing has implemented. Wise is scheduled to compete in NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and ARCA RE/MAX Series events with Darrell Waltrip Motorsports and Eddie Sharp Racing respectively. Michael Waltrip is relying on both organizations to develop drivers, like Wise, for the future growth of his organization.

KEVIN HAMLIN is a member of the Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Development Program. Hamlin, who will run several Busch Series races this season, finished a career-high 11th in the Craftsman Truck Series race at Daytona. He is the 2001 & 2002 NASCAR Northwest Champion, and he has a great insight as to how the whole process works.

In 2007, Hamlin will share driving duties with Juan Pablo Montoya in the NASCAR Busch Series; driving the #42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge.

EDDIE D'HONDT Is the owner of Riley-D'Hondt Motorsports in the NASCAR Busch and Nextel Cup Series.
ELTON SAWYER is a former successful NASCAR BUSCH Series driver, who has become the key person to head up the Evernham Motorsports Driver Development Program. Recently, Elton became the Director of Competition at Team Red Bull in the Nextel Cup Series.
ANN BARKER is Manager of Motorsports & Licensing for Chevron responsible for sponsorship of the No. 42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge driven by Juan Pablo Montoya in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series.

Prior to Chevron, Ann was Director of Sports and Event Marketing for AT&T Wireless and has broad experience in the negotiation, business integration and promotional development of sports, venue, tour and entertainment properties including ambush and street - experiential marketing. Ann has led teams developing sponsorship based retail promotions with a variety targeted fan bases.  Properties include: U.S. Olympic Team: 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympic Games & 2004 Athens Summer Olympic Games; 2003 Super Bowl, Rolling Stones 40 Licks Tour, PGA TOUR, Tostito’s Fiesta Bowl, COMDEX, multiple local university, arts and community organizations.  

Working with endorsement contracts for professional athletes, Ann has a strong understanding of building athlete brands and the role marketing plays in growing athlete compensation.  She has created marketing opportunities with the following athletes: Charles Barkley, Jason Kidd, Desmond Howard, Carson Palmer, Marshall Faulk, Phil Mickelson, and Michael Phelps and broadcasters: Rich Eisen, Gary McCord, Peter Kostis and David Feherty. 

Ann is a life member of the Board of Directors for college football’s Insight.com Bowl and the Tostito’s Fiesta Bowl.

LORIN RANIER is the Director of Driver Development for Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates. He is the son of legendary car owner, Harry Ranier. It was Lorin who at the age of 21 urged his dad to test, then unknown, Davey Allison. Ranier's suggestion proved successful as Allison went on to win two races and become the 1987 Rookie of the Year with Ranier Racing. Lorin is actually credited with defining the term and process know as "Driver Development". He is most recently responsible for the discovery and cultivation of Tony Stewart, Reed Sorenson, David Stremme and open wheel sensation, 17-year-old Bryan Clauson.

CURTIS MARKHAM is directly responsible for discovering Joe Gibbs Racing Rookie, Denny Hamlin. Markham is the Director of Special Projects for JGR and is involved in the day-to-day management of their Driver Development Program. Curtis is a former NASCAR Busch Series driver himself and will share his knowledge of the what it takes to advance to the higher levels. Markham is one of the most respected personalities in the NASCAR garages.
JEFFREY DICKERSON of Motorsports Management International will be on hand to discuss with and counsel the attendees on the management elements involved with career advancement. MMI represents such drivers as 2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup Champion, Tony Stewart; 2003 Champion Matt Kenseth; 2004 Raybestos Rookie of the Year, Kasey Kahne; 2003 Raybestos Rookie of the Year, Jamie McMurray and NASCAR Busch Series notable Jason Leffler, as well as many up-and-coming stars. They seek out some of the finest talent that NASCAR has to offer. Dickerson, one of the foremost talent scouts in the industry, will provide invaluable information to anyone who aspires to move to the next level.

DAVID SMITH is an independent NASCAR talent scout who has worked for or been associated with NASCAR, ISC, Daytona International Speedway, Motor Racing Network (MRN), and Sullivan Worldwide Marketing Group. David has worked hard at recognizing talent by studying what teams look for in a driver, a person, and a winner. Aside from working towards his degree in Business Administration from the University of Central Florida, David spends on average 25 hours per week studying race films, reading news reports, and talking to contacts about the upcoming stars in the racing world. Through everything, he has learned he has become increasingly consistent on finding drivers that have the potential to blossom into superstars. Top NASCAR car owners visit www.davidsmithmotorsports.com on a regular basis to keep tabs on rising talent.
   

Take advantage of this exceptional opportunity to participate in this ground-breaking clinic. Meet some of the top NASCAR Driver Development Specialists, Scouts, Managers, Drivers and parents who will provide the straight-forward facts of what it takes.

The format is comprised of some general discussion and individual break-out sessions with the Specialists and Drivers.

 

© 2006 MSC PRODUCTIONS, INC. & HAMMERHEAD PROMOTIONS