Known for identifying future stars of the sport from the grassroots of racing, the NASCAR Drive for Diversity program gives up-and-coming minority and female pilots the chance to compete with a NASCAR team. Selected for the program, Ashley Rogero is one of eight young drivers given the opportunity to drive for Rev Racing during the 2014 Summer Shootout Series in INEX Legends and Bandoleros.

“I am extremely excited and honored to be given this opportunity,” explained Rogero from her home in Naples, Florida. “I have been working hard over the past year to make the transition from karts to cars and have met a lot of great people that have all helped me to improve my media savvy side as well as increase my self-promotion and social media campaigns. I know when I am behind the wheel I can drive, but want to be the marketing machine that teams and sponsors are also looking to employ.”

The 15-year-old from Naples, Florida will engage in rigorous on and off track evaluation and receive mentoring and coaching from Rev Racing staff and several of the team’s NASCAR K&N Pro Series East drivers. This year’s combine will be held at the Langley Speedway in Hampton, Virginia October 21-23.

Rogero has also been busy testing late models at both the Caraway Speedway in Sophia, North Carolina and the Orange County Speedway in Rougemont, North Carolina. Visiting both facilities during a two-day test, Rogero continued to turn heads. Lapping with Robert Hamkee Racing, Rogero put up lap times that would put her at the front of the field in some of the most competitive circle track series that compete at these facilities.

Rogero continued, “The test in the Super Late Model went really well for both the team as well as myself. I was able to get up to speed quickly, provide feedback that improved the car’s setup as well as pushed it to the limit…and over the limit, to decrease lap time. All around it was a great few days of testing.”

While in North Carolina prepping for her Super Late Model test, Rogero would attend the final round of the World Karting Association Manufacturers Cup. Forgoing the final round to focus on her upcoming car test, Rogero would be sprung into action on the Sunday as a fellow competitor and teammate would need a relief driver.

“One of my Ocala Gran Prix teammates would be involved in a huge incident on Saturday and would be transported to the hospital,” explained Rogero. “With a broken collar bone, he was unable to compete on Sunday so I got behind the wheel of his Tony Kart to ensure he would receive championship points for the event.”

Qualifying third having not turned a lap on the track until race day, Rogero would be forced to start the prefinal from the tail of the field (relief driver rule). Battling hard in the heat race to make her way back forward, the up-and-coming female would score a second place result and outside front row staring position for the main event.

Taking the point at the start of the main event, Rogero would lead at the halfway mark and look poised to add another victory to her resume before an exhaust header failure would force her to retire from the event.

Ashley would like to thank all of her sponsors for all their hard work and continued support: the entire crew at Ocala Gran Prix, OTK USA, Tony Kart, Grand Products, Comet Kart Sales and Race Tech Development, as well as all her friends and family.

For more information on Ashley Rogero, please contact Jim Rogero at 239.877.4302. For information on press releases or other media services offered by Race Tech Development, please contact Mike Maurini via e-mail at Info@RaceTechDevelopment.com or 317.270.8723. Race Tech Development can also be found on Twitter at @RaceTechDvlp as well as Facebook at their Race Tech Development Fan Page.