RYAN BERNAL, KATLYNN LEER SELECTED FOR 2013

NASCAR/REV RACING “DRIVE FOR DIVERSITY” COMBINE

A pair of United States Auto Club (USAC) drivers are among those selected to participate in this year’s “Drive for Diversity Combine,” organized by NASCAR and Rev Racing and conducted October 21-23.

Ryan Bernal of Hollister, Calif. and Katlynn Leer of Moulton, Iowa are the USAC drivers who will compete at Langley Speedway in Hampton, Va. In a rigorous on-and-off track evaluation process for the opportunity to join the NASCAR D4D program and compete for Rev Racing during the 2014 season.

Bernal, 19, has already landed a USAC driving title for 2013, claiming the USAC Western Classic Sprint Car honors. He also sits fourth in the USAC West Coast Sprint standings and his eight feature victories this year include three at Tulare, Calif., plus wins at Watsonville, Bakersfield, Placerville, Santa Maria and Hanford, Calif.

Leer, 14, one of USAC’s top distaff prospects, compiled a string of “top-10s” in seven races to open the 2013 Honda USAC Midwest Ignite Midget campaign. That included a second-place finish at Gas City, Ind. in June after posting the fastest qualifying time for a similar race at Gas City in April.

USAC driver Kyle Larson is among previous graduates in the annual Combine, the first step in identifying and developing the future stars of the sport.

“The NASCAR Drive for Diversity Program, approaching its 10th anniversary, has contributed to the success of some of the most promising young drivers and we are proud of the USAC drivers selected to take part in this unique opportunity,” says USAC President/CEO Kevin Miller.

“We are excited about this year’s group of Combine participants,” said Max Siegel, owner/CEO of Rev Racing. “They represent a great cross-section of talent and experience, and any one of them would make a great addition to the 2014 Drive for Diversity team.”