Noral Parham is the multi-media & senior sports reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder, one of the oldest Black publications in the country. Parham has worked with various leagues to provide a diverse perspective in sports, including the Big Ten, Big East, IHSAA, IndyCar, MLB, NHRA, NFL, NBA, WNBA, WWE and the Olympics. Prior to joining the Recorder, Parham served as the community advocate of the MLK Center in Indianapolis and senior copywriter for an e-commerce and marketing firm in Denver.
Check out some of these amazing photos from the NXG Youth Motorsports Grand Prix Finale!
Coach and Founder of NXG Youth Motorsports thanking everyone for their support of NXG throughout the 2023 racing season. (Photo/Walt Thomas)NMCA Crew Chief Brandon Stroud goes over final adjustments before the beginning of the 2023 Grand Prix Finale. (Photo/Walt Thomas)Fans and family members of NXG racers loved the action at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on the westside of Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo/Walt Thomas)
NXG Youth Motorsports, also known as Nextgenracers, is a nonprofit organization that seeks to expose African Americans and other people of color to an industry where minorities are greatly underrepresented.
A shot of the ‘Ghetto Sleigh’, A Pro Modified 1969 Camaro, driven by Jeff Rudolf. Recently, the Ghetto Sleigh participated in this NMCA world finals street drag racing at Lucas oil Raceway Park in Indiana. (Photo/Walt Thomas)More fans and supporters during the 2023 NextGen Youth Motorsports Grand Prix Finale on Sept. 23 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. (Photo/Walt Thomas)
Some of the members of the 2023 class of NextGenRacers Youth Motorsports Grand Prix racers before the season finale. (Photo/Walt Thomas)
NXG Youth Motorsports has a curriculum designed for children ages 11-15, adhering to middle school-level academics and S.T.E.M. fundamentals. Additionally, each class of the curriculum is approximately eight hours and includes hands-on classroom and race track training in go-karts that can reach speeds up to 50 miles per hour.
Fans basking in the moment with NXT racer and 2023 USF 2000 Pro Champion Myles Rowe during the 2023 NXG Youth Motorsports Grand Prix Finale on Sept. 23 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, located near the westside of Indianapolis, IN. (Photo/Walt Thomas)Crew Chief Brandon Stroud (Left) and Jeff Rudolf (Right), owner and driver of the Ghetto Sleigh’, A Pro Modified 1969 Camaro. Recently, Rudolf participated in this NMCA world finals street drag racing at Lucas oil Raceway Park in Indiana. (Photo/Walt Thomas)A racer waving the checkered flag during the 2023 NextGenRacers Youth Motorsports Grand Prix Finale on Sept. 23 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. (Photo/Walt Thomas)NXG Youth Motorsports racer Destiny is ready to hit the track for the 2023 Grand Prix Finale, held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sept. 23. (Photo/Walt Thomas)
“NXG teaches us about control on and off the track,” one racer said after the program’s initial 2023 class held on April 2. “The program helps us make better choices.”
NXT racer and 2023 USF 2000 Pro Champion Myles Rowe (Left) prepping racers during the 2023 NextGen Youth Motorsports Grand Prix Finale on Sept. 23 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, located near the westside of Indianapolis, IN. (Photo/Walt Thomas)NextGen racer Motorsports racer Jordyn Cummings is the recipient of the 2023 Della Penna Scholarship, valued at $750! (Photo/Walt Thomas)
NXG Youth Motorsports refers to this as their ‘Path-to-Pro’ development program. With this program, young adults 16-21 can get first-hand chances for internships and apprenticeships. Moreover, some of these opportunities include jobs such as engineers, managers, mechanics, crew hands, and even drivers. NXG also connects the students with opportunities in higher education and specializations in motorsports, while taking part in the ‘Path-to-Pro’ program.
NextGen racer Steve Scott (Center) and his family celebrating Scott being named the 2023 Path 2 Pro Scholarship, valued at $1,000! (Photo/Walt Thomas)
This slideshow was compiled by multi-media staff writer Noral Parham III at (317)-762-7846 or via email at noralp@indyrecorder.com. Follow him on Twitter @NoralParham. For more multimedia, click here.
Noral Parham is the multi-media & senior sports reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder, one of the oldest Black publications in the country. Parham has worked with various leagues to provide a diverse perspective in sports, including the Big Ten, Big East, IHSAA, IndyCar, MLB, NHRA, NFL, NBA, WNBA, WWE and the Olympics. Prior to joining the Recorder, Parham served as the community advocate of the MLK Center in Indianapolis and senior copywriter for an e-commerce and marketing firm in Denver.
