DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (June 23, 2006) – Infineon Raceway holds a special place in the heart of Allison Duncan. It was there that the San Rafael, Calif. native got her introduction to NASCAR at the track’s first NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race in 1989. Although she was only 10-years-old at the time, she knew that she wanted to race there at the sport’s highest level. Seventeen years later, she is on her way to fulfilling her dream.

Duncan has been racing – and winning – since she was 17 years old. In her first three years behind the wheel, she captured three championships and over 40 feature wins in the National Auto Sport Association and the Sports Car Club of America. After experiencing success on several road course circuits, Duncan made the transition to stock cars in 2003. In her first season in the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series, Duncan became the first female rookie of the year in the Late Model Division at Hickory (N.C.) Motor Speedway.

Her success caught the eye of several team owners in the Drive for DiversityŽ program. In 2005 Duncan signed with Richard Childress Racing and returned home to Northern California to compete at Stockton 99 Speedway in Stockton, Calif., about an hour from her hometown. Duncan put together a stellar year, winning twice and finishing in the top five 16 times in 18 races. The wins marked the first for a driver in the Drive for DiversityŽ program as well as the first win by a female driver at the track.

“Richard Childress Racing (RCR) has been giving me a lot of support both on and off the track,” Duncan said. “Being associated with RCR is every race car driver’s dream, so I definitely feel very fortunate to have the opportunity I have.”

“Allison has been a great ambassador for NASCAR and the Drive for DiversityŽ program,” said Tish Sheets, NASCAR director of diversity. “She is one of many talented female drivers currently competing in NASCAR's weekly and touring series. We look forward to seeing her advance her career and climb the NASCAR ladder.”

Duncan has taken another big step in her development as a driver this season.  She has moved back to North Carolina to be closer to the race shop and is currently competing at Motor Mile Speedway in Radford, Va., considered one of the most competitive short tracks in the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series.

“I really feel like I've come a long way from the days when as a little girl I watched my first Cup race in amazement through the fence at Infineon Raceway,” Duncan said. “I still have a ways to go to make it to my ultimate goal of racing in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series, but driving for a team like RCR definitely helps me get another rung up the ladder.”

NASCAR will spotlight teams, tracks, sponsors and partners throughout the year for significant contributions and achievement in diversity. NASCAR will also be highlighting diverse drivers currently competing throughout the different levels of the sport.

For more information contact:
Josh Hamilton, NASCAR Public Relations (386) 681-4285 or jhamilton@nascar.com