TechForce Foundation gearing up for NASCAR ‘Jail & Bail’ scholarship fundraiser
NASCAR drivers will swap helmets for handcuffs at TechForce Foundation’s annual Jail & Bail Charity Event on Oct. 27 to benefit the Brienne Davis Memorial Scholarship.
The scholarship honors Brienne Davis, a NASCAR technical inspector, and helps financially support women pursuing technical careers in motorsports and the automotive industry — fields where women remain underrepresented, a TechForce press release states.
Since its creation, TechForce says the $10,000 scholarships have helped more than 50 women get the training they need to enter the industry. Jail & Bail aims to raise enough funds to support 100 women in achieving their career goals.
The event will be held at Boatyard Lake Norman in Cornelius, North Carolina, beginning at 6 p.m. Doors will open at 5 p.m. Tickets are $25 and are available here. Fans can also donate to bail out their favorite driver by texting NASCAR26 to 71777, or here.
This year’s NASCAR driver “jailbirds” scheduled to appear are Carson Hocevar, Michael McDowell, Ryan Preece, Alex Bowman, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., and several others who will compete to raise their bail money for scholarships. They’ll face off before courtroom attorneys Freddie Kraft, Tommy Baldwin, Corey LaJoie, and Slugger Labbe, with a special appearance by Larry McReynolds, “America’s Crew Chief,” as the judge. Karsyn Elledge will appear as the jail reporter. Broadcasting personality Danielle Trotta will emcee.
“The Jail & Bail Charity Event shows what’s possible when the motorsports community comes together around a shared purpose,” said Jennifer Bergeron, TechForce’s chief operating officer, in the release. “More than 50 women have already received Brienne Davis Memorial Scholarships to pursue the technical training they need to launch their careers. Every driver, sponsor, and fan who participates helps TechForce Foundation open that door for even more women and build the skilled workforce motorsports needs for the future.”
Earlier this summer, TechForce reported in its Mid-Year Impact Report that it had reviewed nearly 9,000 applications from students in “deep financial need,” and it was on track to award another $6 million by year-end. However, Maher noted that it also serves as a reminder that, due to funding limitations, TechForce can only fund 1 in 6 applications.
In June, TechForce reported that the U.S. economy is short roughly 140,000 skilled technicians a year, and the gap is widening, with 73,354 new collision repair entrant technicians needed by 2029, according to its newest “Technician Supply, Demand & Opportunity Report.”
Images
Featured image provided by TechForce