19-year old driver in NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity program chosen to represent NationwideColumbus, OH — As part of Nationwide’s support to increase diversity within the sport of racing, the company is participating in NASCAR’s “Drive for Diversity “initiative. Michael Cherry, a 19-year old rookie from Valrico, Fla., has been chosen to represent Nationwide Insurance. Entering its sixth season, Drive for Diversity is NASCAR’s leading on-track diversity initiative. The program is designed to give young minority and female drivers the opportunity to compete with establid NASCAR teams at the grassroots level. Nationwide Insurance agent Carlo White will team up with Cherry who will race in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series for Addis Motorsports at Greenville-Pickens Speedway in South Carolina. Cherry was rookie of the year in 2008 at Motor Mile Speedway in the Late Model division and finid fourth in the point stand ings. What: Cherry, along with Terrance Williams, regional vice president of the southern region for Nationwide and Carlo White, Nationwide agent and sponsor of Cherry’s race team, are available for one x one interviews on Friday, March 6, 2009 from 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. For media interested in setting up interviews, please contact Lisa Cox at 614-677-2296 or via email at [email protected].