MOORESVILLE, N.C. -- Depending on the track, NASCAR cup races can draw anywhere from 75,000 to 150,000 fans each week.  Most recently, more than 30 million fans watched this year's Daytona race on TV.  But even with that popularity, the racing sport wants to grow, where the country's population is also growing.

At the Revolution Racing shop in Mooresville, pit crew candidates practice their weekend race day skills. From several African-Americans, to one women and a Hispanic mechanic team member, NASCAR helps develop their potential, from the K&N Pro and Whelen All-American Series and maybe one day, the Sprint Cup Series, as part of its "Drive for Diversity" program.  

"We work hard here," said Raphael Diaz, a tire changer trainee, "and it feels good to be a Spanish, Mexican-American, being proud." Diaz came to Revolution directly from NASCAR's tech school.  Not only is the sport trying to add more diversity, but its also reaching out to a broader fan base, like Hispanics.  "It's expanding big time," said Diaz, "you name it, all communities, it's getting there."

NASCAR has known for awhile what the 2010 U.S. Census recently revealed.  Not unexpectedly, the nation’s Hispanic community, already the largest minority, has the fastest-growing population in the United States. North Carolina now has the 11th-largest Latino population in the country.  NASCAR thinks it can partly promote racing among Hispanics by being represented within the sport.

For example, the Charlotte Bobcats team recently held a NASCAR night for its NBA fans.  The racing sport brought it's most popular drivers to meet speed enthusiasts.  Among Latinos, Jorge Arteaga is their driver.  "I'm getting used to it," said Arteaga, speaking of being sponsored by NASCAR.  "I just came here in January and I'm starting to get the English, the food, the places around here, it's nice." 

Arteaga has been racing in NASCAR's Corona series in Mexico for the past four years. Fans voted him the most popular driver in 2009 and 2010.  He's improved enough to be part of the All-American sport at the developmental stage here in the U.S.  Among the Hispanic fans he greeted at the Bobcat's game, there was a sense of pride of what Arteaga has accomplished.  "The fact of having Arteaga and many other competitors in NASCAR is great, its awesome," said Edgar Rendon from Charlotte.  "I just hope to see diversity in a sport that is so passionate for many people."

NASCAR estimates Hispanics make up 9%t of its fan base.  In order to attract more, the sport hopes its sponsorship and training of drivers like Arteaga and pit crew members like Diaz will help welcome a different fan base.  "They are giving me the support to be racing here in the United States," said Arteaga, "representing [the sport], but also representing Latinos."