Toyota Racing Forms ‘Dream Experiential Endowment’

Toyota Racing has established the Dream Experiential Endowment, in partnership with NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace’s Live to be Different Foundation, to help students in pursuit of motorsports careers.

As a continuation to the Toyota Racing ‘Dream’ commercial that premiered around the 2021 Daytona 500, Toyota will team with the Live to Be Different Foundation, led by Wallace, to allow students who dream of working within the world of motorsports, a chance to experience that dream, the company said.

“The opportunity to establish this experiential endowment is something our team has worked towards since the release of ‘The Dream’ earlier this season,” said Paul Doleshal, group manager of motorsports and assets for Toyota Motor North America. “This film was something we were all extremely proud of and served as a small reminder for everyone to find their dream and pursue it regardless of the challenges that might be in their path. The establishment of the Toyota Racing Dream Experiential Endowment is a way for us to bring the message of the film to life and in partnership with Bubba’s Live to be Different Foundation, we can ensure that those who want to pursue a career outside the cockpit in motorsports can have a chance to experience that dream.”

“To have the chance to partner with Toyota on this experiential endowment and give people with a dream to work in motorsports the chance to live that experience in really something special,” said Bubba Wallace, driver of the No. 23 Camry for 23XI Racing. “It’s really cool to be a part of things like ‘The Dream’ and now this initiative that aligns with my own beliefs and how I want to influence the next generation. ‘The Dream’ showed others, no matter the circumstances or who you are, to keep fighting and follow your dreams. It may not always be easy, but it will be worth it. To now have my foundation partnering with Toyota to bring ‘The Dream’ to life is pretty incredible.”

By working with various organizations around the country, Toyota Racing will identify a minimum of four participants per year and arrange for them to spend a finite amount of time with a Toyota race team or TRD-related organization, the company said. The initial group of recipients will be chosen in the coming weeks and begin their experience during late summer of the 2021 racing season.

Applicants looking to be considered can submit a resume along with a 500-word maximum essay explaining their dream to work in motorsports to ToyotaRacing@golin.com.

By A.J. Hecht

A.J. Hecht is the managing editor of THE SHOP and host of the In Gear with THE SHOP podcast. Have an idea, a tip, or a question you’d like to see answered? Contact A.J. at ahecht@cahabamedia.com.