She wanted to be a race-car driver, to experience the roar of the engines and the cheers of the crowd. She has dedicated herself to her chosen profession for almost a decade, and now she has a unique opportunity to succeed in a program designed to promote minority and women drivers in the sport.

Duncan is among eight competitors who are part of NASCAR's Drive for Diversity, which is in its second season. Organization officials hope the program will dispel the notion that this is a sport primarily for Southern white males and one day will produce the first minority or woman winner on its premier circuit, the Nextel Cup.

Duncan's quest to be that person has brought her to Stockton 99 Speedway.

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The San Rafael resident is racing in the Western Late Model division for famed West Coast car owner Bill McAnally, who also is supporting Drive For Diversity participant Sarah Fisher on the Grand National West tour. Duncan, who is in her second season in the program, had a solid sixth-place finish in the season-opening main event in April.

She said this is not a gimmick; it's a serious attempt to give minority drivers a chance to succeed.

"This is a great thing for our sport, and the one thing I will tell you is that we are all serious drivers," Duncan said. "They didn't go to some bus station and find Hispanics or African Americans or women and say, 'Hey, want to be a driver?' Everyone is very talented and has paid their dues. I'm a driver, first and foremost, and so is everyone else."

Each of the Diversity Eight has a lengthy racing resume. Each was chosen by car owners at a tryout in Radford, Va., in October, and all had successful careers.

Duncan, 26, started driving road courses when she was 16. Fisher is an Indy Racing League veteran who competed in the 2001 Indianapolis 500. Jesus Hernandez of Fresno, who will race in Radford, won championships at Madera Speedway.

"I think that there are people out there who think this is some kind of handout," Hernandez said. "I think it is not a handout. It's an opportunity for us, and it can open the doors to new markets."

Tish Sheets, NASCAR's director of diversity, also said the program isn't a marketing ploy, but she understands demographics. When asked about the sport's "Good Ol' Boy" reputation, she points out the sport has moved out of the Southeast in the past two decades and now is popular around the country.

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But a look at the current NASCAR Nextel Cup roster reveals a long list of white male drivers and crew members.

NASCAR wants to change that, and the Drive For Diversity program includes drivers, crew members and office personnel.

"We have an abundance of men, and our goal is to bring more color into our sport. We want to look like America, on the track and in the stands," Sheets said. "We're well aware there is not an African-American, woman or Hispanic driver currently competing on the Nextel Cup circuit, but that doesn't mean there won't be soon."

Sheets said NASCAR's management felt the best way to promote diversity was to start a program that would allow promising minority drivers to move through the divisions. The plan is to give team owners a chance to pick from a pool of qualified minority candidates.

Drive For Diversity began last season with five drivers. It extended to eight this year, and NASCAR sent word through the media, the internet and race tracks around the country that it was looking for applicants.

More than 200 drivers applied, and the list was whittled down to 18. The finalists were invited to Motor Mile Speedway in Radford Va., to show off their driving skills and meet prospective car owners.

McAnally, who has a driver development agreement with Nextel team owner Richard Childress, said one of the reasons he was in Radford that day was the chance to make history.

"The day is coming when a female driver will be competitive on the cup level, and we'd like to be a part of it," McAnally said. "This will only help bring interest to the sport."

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McAnally already knew about Fisher, but he said when he met Duncan, he found someone who had all the traits necessary to be successful.

"She's the entire package," McAnally said. "She's smart, and she's great with people, which is important in our sport. And, of course, she can drive. You can tell she loves the sport."

Duncan said she decided to become a driver that day at Sears Point (now Infineon Raceway). She stood next to her father, Bob, and watched Ricky Rudd win the inaugural event in Sonoma.

"That was my first exposure to the sport, and I stood behind that chain-link fence and was in awe," Duncan said. "I thought it was the coolest thing that I've ever seen. I was immediately hooked on it."

She started racing at age 16 on road courses around Northern California and began to get a reputation as a good driver. She said she joined the Drive For Diversity because of the opportunity it presented, and she said she's had no negative feedback from her fellow drivers.

"In my first year in the program, I raced at Hickory Speedway (in Hickory, N.C.). I had raced there the year before, so there was no change, because I knew most of the drivers," Duncan said. "And while I don't know that many people at Stockton yet, everyone I've met has been great. It's been nothing but positive."

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Stockton driver Pete Anderson Jr. races against Duncan in the Western Late Model class. He said all he's worried about is beating her and the rest of the field.

"I just pay attention to her as another driver, not how she got there," Anderson said. "I respect Allison because she's a good driver, and I know she's got a good car and team, so I expect she'll be very competitive."

Sheets said she's happy to hear the Drive For Diversity drivers have had positive experiences so far and that there is no time frame for changes to the program. She said NASCAR is committed to the project, and not just because it might help give the sport a more diverse following.

"We, obviously, encourage drivers and fans of different backgrounds to follow NASCAR, but we also feel that this is simply the right thing to do," Sheets said. "That's a big part of it."

"She's the entire package. She's smart, and she's great with people, which is important in our sport. And, of course, she can drive. You can tell she loves the sport."

* To reach reporter Scott Linesburgh, phone (209) 546-8281 or e-mail slinesbu@recordnet.com