WELCOME, N.C. — Richard Petty Motorsports announced Tuesday a multi-year agreement with The Lonely Entrepreneur, a New York-based non-profit organization that provides individuals with entrepreneurial skills and support through the TLE Learning Community, an extensive online learning and community platform.
TLE and the Black Entrepreneur Initiative (501c3) will be the primary sponsor of the No. 43 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE, piloted by Erik Jones, for three events, and will also be an associate partner throughout the NASCAR Cup Series campaign.
The goal of the BEI is to empower 100,000 Black entrepreneurs by providing entrepreneurial skills and support with free access to the Learning Community. Richard Petty Motorsports has partnered with TLE to amplify this initiative and empower a number of current and aspiring Black entrepreneurs. The team has set the goal of providing 4,300 Black entrepreneurs access to the Learning Community nationwide by the end of 2022.
“We cannot change social and economic justice overnight, but we can empower Black men and women to be entrepreneurs today,” Michael Dermer, chief executive officer and founder of TLE, said. “Richard Petty has broken ground in racing and beyond for years. Richard Petty Motorsports will do so again with this groundbreaking partnership to help Black men and women to start and grow businesses.”
As part of the agreement, the No. 43 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE will carry TLE and the Black Entrepreneur Initiative as the primary partner in the NASCAR Cup Series at the Kansas Speedway on May 2, Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas, on May 23, and Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway on June 20.
“Richard Petty Motorsports is committed to using our voice and our platform to continue to champion our commitment to diversity, equality and inclusion everywhere,” Brian Moffitt, chief executive officer for Richard Petty Motorsports, said. “As a team, we continue to carry our message of compassion, love and understanding.”
To celebrate the Richard Petty Motorsports partnership announcement, TLE will provide the first registered 1,000 Black entrepreneurs access to the entrepreneurial platform beginning today. Each applicant will receive one year of free access to the Learning Community. Black entrepreneurs can register at https://lonelyentrepreneur.com/bei-rpm/.