Jul 5, 2023
Sponsorship
Gainbridge® Partner, Rev Racing, Goes the Extra 9,000 Miles for Diversity
Imagine being 19 years old and living 9,000 miles away from home on the other side of the world. That’s the life of Sanjiv Chandrasekar, a sophomore at N.C. State University and an engineering intern for the No. 2 Gainbridge® Chevrolet this summer. It’s a life he intentionally pursued and embraces.
Sanjiv grew up in one of the smaller cities in India, called Tiruppur. It’s best known as a textile hub and for cotton. NASCAR is not exactly popular in India, but when he was 11, his dad, Chandrasekar, came home with a NASCAR video game for his PlayStation. He’s been hooked on motorsports ever since.
Sanjiv’s passion kept growing and through his father’s friend, Mr. Leelakrishnan, he got an opportunity to work for a Rally racing team in India. And not just any Rally racing team. Mr. Leelakrishnan, the owner of the shop, is a 6-time national champion and an F3 champion. He’s well-known in Indian motorsport circles.
So naturally, when Sanjiv was scrubbing through the internship portal in early 2023, an opportunity with Kyle Busch Motorsports and Rev Racing working on the No. 2 Gainbridge Chevrolet stood out.
He applied and then made the drive over to Mooresville, North Carolina, to interview with Rev Racing. That’s where he first connected with Nick Sanchez’s experienced crew chief, Danny Stockman, who has taken Sanjiv under his wing.
“Getting to watch an experienced racing genius like Danny come up with setup and strategy has been amazing,” said Sanijiv. “I’m really lucky.”
In general, the internship has been beyond his wildest dreams.
“It’s been insane, I’ve never seen anything like it before,” said Sanjiv about the experience, which has included going to his first on-site race at North Wilkesboro Superspeedway earlier this season. “It has completely blown my mind. I’ve been around racecars so it wasn’t surprising to see the kind of work that goes into building one, but I’ve never seen this much effort around the car, the SIM (simulator), and driver development.”
The No. 2 team keeps Sanjiv busy. Every day he’s in the shop by seven in the morning. He does everything from documentation to calculation to working on the car with the engineers. That’s during the week. On the weekend, when the No. 2 is on the track, he’s going through pit strategies, listening to other teams on the radio, analyzing SMT data (measures include speed, throttle, brakes) and photos coming in, and more.
When Danny brought him to his first-ever NASCAR race, Sanjiv had a headset on and was right up there in the pit box with the chief.
“That was awesome,” said the electrical and computer engineering double major. “I was looking at who was pitting, who had tires, who didn’t, I was right there with everyone making all the decisions.”
This is all part of what makes Rev Racing an ideal partner for Gainbridge. Rev Racing is the competition arm for NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity program and their mission is to give people like Sanjiv, who never envisioned having this opportunity, a chance.
“I watch a lot of Formula One and IndyCar and Le Mans and I haven’t really seen a lot of racing teams focused on community building and diversity. I’m around the team and the trailer and everyone is super inclusive.”
Sanchez, the driver, has become less of a colleague and more of a friend. They are similar in age and share a curiosity for the strategy, engineering, and mechanics of the sport. It doesn’t stop at the shop. They recently went carting after work and always go to lunch when Nick comes into the shop, which is frequent.
While Sanjiv still has two more years of college, this summer’s internship has solidified his goals.
“I would love to work here in Mooresville if I was given the opportunity (after college). What I’ve experienced so far is exactly what I’m looking for.”
And while his parents don’t watch the No. 2 Gainbridge Chevrolet on FS1 in India due to the time difference, they do watch highlights on YouTube when they wake up. Recently, when Nick won the pole at Nashville Superspeedway and finished third, Sanjiv’s phone was blowing up the next day with notes from his dad.
Even 9,000 miles away, he remains connected to his family in India while building a career with Rev Racing in North Carolina.
Sep 18, 2023
Work Life
Community
Sponsorship
Indy Women in Tech’s Jessica Maginn Awarded Fundraiser of the Year
Congratulations to Jessica Maginn, Marketing Communications Coordinator for Indy Women in Tech (IWiT), for being named Fundraiser of the Year by OneCause’s Raise Awards!
This award acknowledges “the rock stars among us, who aspire and inspire us each and every day. These individuals live out the organization’s mission, ...
Sep 7, 2023
Corporate
Sponsorship
Community
Work Life
Indy Women in Tech Summit Shares Strategies for Success
The Indy Women in Tech (IWiT) Summit took place Wednesday, August 30 in Indianapolis. Twenty-two employees from Group 1001 (including volunteers) attended the Summit, thanks to complimentary tickets from IWiT. More than 190 attendees in total enjoyed the session. The Summit was part of Rally, a three-day global innovat...
Aug 29, 2023
Sponsorship
Community
Group 1001 Supports Gleaners’ Fresh Connect Central – Protein Donations for Families
Partner Spotlight: Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana
Our non-profit partner, Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana, has developed programs and formed partnerships designed to lead the fight against hunger in central Indiana since 1980. Gleaners is the largest hunger-relief organization in Indiana.
As one of 200-member food banks i...
Aug 17, 2023
Work Life
Sponsorship
Community
1001 Hours of Impact - Gleaners Food Bank Recap
Group 1001 employees have achieved 850+ hours across the company for 1001 Hours of Impact!
August 9 and 11, 100 employees joined over two days for a combined 284 hours to make a difference for food-insecure Hoosiers across 21 counties. We partnered with Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana for its drive-thru food distribution...
Aug 8, 2023
Sponsorship
Empowering a New Era of Athletes: Women's Decathlon National Championships to Take Place August 12 and 13
Walnut, CA – August 8, 2023 – The Women's Decathlon National Championships, empowered by Heaven to the Yeah and supported by Gainbridge®, a Group 1001 company, will take center stage at the Hilmer Lodge Stadium at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, CA, on August 12 and 13. Women athletes will have the opportunity ...
Jul 31, 2023
Community
Sponsorship
Group 1001 Supports Youth Programs Teaching the Importance of Healthy Activity
Partner Spotlight: Indiana Sports Corp
Our non-profit partner, Indiana Sports Corp (ISC), was founded in 1979 as the nation's first sports commission. ISC hosts world-class events to drive economic vitality, facilitates a vibrant community with civic pride, garners national and international media attention, and c...
Jul 21, 2023
Sponsorship
Community
Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation and Group 1001 Enhance Facilities at Arsenal Technical High School
Transformative Two-Day Volunteer Project Creates Safe and Resourceful Learning Spaces
Indianapolis, IN (July 21, 2023) – Employees from Group 1001, in collaboration with the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation, concluded a successful two-day volunteer project at Arsenal Technical High School in Indianapolis, resulting in signifi...
Jul 5, 2023
Sponsorship
Spire Motorsports, Gainbridge® Agree To Multi-Year NASCAR Cup Series Partnership
Marco Andretti to Pilot No. 7 Group 1001 Chevy Silverado at Mid-Ohio
Concord, NC (July 5, 2023) – Today, officials from Spire Motorsports and Gainbridge®, a Group 1001 company, announced a multi-year partnership that will showcase the online digital platform, offering trusted financial products simplified for the modern...
Jun 27, 2023
Community
Sponsorship
Group 1001 Supports Indiana Sports Corp’s Charity Golf Tournament Benefitting Youth Programs
The 35th Annual Indiana Sports Corp Charity Golf Tournament presented by Group1001 took place Monday, June 26 at the Sagamore Club of Noblesville. Teams competed in a scramble-style tournament over the 18-hole course.
Proceeds of this charity event went to the Inspiring Sports Grant Program. The grants support organiza...
Apr 27, 2023
Sponsorship
ANDRETTI AUTOSPORT | Delaware Life Primary Sponsorship of the No. 28 INDYCAR of Romain Grosjean at Barber Motorsports Park
Delaware Life Revealed as Primary Sponsor for Romain Grosjean at the Children's of Alabama Indy Grand Prix powered by AmFirst.
Andretti Autosport announced that Delaware Life Insurance Company (“Delaware Life”), a member of Group 1001 Insurance Holdings and a leader in annuity and life insurance products, will be ...
Apr 14, 2023
Sponsorship
Gainbridge Honors Mario Andretti with Throwback Paint Scheme on No. 2 Gainbridge Chevrolet in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Race
Each year at Darlington Raceway, teams honor the legacy and heritage of NASCAR by looking back on iconic paint schemes and drivers. While Mario Andretti is best known for his 52 IndyCar wins, he’s also the only driver in the history of motorsports to win the Indy 500, the Daytona 500, and the Formula One World Champion...
Mar 23, 2023
Sponsorship
Gainbridge Joins Andretti Autosport in Support of Wheldon Brothers' Career Development
Sebastian and Oliver Wheldon gain support from Gainbridge as they continue to grow in motorsport and climb the racing ranks
INDIANAPOLIS (March 23, 2023) – Andretti Autosport announced today that Gainbridge has joined the team’s junior driver efforts by pledging support in the development of the careers of Sebastian and...
Mar 2, 2023
Sponsorship
Group 1001 and Andretti Autosport Kicked Off Women’s History Month at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
Branding on the racecar saluted four significant organizations impacting equity in women’s sports at the first NTT INDYCAR SERIES race of the season on March 5
NTT INDYCAR SERIES driver Colton Herta piloted the No. 26 Gainbridge Honda for Andretti Autosport at the season’s first race with a special salute to Women’s H...
Jan 27, 2023
Sponsorship
Fans Choose the Livery for the #2 Gainbridge Chevrolet Silverado
The votes are in and the livery for the #2 Gainbridge Chevrolet Silverado has been chosen by the fans. The truck will be driven by Rev Racing driver, Nick Sanchez, who is a rising star in motorsports. The 21-year-old burst onto the scene last year in a big way and won the ARCA Menards Series Championship.
“A lot of tim...
Nov 11, 2022
Sponsorship
Gainbridge-Sponsored Annika Sorenstam Golf Event Will Feature $3.25 Million Prize in 2023
Gainbridge, a Group 1001 company, will sponsor THE ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican, featuring a tournament purse of $3.25 million in 2023 – the largest on the LPGA Tour outside of the major championships and the CME Group Tour Championship. Golf Hall-of-Famer Annika Sorenstam will host Tampa Bay’s signature LPGA...
Nov 7, 2022
Sponsorship
Community
Gainbridge Sponsors Rev Racing’s New Full-Time Truck Entry in 2023
Gainbridge, a Group 1001 company, will increase its financial commitment to Rev Racing as it expands into the 2023 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Nick Sanchez, the current 2022 ARCA Menards Series Champion and driver in Rev Racing’s NASCAR Drive for Diversity Driver Development Program, will pilot the new No. 2 Gainbri...
Oct 31, 2022
Sponsorship
Group 1001 and Gainbridge Team Up with Two Women’s Sports Legends
Group 1001 and its subsidiary Gainbridge will partner with sports legends Billie Jean King and Annika Sorenstam to support their noteworthy sports tournaments—building on the Group 1001 mission to grow women’s sports through contributing to women’s tournament prize money to create equivalence with men’s comparable tour...
Oct 25, 2022
Sponsorship
Colton Herta and Gainbridge Extend Partnership with Andretti Autosport Through 2027
Gainbridge, a Group 1001 company, has announced a five-year extension in its sponsorship with Andretti Autosport. Colton Herta will be representing the Gainbridge brand in the No. 26 Gainbridge Honda car. The partnership with Andretti began in 2018 in an effort to bring awareness to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES while encompa...
