The Crimson-And-Cream Car Was Designed by NASCAR Intern and Delta Sigma Theta Member Camilla Wilkins-Bowens
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. brought sisterhood, service and horsepower together as NASCAR unveiled its first show car created specifically for a Divine Nine organization.
The crimson-and-cream vehicle debuted during Delta Sigma Theta’s 32nd South Atlantic Regional Conference, held July 30 through Aug. 2 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Although the customized car was not entered into a race, its unveiling marked NASCAR’s first show-car activation honoring a historically Black Greek-letter organization.
The vehicle was designed by Camilla Wilkins-Bowens, a Louisiana State University student participating in the NASCAR NEXT Internship Program.
Wilkins-Bowens is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta. She was initiated through LSU’s Iota Theta Chapter in fall 2025, according to Watch The Yard.
Her design prominently displayed the sorority’s name, Greek letters and signature colors across the body of the car. The project transformed one of NASCAR’s most recognizable symbols into a celebration of Black collegiate culture, public service and sisterhood.
The assignment also brought together two important parts of Wilkins-Bowens’ life: her membership in Delta Sigma Theta and her early professional experience in motorsports.
Conference attendees were able to view the car and participate in NASCAR racing simulators as part of the interactive activation.
For Wilkins-Bowens, having her work displayed before thousands of sorority members represented a major accomplishment at the beginning of her career. It also demonstrated what can happen when young professionals are trusted to create projects connected to their own communities.
NASCAR Programs Create Paths Beyond the Racetrack
NASCAR describes its NEXT Internship Program as an opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students to gain professional experience while contributing to the future of sports and entertainment.
Those opportunities are especially significant in an industry where Black professionals and women have historically been underrepresented both on the racetrack and behind the scenes.
NASCAR has operated internship and career-development initiatives for more than two decades. Its former NASCAR Diversity Internship Program, launched in 2000, had introduced more than 500 college students to the motorsports industry by 2023.
Participants have worked with NASCAR and organizations including 23XI Racing, Hendrick Motorsports, Team Penske and Rev Racing.
The programs introduce students to careers beyond driving, including marketing, engineering, communications, production, event operations and business development.
Wilkins-Bowens’ work illustrates how those programs can create opportunities for students to contribute their cultural experiences and creative perspectives to a major sports organization.
A Cultural Connection in the Queen City
Founded at Howard University in 1913, Delta Sigma Theta has built a national legacy centered on public service, educational advancement, social action and civic engagement.
The sorority’s South Atlantic Region includes chapters in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and Bermuda. Thousands of members traveled to Charlotte for the biennial conference, providing an audience that understood both the symbolism of the car and the significance of its designer.
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The activation also gave NASCAR an opportunity to connect with Black women through a project grounded in culture rather than a traditional sponsorship arrangement.
By selecting a Delta member to design the vehicle, NASCAR placed an authentic voice at the center of the collaboration.
For the sorority members gathered in Charlotte, the historic show car offered another reason to paint the Queen City crimson and cream. For Wilkins-Bowens, it marked an early career achievement few college students can claim.
