He answered question after question, almost without effort. Each subsequent word broadened the smile on Rolfe Schnur’s face, as if one of his own was soon closing in on winning a Toastmasters speaking award. He’s a real pro when speaking to the media – a trait not every 17 year old possesses.

"Sitting here right now, I can’t believe how far he has come," Schnur said. "This is the first time I’ve been with Duncan since we talked with the Academy a month ago or so. He’s exactly what we are talking about."

That’s Duncan Molesworth we’re talking about, one of the more than 20 young people enrolled in Rolfe Schnur’s new Future Stars in Racing Academy based in Charlotte, N.C. This isn’t an academy on public speaking, it’s racing’s version of business school – where today’s young drivers start to value and understand the skills needed to succeed outside the cockpit.

The Future Stars in Racing Academy is just over a year old, and brainchild of former Northeastern dirt modified owner Schnur, who has worked more than 25 years within this fast-paced world. Joining Schnur is long-time NASCAR media coordinator Charles Hudson, Penske public relations executive Deb Williams (long-time Senior Editor for NASCAR Winston Cup Scene) and Virginia International Raceway public relations manager, John Davison.

All four play an important role in the organization, as they each participate in one of the 24 training webinars and 12 interactive projects these youths enroll into. In addition to the interactivity, each student is given a training manual, a CD and an entire media kit with news releases tailored to them as they progress throughout the season. According to Schnur, the academy was created to give budding shoes all the skills they need to find, sell, activate and service their corporate partners or team sponsors. Or, if they don’t want to move forward in their racing careers, have the skills needed to make a positive impression in the business world.

"There’s a time for everything, but if you are serious about motorsports or career, you have to understand it’s a total package," Schnur said. "There is communication skills, proper grammer, etiquette and, on the business side, sales and marketing."

Molesworth currently drives a Late Model Stock car at Hickory Motor Speedway - already earning two poles for 2007 - and plans on entering selected Legends car races throughout this season. The money he might retrieve from a sponsor could make the difference in having the quality equipment he needs to properly showcase his talents. But now, he has all the speaking and business relationship tools to land that funding.

"Duncan is holding a proposal for a new sponsor because he’s going to present it to them," Schnur said. "To be able to walk in and talk to them about it, he’s so much further along now than he was even four months ago. He has to be able to walk in, look on the wall and see pictures around the office; he’ll know what to talk about because he’ll know how to develop rapport."

"The Academy - and I’m also taking a marketing class in school - better helps me understand things outside the racecar and away from the track," Molesworth said. "It’s those important parts that you need – like finding funding, getting exposure, etc…all to become a NASCAR star. That’s my dream. Before that, we were up in New Jersey and away from it all and really didn’t have any clue as to how to market myself, get out there, interview or anything like that. I still got interviewed, but I had never really practiced it, didn’t understand the elements of it or anything like that. The webinars and interactive projects like that help us better understand all of this.

"You learn a lot of different types of things that make you think – like perception and all of that," Molesworth continued. "I know my interviewing skills have been boosted. Before, I would just sit there and say, ‘Uh…Uh…Uh.’ Now, I am able to speak freely and just flow through whatever I am thinking."

A unique aspect of the academy is a webinar program. Since these young drivers live throughout the United States, it was obviously difficult to create a traditional classroom environment with drivers as young as nine years, so once every month – or every three weeks during race season – Shnur and his team teach on many different topics, including a four-part series on sponsorship, at-track etiquette or various types of public speaking.

"We talk about being comfortable in front of a camera," Schnur said. "That’s really easy to say, but how do you do it? Well, we teach the kids to talk like they are talking to their friends. It’s a very simple concept, yet not easy to do, so the more experience they get, the better they are. (These kids) have won championships, won races, this and that and the other thing, but it’s what they do outside the race car that will make the lasting impression."

One of the most important lessons being taught is control outside the race car. According to Schnur, when these youngsters get to the race track, they are now responsible for anyone and everything surrounding their pit area. You never know, especially when running within the Charlotte area, who might be watching that night.

"We talked about how these drivers are now responsible for their parents and friends actions when they are at the race track," Schnur said. "If something happens on the race track; they get spun out for instance and everybody’s like, ‘let’s go.’ It’s Duncan’s job to get everyone in the trailer because this is his career."

But Molesworth’s been taught he also has to set an example.

"Anger still flows through me," Molesworth said. "But I don’t express it as much. Like the other week, a spindle broke on my car. I didn’t blame anyone, I didn’t say anything negative, I just looked at it, got out of my car, frustrated obviously, but at least I didn’t wreck the car or anything like that. It’s just a race. Sure it would have helped our chances in the championship if I didn’t have a DNF, but there’s always next week and it’s just a race. You have to cool down a little bit and forget those kind of things. By the end of the night, it’s not going to mean anything to you."

"You need to express your opinion," Schnur added. "But to go fly off the handle when the crew chief from the Hendrick organization could be there? It’s definitely detrimental."

Schnur has been ecstatic about the company’s recent growth, as they have been working countless hours just trying to keep up with demand. Despite the rigors, he’s still had time to think about the next steps in the process.

"My goal is to find a title sponsor for the academy, so I can say to (potential students) that it won’t cost anything to attend," Schnur said. "We are looking for scholarship type programs now, where someone who cannot afford to come to the academy can. We’re a new business, so we can’t afford to give things away for free, but we definitely want to lean towards that area through a scholarship program."

For more information on the Future Stars in Racing Academy, contact Rolfe Schnur at (704) 231-2130 or log onto the website at www.futurestarsinracing.com.