PAST NEWS/INFO

29th Annual Piedmont Racing Expo: The 29th Annual Piedmont Racing Expo comes to the State Fairgrounds in Raleigh, Friday and Saturday, January 16-17, 2015. Event promoter Phillip Walker said, “I know it sounds like a broken record, but each year gets better than the last and again, this may be the best Expo in the 29 year history of the event”. “We have the great lineup of racing vendors we’ve ever had plus we’ve got all the major short-track speedways and regional racing touring series in the region represented”. The Expo exhibitor lineup reads like a Who’s Who of short track racing companies. Stacy Puryear Racing Parts, Racing Electronics, SafeQuip, DRP Performance, Gann Race Cars & Parts, Howell Racing Products, Tri-Star Racing Uniforms, HGR Trailers, RBR Fabrication, Performance Tees, Graphics Unlimited, Renegade Race Fuels, and more suppliers of racing parts and accessories are expected to be on hand for the event.
In addition, many North Carolina speedways and regional racing series will be on hand to greet race teams with schedules and rules for the 2015 season. Tracks & Series to be represented include: County Line Speedway, Orange County Speedway, Wake County Speedway, KOMA Modified Series, Ace Speedway, CARS Tour, Southern National Speedway, Southeast Limited Latemodels, Southern Ground Pounders, and more will also be on display
Holley Carbs, Butlerbuilt Racing Seats, and RacersReunion.com will sponsor the Fifth Annual Raleigh Fairgrounds Racers Reunion, held in conjunction with the Racing Expo. Legendary drivers who raced at the ½ mile dirt oval on the fairgrounds property from the 1950’s – 1970’s will be available from 10am-2pm Saturday January 17 for an autograph and photo session for attendees. Vintage Race Cars will be on display. All former fairground racers are invited to attend.
The mainstay of the Racing Expo, the racer’s auction will take place on Friday and Saturday as well. Friday’s auction will feature up to 600 lots starting at 12 Noon. Saturday’s auction will have over 600 lots as well as rolling stock and special items selling starting at 9am. For more information about the longest running racing trade show and auction in the area, please visit www.piedmontracingexpo.com or on Facebook.. Admission: $10 daily, Youth ages 12-15 $5 daily, No charge for children under 12 or women. Racing Expo Hours are: 10am-9pm on Friday and 8am-5pm on Saturday.(1-6-2015)

Motorsports 2015 Race Car and Trade Show: Two of the most famous race cars that were part of Richard Petty’s outstanding NASCAR racing career will be part of the Pioneer Pole Buildings Motorsports 2015 Presented by Sunoco Racing Fuels and Distributed by Insinger Performance Race Car and Trade Show set for January 23rd through January 25th at the huge Greater Philadelphia Expo Center conveniently located in Oaks, PA. A 1970 Plymouth Superbird, a winged car, was produced only during the model year, 1970 and 1957 Oldsmobile used by both Richard and Lee Petty.
The PPB Motorsports 2015 show will be the 30th anniversary edition of the highly successful event. The three day show attracts thousands of people to see what is new in motorsports and obtain the latest race schedule information from a variety of speedways and sanctioning organizations. Close to 250,000 square feet of show space is dedicated to just about everything imaginable in motorsports including more than 250 motorsports vehicles along classic cars, show and historic cars. Many popular racers and personalities in the sport will be seen at the show along with an autograph session at the Pioneer Pole Building’s display area that will feature Philadelphia Eagle’s start Brian Westbrook. Attendees will also be able to attend a number of FREE seminars that cover subjects related to the business of motorsports.
The Pioneer Pole Buildings Motorsports 2015 Car and Trade Show will be at Greater Philadelphia Expo Center at Oaks — 100 Station Ave. — Oaks, PA 19456 — 484-754-3976: For GPS use this address: 1601 Egypt Road — Phoenixville, PA 19460. More info at www.aarn.com

Young Wisconsin Mechanics Spend Race Week with Wood Brothers: Two recent high school graduates from Wisconsin – winners of last month’s AAA Student Auto Skills National Finals at Ford World Headquarters in Dearborn, Mich. – spent the week of the Coke Zero 400 with Wood Brothers Racing getting an up-close look at how race teams prepare for and manage a Sprint Cup race. This unique job shadowing experience was part of the Wisconsin team’s prize package for winning the 65th annual technology showdown with teams from each of the 50 states. The contest included a written test and a hands-on element diagnosing and repairing “bugs” planted on their competition vehicle.
Justin Bublitz, 18, and Colt Morris, 17, of Grafton High School in Grafton, Wisc., along with their instructor, Carl Hader, toured the Wood Brothers Racing shop in Harrisburg, N.C., the Roush Fenway Racing shop in Concord, N.C., visited the NASCAR Hall of Fame in downtown Charlotte and are spending race weekend with the Wood Brothers at Daytona International Speedway.
“We’re excited to be part of the AAA Student Auto Skills program,” said Eddie Wood, co-owner of Wood Brothers Racing and the #21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Fusion. “It’s been fun having Justin, Colt and their teacher, Carl, with us this week. We think it’s important to reward achievement in young people and maybe interest them in a career in racing in the process.” Morris, who along with Bublitz won the competition in Dearborn with a perfect score in the hands-on part of the competition, said, “The week has been amazing. To be close to everything and watch the magic happen is a great experience.” Bublitz said, “This is insanely fun. It’s mind-blowing the things we’re seeing. It’s so different from working on a normal car. This definitely makes me want to get into racing. Before this I was never a NASCAR fan, but now I’ll probably be a huge NASCAR fan.” Instructor Hader, a teacher for 35 years, has taken 15 teams to the AAA Auto Skills National Finals and has two wins. He views the race week experience from a much larger perspective. “I expect the kids to take back to their everyday lives the idea that you should be organized, plan things out ahead of time and that nothing happens by chance,” Hader said. “These race teams do everything they can think of before the race to put their drivers in a position to win.”(Wood Brothers Racing)(7-5-2014)

Alan Kulwicki Scholarship: Alan Kulwicki was a self-made man who broke all conventional wisdom to capture the 1992 NASCAR Winston Cup championship by the narrowest margin in the sport's history. Kulwicki, an unassuming yet fiercely dedicated man, died in a plane crash in April of 1993, just five races into the 1993 NASCAR Winston Cup season.
Kulwicki built his own team from the ground up and molded it into the championship caliber it enjoyed at the time of his death. During his career, he scored five career Winston Cup wins, 24 pole positions, and more than $5 million in winnings.
Kulwicki was just as dedicated to his education and earned a Mechanical Engineering degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He was the first college graduate to win the NASCAR Winston Cup championship, an honor he deeply cherished.
The Alan Kulwicki Memorial Scholarship recognizes Alan's dedication to education and his ability to inspire others. The Kulwicki Scholarship was established at The University of North Carolina at Charlotte through the generosity of the R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company. The scholarship was funded by the sale of a special Winston Cup Champion's poster, which commemorates Kulwicki's 1992 championship season, and contributions from friends.
The $1500 scholarship is awarded each year to an outstanding high school graduate who has an affiliation with NASCAR and who exemplifies Alan's experience and commitment. The award is renewable annually up to four years for full-time students attending UNC Charlotte.
Eligibility:
To be considered for this scholarship, you must: (1) apply and be admissible to UNC Charlotte, (2) show evidence of NASCAR affiliation, and (3) show evidence of academic achievement and financial need.
Application Procedure: To be considered for the Kulwicki Scholarship, you must submit a scholarship application to the Lee College of Engineering. Please check back for an updated application on February 15, 2014. Academic year 2014/2015 applications will be due on April 15, 2014.
A complete application will include:
A written essay
High school transcript showing 9th - 12th grade courses taken or in progress, class rank, grade point average, and SAT or ACT score.
Scholarship committee is composed of NASCAR and UNC Charlotte officials. Recipients are notified by May of each year.(UNCC)(12-20-2013)

UNC Charlotte Motorsports Names 2013 Kulwicki Scholar: The Lee College of Engineering at UNC Charlotte has awarded its Alan Kulwicki Memorial Scholarship to Justin LaDuke of Whitakers, North Carolina. The presentation of the 2013 scholarship will be made Friday October 11 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, prior to the running of the Dollar General 300 NASCAR XFINITY Series race. The four-year Kulwicki Scholarship, established in 1994, is one of the highest honors within UNC Charlotte’s Motorsports Engineering program. The scholarship is given in memory of late NASCAR Winston Cup points champion Alan Kulwicki, who lost his life in a plane crash in 1993. Kulwicki was himself an engineer, and a strong supporter of engineering and science education. The Lee College of Engineering at UNC Charlotte presents the scholarship to a high-school senior who demonstrates outstanding academic achievement and has an affiliation with auto racing. This year’s winner is the son of Elizabeth and Dane LaDuke of Whitakers.
During his academic career at Tarboro High School, Justin LaDuke was an honor student, top 10 in his class, AP Scholar and a member of the National Honor Society.
LaDuke’s racing career started at age eight in go carts. At age 12, he moved into the VMCRA mini cup series where he finished second in points and became the youngest series winner. At age 14, he began racing in the Allison Legacy Series, which he won his third year. For the 2013 season, he has won 9 races in the Allison Legacy Series and is the current points leader.
LaDuke said his career goal is to keep driving short track cars and then hopefully move up into bigger teams, which is why he came to UNC Charlotte. “I wanted to come to UNC Charlotte to pursue my dreams of working for teams if I couldn’t drive for them,” he said. “I also wanted to be closer to the racing community and some of my friends who are in racing here. “So far it’s been a great experience here. I like the people that I’ve met in the Motorsports Engineering community and my professors are awesome.”
As the premier motorsports engineering program in the country, UNC Charlotte attracts top students from throughout the United States. The Lee College of Engineering has strong ties with many of the race teams in the Charlotte area, and UNC Charlotte engineering graduates can be found on numerous NASCAR teams. The Lee College of Engineering is one of seven colleges of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. The College of Engineering offers bachelor’s, master’s and Ph.D. programs in civil and environmental engineering, electrical and computer engineering, engineering technology, construction management, systems engineering and mechanical engineering.(UNCC)(10-15-2013)

Students get NASCAR engineering lesson:
About 25 Charlotte middle school students got a hands-on lesson in engineering – NASCAR style – when they visited the headquarters of racing giant Hendrick Motorsports on Tuesday. The students, from Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School, were guests of the racing operation as part of Time Warner Cable’s STEM in Sports campaign, designed to increase interest by young people in science, technology, mathematics and engineering. NFL player Victor Cruz, professional golfer Ian Poulter and NASCAR drivers Kasey Kahne and Jeff Gordon are teaming with Time Warner in promoting the program.(Charlotte Obgserver)(10-10-2013)

64th Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills Competition National Finals: One hundred of the nation’s best young automotive minds converged at the Ford World Headquarters to compete for the title of top high school technicians in the country at the 64th Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills Competition National Finals. The competition featured two-person teams of the top high school automotive technology students from all 50 states. The students had their automotive skills and knowledge put to the test with a written exam and a timed event where they raced against the clock and each other to identify and repair deliberately-installed “bugs” in identical 2013 Ford Explorer XLTs. Logan Boyle and Cody Collins from Vale High School in Vale, Ore. claimed the crown of America’s top auto technicians, registering the day’s top score under the guidance of instructor Drew Barnes.(Wood Brothers Racing)(6-15-2013)

Matt Piercy Wins Kulwicki Scholarship: The Lee College of Engineering at UNC Charlotte has awarded its Alan Kulwicki Memorial Scholarship to Matthew Piercy of Conover, NC. The presentation of the 2012 scholarship will be made Friday October 12 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, prior to the running of the Dollar General 300 NASCAR XFINITY Series race. The four-year Kulwicki Scholarship, established in 1994, is one of the highest honors within UNC Charlotte’s Motorsports Engineering program. The scholarship is given in memory of late NASCAR Winston Cup points champion Alan Kulwicki, who lost his life in a plane crash in 1993. Kulwicki was himself an engineer, and a strong supporter of engineering and science education. The Lee College of Engineering at UNC Charlotte presents the scholarship to a high-school senior who demonstrates outstanding academic achievement and has an affiliation with auto racing.(Lee College of Engineering at UNC Charlotte)(10-11-2012)

Central Michigan Wins Spring Edition of NASCAR Kinetics: After competing among 18 talented colleges and universities from across the nation, Central Michigan University has won this semester’s NASCAR Kinetics: Marketing in Motion case study competition, earning them a grand prize trip to attend the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway this Saturday night. Throughout the semester, teams were required to develop two case studies and host a viewing party for a pre-determined NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. The case studies included generating marketing ideas for Fathead and Camping World and the viewing parties featured M&M’S newest spokescandy Ms. Brown. After finishing in the top three on the first and second case studies, the CMU NASCAR Kinetics team placed first on the viewing party segment of the competition. They took the event to an entirely new level, staging a classic car show that added to the festive Ms. Brown NASCAR viewing party atmosphere. The result was a well-attended party drawing a crowd of more than 300 guests from CMU and the local community that showcased the NASCAR and M&M’S brands in a fun and exciting way for those in attendance. While in Charlotte, the CMU NASCAR Kinetics team will meet with industry professionals from NASCAR, Charlotte Motor Speedway, and various Official Partners, licensees, teams and agencies. The team will also get a behind-the-scenes look at the production of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race, in addition to taking tours of NASCAR-related organizations based in the Charlotte/Concord area away from the race track. The CMU NASCAR Kinetics team is comprised of the following five students: David Connolly (White Lake, Mich.), Beau Kingsbury (Manchester, Mich.), Aaron Lanctot (Sterling, Mich.), Samantha Reed (East Grand Rapids, Mich.), and Sarah Slachta (Freeland, Mich.)(NASCAR)(5-17-2012)

NASCAR Technical Institute Celebrates Ten-Year Anniversary: One decade ago this month, NASCAR Technical Institute (NASCAR Tech) – a branch of Universal Technical Institute – became the first exclusive educational partner of NASCAR. The 146,000-square-foot training facility located in Mooresville, N.C. opened in July 2002 as the first technical school of its kind to combine automotive training and a NASCAR-approved technologies curriculum into one program. On Wednesday, NASCAR Tech is celebrating ten years of operation and has helped change the vernacular from auto mechanic to automotive technician. With state-of-the-industry classrooms designed to effectively train students for the workforce, NASCAR Tech has become the leader for automotive technical education, graduating thousands in its ten-year existence. In celebration of its ten-year anniversary, NASCAR Tech will spotlight graduates who have excelled in their industry. Since its opening, thousands of NASCAR Tech graduates have gone on to careers in the automotive repair and motorsports industry. Many have benefited from the school’s specialized programs, providing students with valuable, hands-on training in the heart of NASCAR country. To keep up with NASCAR Tech news, follow the campus on Facebook at facebook.com/NASCARtech.(NASCAR)(7-12-2012)

NASCAR Kinetics: Marketing In Motion Set For Spring 2012 Launch: NASCAR Kinetics: Marketing in Motion kicks-off the 2012 season by welcoming 18 partner schools from across the U.S. This innovative case study competition gives college students the opportunity to work through real-world business challenges and scenarios provided by NASCAR and its various industry stakeholders, such as Official Partners, teams and tracks. Since 2009 college students across the nation have spent a semester immersed in the NASCAR brand through NASCAR Kinetics. This grassroots program began with four schools and has grown to become NASCAR’s largest college initiative with 18 schools this semester.
This semester’s first case studies will ask students to create a comprehensive sales and marketing strategy that will help increase Fathead sale of NASCAR-related merchandise. While the second will challenge each team to deliver creative ideas that will help Camping World strength its relationship with NASCAR and promote its products at-track, in stores and online. The final stage of the competition, the viewing parties, will all be hosted in conjunction with M&M’s and will serve to celebrate the colorfulness of the M&M’s characters and NASCAR.
This semester, Kinetics is available at the following 18 schools across the country: Belmont Abbey College, Centenary College, Central Michigan University, Coastal Carolina University, East Tennessee State University, Elon University, High Point University, Indiana State University, Ohio State University, Ohio University, Oklahoma State University, Southern New Hampshire University, Troy University, University of Central Florida, University of Florida, University of Miami, University of Oregon and Virginia State University.
NASCAR Kinetics is available every fall and spring semester to teams of five students who are chosen from each participating school. Eligible students must be at least a sophomore with a minimum 2.75 GPA and pursuing a degree or concentration in sport management, sport marketing, business, management, marketing, public relations, communications, journalism, advertising or broadcasting. These students work together to produce one submission for each case study, while concurrently planning and executing a viewing party of a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race.
While the teams are competing for the grand prize of an all-expense paid trip to the NASCAR All-Star Race weekend in Charlotte, N.C., the greater reward is the invaluable experience that serves to build their resume as they finish school and begin their careers. For more information on NASCAR Kinetics, please refer to the new website: www.NASCARKinetics.com.(NASCAR)(3-27-2012)

Ray Evernham To Give Keynote Address at IMIS Safety & Technical Conference: Ray Evernham, who won three NASCAR Sprint Cup Series titles as crew chief for Jeff Gordon, will give the keynote address at the fourth annual International Motorsports Industry Show (IMIS) Safety & Technical Conference Dec. 5-6 in Indianapolis. The IMIS Safety & Technical Conference helps kick off the fourth annual IMIS, the United States’ premier hardcore racing tradeshow, conducted each year at the Indiana Convention Center in downtown Indianapolis and owned by Chris Paulsen, owner of C&R Racing, Jeff Stoops, president of Stoops Freightliner, and three-time and defending NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Tony Stewart.
From car builders to tire manufacturers to parts suppliers, every aspect of motorsports is represented at IMIS, which has a lifetime contract with the City of Indianapolis and reserved show dates through 2017. Attendees come from all levels of the sport and will do so once again this year from Dec. 6-8. From NASCAR team owners to weekend road racers, IMIS attracts motorsports professionals from around the globe.
New for 2012, the first day of the IMIS Safety & Technical Conference will take place at the Center for Advanced Product Evaluation (CAPE), a 50,000 square-foot facility in Westfield, Ind., that was named the 2011 Automotive Testing Technology International “Crash Test Facility of the Year.” Conference participants will hear presentations from some of the top experts in motorsports safety, who will review data from various motorsports crash tests and proven research ranging from Sprint cars to Indy cars and also present new findings for 2012. Participants will engage in networking, thoughtful discussion and various question-and-answer sessions while learning a wealth of information that will help make their track, racecar, or driver safer. The second day of the IMIS Safety & Technical Conference will take place at the Indiana Convention Center on the first day of the tradeshow and will focus on event and facility safety. A list of presenters and presentation topics is routinely updated at www.imis-indy.com as they are added. Attendees who register before Nov. 6 will save $55 on a two-day ticket or $45 on a one-day ticket. To register, go to www.imis-indy.com and click on Conference under the IMIS Events tab. The two-day conference ticket is $250 at the door, or $195 before Nov. 6. Transportation to CAPE is provided. Hotel accommodations, parking and directions, in addition to all the information on IMIS 2012, can be found at www.imis-indy.com. Attendees can incur saving by reserving rooms through the IMIS hotel link under the Hotels/Travel tab on the site. Accommodations representing all price ranges are available.(True Speed Communication)(10-1-2012)

UCF Students Win NASCAR Competition: A team of five undergraduate students from the DeVos Sport Business Management program beat 18 other universities to win the NASCAR Kinetics: Marketing in Motion competition. Team members included: Kaitlyn Blizzard, Jaime Fox, Hannah Meyers, Bill Morrison, and Brandon Vinieratos. The team placed first for each of the two assigned case studies. The case studies focused on developing a comprehensive social media strategy for Michael Waltrip Racing, creating a promotion for Michael Waltrip Racing that focuses on its relationship with Aaron’s, and developing a retail, at-track, and digital promotion to promote the official partnership between Dodge and NASCAR. The team was also planned and executed a NASCAR Race Viewing Party that attracted nearly 185 people.(see full article at ucf.edu)(11-20-2011)

2011 Kulwicki Scholarship awarded: Brantt Malloch of Sanford, NC was awarded the Alan Kulwicki Memorial Scholarship during race weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Established in 1994, the four-year Kulwicki Scholarship is one of the highest honors within UNC Charlotte’s Motorsports Engineering Program housed in the Lee College of Engineering. The scholarship honors the late NASCAR Winston Cup points champion who died in a plane crash in 1993. Kulwicki was an engineer and a strong supporter of engineering and science education. The Lee College of Engineering presents the scholarship to a high school senior who demonstrates outstanding academic achievement and has an affiliation with auto racing. Malloch, an off-road, four-wheel-drive enthusiast, has a passion for jeeps and the outdoors. “I love to work on my jeep, modify it and take it out in the woods to see what it’s capable of.” After attending the summer motorsports programs hosted at UNC Charlotte, Malloch became interested in the college’s world-class, hands-on engineering programs and deep roots in NASCAR. “I plan on using the education and experience I receive at UNC Charlotte to allow me to work within the industry I love,” Malloch said. “The mechanical engineering degree along with the motorsports concentration is the building block of not only a career and hobby but a future.” Malloch is the son of Frank and Beth Malloch of Sanford. He graduated from Lee County High School in June 2011. He was a straight-A student, captain of the drum line and a member of the mock United Nations team, science club, National Technical Honor Society and National Honor Society.()(10-25-2011)

Motorsports Alumni Chapter Starts: Alumni from The William States Lee College of Engineering and other university programs came together May 17, 2011, to form the UNC Charlotte Motorsports Alumni Chapter. Meeting in the Kulwicki Motorsports Laboratory, the alumni, faculty and staff laid out plans for the new chapter. New Chapter President Ryan Zeck (BSME 1999) said the chapter welcomes all UNC Charlotte alumni interested in motorsports, not just graduates of the motorsports engineering program. The formation of a new alumni chapter requires the commitment of 16 alumni to serve on the chapter board. The new Motorsports group was able to get 21 people to sign up for the board.(more info at uncc.edu.(5-30-2011)

N.C. A&T to offer degree in motorsports technology: The UNC Board of Governors on Friday granted N.C. A&T approval to establish a bachelor's degree program in motorsports technology. The program will train students to work with team owners, corporate sponsors and others in the motorsports industry, according to information provided to the board. The university already has a motorsports concentration in its department of manufacturing systems.(Greensboro News & Record)(11-9-2010)

Professor studies the culture of NASCAR: John D. Miller teaches early-American literature at Longwood University, but lately he has lectured on a more contemporary theme: NASCAR and globalization. A fan himself, Miller says the lure of NASCAR is not so much the cars and the race as the spin they bring to an archetypal American narrative. "I think most fans are attracted to NASCAR because it celebrates this national culture," he said. NASCAR's popularity has increased with the rise of globalization, which some people see as a threat to traditional American identity, he said. They look to NASCAR as a way "to celebrate and reaffirm a traditional set of American values." That script is followed from the start of the race. Miller notes that NASCAR is the only professional sport that still begins with a prayer over the public address system. The national anthem is sung by a national recording artist, accentuating its importance, and the military fly-by seals the association between patriotism and the military. A graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University with a doctorate from the College of William and Mary, Miller wrote his master's thesis at Auburn University on the culture of NASCAR. Miller looks to NASCAR for the stories it tells about America "that help define that cultural identity for people, for readers or for sports fans."(see full story and quotes at the Richmond Times Dispatch)(12-8-2009)