North Carolina teens make valuable contributions to NASCAR


 
Words: Sharon Wright of the Charlotte Motorsports Examiner

Photos: Sharon Wright & 1080 Education

First experiences, and achievements, are the things that contribute to history making events in families, in organizations and in life. This had been true throughout history and is true as forty five students from three North Carolina Schools travel to the Daytona International Speedway to compete in the Fast Track RC National Finals.
 
Making this trip to one the most highly recognized super speedways is exciting, but more amazing is the diverse delegation of students who are representing North Carolina in this NASCAR endorsed educational event. Ten years ago, when I began my work within motorsports, the thought of this experience was a dream and was the motivating factor in my decision to embark upon this journey to work within the industry. The vision, in my mind, rolled out over a short period of time to frame a very clear image of what is being experienced right now as we ride through the dark of night to Daytona, Florida. Ninety seven percent of us on this trip have never been to the Daytona International Speedway. That alone has everyone excited and looking forward to the weekend with great anticipation.
 
Reflecting on the history of United States and specifically that of NASCAR, it is quite a testament to evolution that this bus is filled with Caucasian, African American, Latino and Asian people who have come together for a common cause. The cause is one that surpasses the ignorance and exclusion of the past and embraces education and empowerment for the future. It is incredible that time has caught up to my vision and that I am now living the dream. We are all living the experience. As I look around the bus at the three groups who will later be competing against other team from many states, it is clear that whether they win or lose; they are all winners. I think if Martin Luther King were living, he would stop this bus, get on and say “North Carolina this is how it should be done.”
 
Lightning Motorsports, Mallard Creek Motorsports and East Union Middle School Motorsports participate in the Fast Track National Finals against other teams from SC, GA, FL and TX. Help us to celebrate our contribution to NASCAR’s history. This celebration is just as worthy as the celebration for the NASCAR Hall of Fame as it is history in the making,
 
Please visit www.fasttrackrc.com for additional information on the Fast Track RC National Stem League.
 
 
Source: examiner.com
 
 
ABOUT FTRC:
The FastTrack Racing Challenges (FTRC), a NASCAR Youth Initiative, is a National STEM* League in which middle and high school students form race teams around the HPI Racing Sprint 2 1/10th scale R/C cars that mirror professional NASCAR teams.  These student teams competing in the league earn points between October and May each year in 7 points categories including race engineering, aerodynamic design, project management, marketing & PR, graphic design and alternative energies.  Students also learn traditional science and math lessons with the comprehensive FastTrack RC curriculum.  Points leaders are invited to the National FTRC Finals each May hosted by a NASCAR track. 
 
May 22, 2010 over 120 students from 15 teams plus others participating via live internet feed represented states including Georgia, Colorado, California, Texas, North & South Carolina and Florida. Maverick Motorsports from Mallard Creek High School in Charlotte, NC was the big winner but visit www.FastTrackRC.com to see the others and contact our team to learn more about how your local school system can get involved.  * STEM = Science, Technology, Engineering & Math

Use your arrow keys to move through the images.	Use your arrow keys to move through the images.	Use your arrow keys to move through the images.	Use your arrow keys to move through the images.	Use your arrow keys to move through the images.
Use your arrow keys to move through the images.	Use your arrow keys to move through the images.	Use your arrow keys to move through the images.	Use your arrow keys to move through the images.	Use your arrow keys to move through the images.
Use your arrow keys to move through the images.