Motorsports Students Get an Insider’s View of Professional Racing

Students enrolled in Alfred State College’s motorsports technology program recently returned from a seven-day field trip to Mooresville and Concord, NC, to get an insider’s view of professional racing.

“Our Race Country trip is designed to broaden the education of the motorsports technology students,” says Automotive Trades Department, who accompanied them. “We expose them to the real, professional part of the motorsports industry—the down and dirty, yet fun and profitable, part of their chosen future.”

While there, students were exposed to the inside “track” and back rooms of several NASCAR shops and the people, from management to worker, who make the industry operate.

The students and Taber paid their own way and supplied their own transportation and housing, making the trip an exercise in planning and organizing as well as budgeting.

“The trip lasted a full seven days,” says Taber. “The students toured Earnhardt/Ganassi Motor Sports thanks to Alfred State graduate Mike Sweet (ASC ’81, construction engineering technology, who is head research engineer for the organization); EXTENZE Racing Shop thanks to Kevin Conway, NASCAR Sprint Cup Rookie of the Year, and Andy Lally, New York native and championship road racer. The group also visited Robbie Gordon Racing. Students toured Stewart/Haas Motor Sports. Students also attended three days of racing at the Charlotte Dirt track - World of Outlaws sprint cars/late models and NY big block modified, where they met with several ASC motorsports graduates who work in the NASCAR industry.