What could be more exciting for engineering students interested in auto racing than getting to “look under the hood” of the racing industry?
A group of students from the University of Michigan recently had the opportunity to do just that during an event hosted at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Pure Michigan 400 race weekend. Young engineers, along with some business and chemistry department students, were given an insider’s view of the role engineering plays in the business of racing through a weekend of activities that included garage tours at the racetrack and watching some races.
The highlight of the weekend, however, was an interactive discussion panel with several industry experts who shared their expertise on how the fusion of engineering and business informs modern auto racing.
Panel speakers included two top engineering professionals from the racing industry: senior aero/vehicle performance engineer at NASCAR Eric Jacuzzi, and senior vice president of innovation and racing development at NASCAR Gene Stefanyshyn. Representatives from the Michigan International Speedway and the hosting company, Axalta Coating Systems, spoke with the students as well.
The students were encouraged to ask questions and engage in discussion with the panelists, with conversations ranging from recent advances in racing technology to the ins and outs of the Michigan International Speedway.
Overall, the weekend was a great chance for engineers considering a future career in the automotive and racing industries to get some insider details on working as an auto-racing engineer.
“Engineering is problem solving,” said Ray Evernham, three-time NASCAR champion crew chief. “Work done in this area has taken our sport, an engineering-driven sport, to new levels.”
Chris Gordon, the manager of U-M’s Walter E. Wilson Student Team Project Center, added, “This was a great weekend for our students to see the amount of engineering and the levels of teamwork that go into race events. The discussions with Axalta, NASCAR and MIS could have gone on all night.”
The Wilson Student Team Project Center is part of U-M’s College of Engineering and provides students with dedicated space and facilities for student race teams to design, build and test their entries for a wide variety of national and international engineering competitions.
Topping off the weekend, the students got to watch the Pure Michigan 400 race, featuring the number 88 car, the Axalta Chevrolet SS with a special University of Michigan paint scheme in honour of a recent partnership between Axalta and U-M to support the development of collaborative research projects.
This partnership means that engineering students at U-M will have many opportunities to work on projects that build useful industry specific skillsets related to auto engineering, industrial coatings and other future engineering careers.
“Engineering is an integral part of the racing industry, as it translates into practical applications we use every day,” said Steve Markevich, executive vice president at Axalta. “This partnership with the University of Michigan, one of the premier institutions in the world, will benefit current and future students and faculty while bringing invaluable assistance to the Axalta team. Michigan is the ‘leader and best’ in providing the specialized programs needed to prepare its students to be the future skilled engineers and business leaders.”
For more information, visit the University of Michigan’s Wilson Student Team Project Center.