September 16, 2013 - Battlefield Visions Transform Into Automotive Career

NASCAR Tech graduate, Jeremy Thompson, could barely change the oil in his car before attending NASCAR Tech. Now, he’s thriving at Mercedes-Benz of South Charlotte.

Jeremy Thompson’s career path, like some in his family, was supposed to be the U.S. Army.

But then the NASCAR Technical Institute (NASCAR Tech) came along. The school was forged out of a unique partnership between Universal Technical Institute (NYSE: UTI) and NASCAR to develop a curriculum that provides new generations of technicians to serve NASCAR motorsports and automotive services industries.

It came to Thompson through a family friend who was a NASCAR Tech graduate and master certified technician, and who encouraged Thompson to give the school a try.

“He let me know that if it doesn’t work out, the Army isn’t going anywhere,” Thompson said.

Indeed, it did work out. Thompson went on to graduate in August 2012 and got a job as a tire shop technician in the Mercedes-Benz of South Charlotte.

The first to graduate in his family, Thompson says NASCAR Tech was the way he’s been able to make a better life for himself and his family.

“Without NASCAR Tech they (Mercedes Benz of South Charlotte) would have probably just put my resume in a pile,” Thompson said. “Only four or five the guys aren’t from NASCAR Tech or UTI, so it’s the school the dealership goes to for technicians.”

Thompson believes it’s the instructors and curriculum that makes NASCAR Tech the best in the industry.

“NASCAR Tech doesn’t teach you things unless you absolutely need to know them and it’s coming from the best instructors,” Thompson said. “Every instructor I had was awesome. Anytime I needed help they were there for me. For them to take time out of their already busy schedules to help a single student really stands out to me.”

It certainly took a little help – and a lot of work – to get Thompson where he is now.

The first hurdle was Thompson’s inexperience in anything having to do with automobiles.

There was also an almost daily 50-mile drive from Thompson’s hometown, Weddington, N.C., to Mooresville, N.C., where NASCAR Tech is located. And like many of his classmates, Thompson held a full-time job while also going to school.

It was Thompson’s perseverance that ultimately allowed him to do something nobody in his family had: complete a post-secondary education. During his time at NASCAR Tech, Thompson completed UTI’s core automotive program, Nissan specific training and NASCAR Engines One and Two.

The staff at NASCAR Tech will continue to cheer on the kid from Weddington, who is well on his way to a promising career.