August 5, 2014 - First NASCAR Technical Institute Graduate Named Crew Chief
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NASCAR Technical Institute is pleased to announce that 2004 graduate Shannon Rursch has been promoted to crew chief for Dylan Kwasniewski’s Nationwide Team. One of the most esteemed positions in the industry, Shannon’s new position represents an impressive milestone for NASCAR Technical Institute. Under his leadership, Shannon looks to move Dylan’s team – currently 12th in the Nationwide Series – up in the standings during the final half of the season. Shannon replaces veteran NASCAR crew chief Pat Tryson atop the pit box for the No. 31 Chevrolet.
“We are thrilled by Shannon’s promotion to crew chief,” said Jennifer Bergeron, campus president at NASCAR Technical Institute. “His new position demonstrates the value of a strong technical education and inspires our graduates to dream big! Shannon is a real-life role model to emulate for those looking to break into the racing industry.”
Ambition
According to Shannon, he knew he wanted to be involved in motorsports since the age of 11, when his father and grandfather bought him a go-kart, which he raced around his local racetrack in Clinton, Iowa, for hours on end. After stints traveling around the country as unpaid racing support on an Adrian Carriers race car, and several jobs in welding, Shannon packed up with his wife and daughter and moved to Mooresville, N.C. to start at NASCAR Technical Institute.
Dedication
“I got in my 1977 Ford Escort with all my belongings and drove about 900 miles to NASCAR Tech,” Shannon said. “While in school, it was class during first shift, then work at a welding shop during second shift. For 57 weeks, I attended class from 6:30 a.m. until 2 p.m., and worked from 4:30 p.m. until midnight.”
Shannon absorbed everything he could, graduating with a 4.0 GPA and a newfound aptitude for electronics and the technical side of racing. With his dream career in mind, Shannon moved to Nashville, Tenn. to work at Sadler Racing, where he applied his NASCAR Technical Institute education and mastered every detail of building a racecar. From there, he served as a car chief at Evernham Motorsports, Phoenix Racing, Robby Gordon Motor Sports and finally Turner Scott Motorsports.
Communication
Communication is the number one attribute needed by a crew chief, according to Shannon. It’s what propelled him to where he is today. He asked questions of his superiors along his climb up the ladder, thoroughly learning the nuts and bolts of the industry. Now, Shannon’s responsibilities are contingent upon his ability to clearly communicate with his team members, many of whom are NASCAR Technical Institute graduates.
“Preparing for a race is akin to a thousand-piece puzzle,” Shannon said. “And it’s my job to put those pieces of the puzzle together.”
A problem-solver at heart, Shannon welcomes the challenges the rest of the 2014 season holds.
"Shannon is a rising talent and one of several professionals in our sport that have benefitted from the outstanding education that NASCAR Technical Institute provides,” said Wayne Auton, Managing Director of the NASCAR Nationwide Series. “NTI has helped pave the way for Shannon’s success in NASCAR and we wish him the best of luck as crew chief.”
Several other NASCAR Technical Institute have graduated to successful careers in NASCAR, including:
- Katy Renard, Chassis Pre-Certification Manager of NASCAR
- Jonathan Sickler, Hauler Driver and Fabricator for the No. 8 Rev Racing Toyota
- Colin Fambrough, Rear Tire Changer on the No. 2 Miller Lite Ford Fusion, Penske Racing
- Mason Barham, Mechanic Technician, Dale Earnhardt Chevrolet
For more information on UTI’s NASCAR Tech campus in Mooresville, N.C., visit our website and stay connected on Facebook and Twitter.
