DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (November 3, 2015) – Today at the 2015 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show in Las Vegas, NASCAR and Universal Technical Institute (NYSE: UTI) announced a 10-year partnership extension, ensuring the official partner will continue providing training for students seeking employment in the motorsports and automotive services industries.
The partnership was highlighted by the opening of UTI’s subsidiary school, NASCAR Technical Institute (NASCAR Tech) in 2002. NASCAR and UTI have partnered to offer a curriculum that has developed new generations of technicians to serve motorsports and the automotive services industries.
“UTI has created a pipeline of highly skilled automotive technicians that have been embedded throughout the NASCAR ecosystem for the past 15 years,” said Norris Scott, NASCAR vice president of partnership marketing. “Our 10-year extension underscores the mutual benefit of our partnership and sets us up for a decade of success.”
UTI Vice President John Dodson will discuss the early renewal live on Fanschoice.TV from the Las Vegas Convention Center, where each year more than 100,000 industry executives, buyers, influencers and car enthusiasts attend the SEMA Show. Afterward, a special panel of NASCAR Tech graduates, each now gainfully employed within the motorsports industry, will share stories about the program’s impact on their professional careers.
“This long-term renewal accentuates the sustained success of our program, and perfectly aligns with our plans to celebrate UTI’s 50th anniversary this upcoming year,” said Dodson. “By offering students hands-on experience and the opportunity to build relationships with key manufacturers, our students graduate with the ideal skill set to succeed in this competitive industry.”
NASCAR Tech has become the leader in the industry for technical education, graduating thousands of students. Four out of five graduates from NASCAR Tech find employment in careers within their field of study. Team Penske has hired nearly 50 NASCAR Tech graduates, more than any other team.
NASCAR Tech alumni featured at the SEMA Show include Jennifer LaFever, who manages quality assurance at Roush Yates Racing Engines, and Van Nguyen, a development engineer for Toyota Racing Development.
The graduates will be joined on the panel by Kyle Larson, driver of the No. 42 Chevrolet for Chip Ganassi Racing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Prior to competing in NASCAR’s national series, Larson won the 2012 championship in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, where his Rev Racing car engines were built and maintained by NASCAR Tech students.
The No. 2 UTI / NASCAR Tech Rev Racing Toyota Camry, driven to Victory Lane at Dover International Speedway by current NASCAR K&N Pro Series East driver Collin Cabre, is on display at the NASCAR booth. The race-winning car’s engine was also a product of the NASCAR Spec Engine Program.
Other NASCAR Activities at SEMA
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In addition to the No. 2 Rev Racing Toyota, there are three other NASCAR vehicle attractions on display at the SEMA Show, which runs through Nov. 6: The No. 21 Motorcraft Ford Fusion driven by NASCAR XFINITY Series driver Ryan Blaney, the No. 31 Whelen Chevrolet Corvette DP that competes in the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and the No. 22 WeatherTech Porsche 911 – highlight the NASCAR area on the show floor.
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The display also includes demonstrations of the new pit road technology used in NASCAR that has increased the accuracy, efficiency and safety of pit-road officiating.
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NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Richard Petty is joining several current drivers from NASCAR’s national and Touring & Weekly Series and IMSA for appearances at the NASCAR display, where fans following the event from their computer, tablet or mobile device can watch driver interviews live on Fanschoice.tv.
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Scott Atherton, president of IMSA, will discuss the importance of technology and innovation in growing the series during the Racing and Performance Forum, part of the SEMA Show’s Technology Briefing Seminars.
Tune-in to the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Eliminator Round’s second race, the AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway, on Sunday, Nov. 8 at 2 p.m. ET on NBC, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio and PRN, with additional coverage on NASCAR.com.
About NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc. (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States. NASCAR consists of three national series (the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series™, NASCAR XFINITY Series™, and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series™), four regional series, one local grassroots series and three international series. The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series. Based in Daytona Beach, Fla., with offices in eight cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races in more than 30 U.S. states, Canada, Mexico and Europe. For more information visit www.NASCAR.com and www.IMSA.com and follow NASCAR at www.Facebook.com/NASCAR and Twitter: @NASCAR.
About Universal Technical Institute, Inc.
Headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, Universal Technical Institute, Inc. (NYSE: UTI) is the leading provider of post-secondary education for students seeking careers as professional automotive, diesel, collision repair, motorcycle and marine technicians. With more than 190,000 graduates in its 50-year history, UTI offers undergraduate degree and diploma programs at 12 campuses across the United States, as well as manufacturer-specific training programs at dedicated training centers. Through its campus-based school system, UTI provides specialized post-secondary education programs under the banner of several well-known brands, including Universal Technical Institute (UTI), Motorcycle Mechanics Institute and Marine Mechanics Institute (MMI) and NASCAR Technical Institute (NASCAR Tech). For more information visit www.uti.edu. Like UTI on www.facebook.com/UTI or follow UTI on Twitter @UTITweet, @MMITweet, and @NASCARTechUTI.
