A new internship for Vanderbilt engineering students interested in NASCAR racing has now been made possible thanks to a $10,000 donation from Dollar General.
The partnership includes the Vanderbilt School of Engineering, Braun Racing and Braun Sponsor Dollar General Corporation, whose former CEO, Cal Turner Jr., is a Vanderbilt alum. Braun Racing, a NASCAR racing team based in Mooreseville, N.C., has agreed to pass along equipment to the Vanderbilt Motorsports team, giving the students previously unavailable access and the opportunity to work alongside industry professionals.
President of Vanderbilt Motorsports Cody Mayer, a senior, said most members of the team are car enthusiasts and would like to work in the automotive industry after graduation, but expressed his reservations.
"It's a hard industry to get in to," Mayer said. "And not necessarily realistic for everyone."
Generally, partnerships between companies and racing teams tend to be in the form of monetary sponsorship. This internship, which was announced on the NASCAR Web site, is unique because it combines monetary support with first-hand training from mechanics, engineers and crew chiefs, the kind of experience that the owner of Braun Racing, Todd Braun, calls invaluable. Braun said he hopes this training will help students work their way into the highly competitive sport.
Braun's head engineer and crew chief have already met with students in the motorsports program at their shop in Featheringill Hall.
"It was really interesting to hear what they had to say," Mayer said. "We're hoping to be able to check out their facilities, see how they do things."
Actual training with Braun employees is projected to start this summer. Some logistics have not been finalized, such as how many students will be chosen to work with Braun at their headquarters in North Carolina this summer. Members of the motorsports team expressed both appreciation and excitement for things to come.
"Their sponsorship is really what's keeping us going right now," Mayer said.
The motorsports team, which has worked to conceive, to design and to build a racing car over the course of the last year, is currently preparing to compete in the Formula competitions of the Society of Automotive Engineers held in April and May. The competitions in Virginia and Michigan draw collegiate teams from around the world. Vanderbilt's team will compete against approximately 40 other teams in April and about 130 teams in May.
