Martinsville Bulletin, Inc.
P. O. Box 3711
204 Broad Street
Martinsville, Virginia 24115
276-638-8801
Toll Free: 800-234-6575
Tracking their skills
Rodney Sawyers (kneeling) will drive Patrick Henry Community College's No. 73 car during Saturday's qualifying for the Bailey's 300 late mode stock car race, which takes place Sunday at Martinsville Speedway. Behind the car are PHCC motorsports students, who serve as pit crew members in addition to their classes. (Contributed photo)
Friday, September 26, 2008
By CHASE YOUNG - Bulletin Sports Writer
As more than 100 late model stock cars get ready for a shot at the Bailey’s 300 qualifying Saturday at Martinsville Speedway a group of Patrick Henry Community College motorsports students will be doing a lot more than enjoying the race.
PHCC’s Motorsports Technology Program allows students to put theory into practice by concentrating on things like fabrication, chassis setup and engine building. This approach gives students the ability to take their skills to the track, literally.
“It gives them something that they can take with them when they go into real employment,” said Jeff Fields, PHCC’s dean of applied science and engineering technology. “They can talk about the experience they have, and the contacts they make with other teams is very valuable. Plus it keeps their interest up with real-world experience.”
PHCC officially developed its motorsports engineering program in 2002, and since that time it has grown from a small operation based in uptown Martinsville to a degree program which allows local students — as well as those from as far away as Pennsylvania — to work toward a career in racing.
For each of the past three years, students involved in the program have been taught everything except how to drive the No. 73 Dodge, according to Fields.
“The students do all the adjusting, analytic input, what changes there should be based on weather,” said Fields. “The students actually do it all.”
Thirteen students were selected through a lottery to serve as pit crew members this weekend at the speedway. For students like 19-year-old Justin Willard, one of the lucky 13 randomly selected, this opportunity is one to cherish.
“I’ve checked around and looked at other motorsports programs, but this is the only one that lets you go to the race track. And as far as racing, this is the real thing,” said Willard, a freshman at PHCC. “This is the chance of a lifetime to be in the pit at Martinsville, and I think it’s amazing.”
Despite engine problems that kept the team from qualifying in last year’s Bailey’s 300, a lack of confidence in the car is not an issue for one of the college’s motorsports instructors, Talmage Thomas.
“It’s not going to be for lack of effort if we don’t do well,” he said. “I think we have a good chance. I think we could very easily run top 10; we’ve got a good car.”
Since many of the other race teams bear deep pockets and a summer full of weekly racing experience, the inability to test and equip the car as effectively could leave PHCC’s students at a competitive disadvantage come Saturday.
That’s not a huge concern for those involved, however.
“Economic Development Corporation has allowed us to have the funds to produce a good car, but we have to be realistic about our goals here,” said Thomas.
The primary goals include educating students in the program and preparing them for a job in the industry; winning the race is a lower —though still important — priority.
“To get the students more experience and represent the sponsorship is the goal,” said Thomas. “They can make contacts with (professional) team members, and we hope that if they can network, they can get jobs.”
With the help of the Environmental Development Corporation, experienced professionals such as Thomas, Sawyers and instructor and engine builder Lou LaRosa, PHCC has developed a “rolling laboratory” to allow students hands-on racing experience.
Past pupils have already had professional success, according to those associated with the program.
“We’ve had students go on to be inspectors for NASCAR, work with Hendrick racing,” said Fields. “We really have had a lot of success with students being able to go into the racing industry. Of course, they have to be able to impress the employers once they get there in order to stay, and they’ve been able to do that.”
Following the success of its motorsports program, PHCC has been approved by the state of Virginia for an $8.7-million bond referendum which will allow them to grow further in the upcoming years, according to Fields.
.jpg)
.jpg)