By David Rogers. WILKESBORO, N.C. — Reminiscent of the “Career Day” formerly produced by The Rotary Club of Blowing Rock for every 7th grade student in Watauga County, North Wilkesboro Speedway and Speedway Motorsports, Inc., led some two dozen partners to expose more than 1,800 Wilkes County middle school students to an abundance of career opportunities, frequently centered around motorsports.
Dubbed the STEAM Expo — combining educational and fun activities learning about Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math — the event included interactive displays of more than two dozen businesses and organizations, all staged in the infield of North Wilkesboro Speedway.
“This proved to be a great way to give students unique learning opportunities but also a look at potential career paths as adults they might not otherwise consider,” said Scott Cooper, Senior Vice President for Communications at Speedway Motorsports, Inc. “The students also had an opportunity to visit Victory Lane and take a van ride around the newly paved, 0.625-mile short track.”
Cooper added that in addition to the Wilkes County participants, education officials from nearby counties also attended the event with a look toward possibly expanding the program in the future, to other jurisdictions.
Among the vendors and exhibitors were Wilkes Community College, Crocker Racing, Broadway Fire Department, North Carolina Department of Transportation (Simulator), Safe House, LP Building Solutions, West Wilkes 3D Printing, App State Gear UP, U.S. Army, Coast Guard, PE Welding, Wilkes Communications, The Shine Shack, North Carolina School of Science & Math, Wake Forest School of Medicine, MATCO Tools, North Carolina Cooperative Extension/Forestry, North Wilkesboro Police, Crack the Code, General Motors, Interflex and, of course, North Wilkesboro Speedway and Speedway Motorsports.
North Wilkesboro Speedway was in the news earlier this week upon the discovery of a long rumored to exist “moonshine cave” underneath the grandstands on the front stretch of the track. The discovery was made by workmen examining the damage created by a sinkhole causing damage to the concrete of the grandstands.
NWS workers will be working overtime to get the necessary repairs done before the May 17-19, NASCAR All-Star Weekend, being hosted for the second consecutive year by the iconic and historic race track.
