Phoenix Raceway hosts NASCAR STEM DAY at ASU West Valley Campus

Phoenix Raceway hosts NASCAR STEM DAY at ASU West Valley Campus

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Earlier today, Phoenix Raceway partnered with Arizona State University’s West Valley Campus to host a day of STEM and engineering exploration for 159 local students from Estrella Vista STEM Academy, Gary K. Herberger Young Scholars Academy and George Gervin Preparatory Academy. Students learned about drag, friction, and air resistance in motorsports and how those concepts impact the design of a racecar. Each lesson was taught by an ASU Engineering professor and a student helper from the Gary K. Herberger Young Scholars Academy.

Each lesson was taught by an ASU Engineering professor and a student helper from the Gary K. Herberger Young Scholars Academy. Students built their own race cars and competed for tickets to the NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway on Saturday, Nov. 9.

“The sport of NASCAR is fun, and it takes the fields of science, technology, engineering and math to make it all happen,” said Phoenix Raceway President Latasha Causey. “We are grateful for the ASU West Valley Campus for helping us spread that message. We look forward to continuing using the powerful platform of Phoenix Raceway and NASCAR to make our community even better.”

“Instilling curiosity and interest in STEM applications among the West Valley’s K-12 students is an important early step toward college enrollment and all the benefits of earning a college degree,” said Todd Sandrin, Vice Provost of ASU’s West Valley Campus. “Partnering with NASCAR and Phoenix Raceway is a wonderful opportunity to excite young minds about science and math.”

Wednesday’s activity at ASU West Valley’s Campus continues a Phoenix Raceway initiative to incorporate STEM education in its community outreach efforts. Earlier this month, the home of NASCAR Championship Weekend partnered with The Larry Fitzgerald Foundation for a “Beyond the Finish Line” STEM field trip at Phoenix Raceway.

For more about Phoenix Raceway and NASCAR Championship Weekend, visit www.phoenixraceway.com.

About ASU West Valley Campus

ASU’s West Valley campus is designed to deliver the full strength, innovation, and endless opportunities of the university, along with degrees and opportunities specifically chosen to support the growing communities and industries of the West Valley. ASU’s West Valley campus is committed to supporting the 15 communities in western Maricopa County, offering 125 undergraduate and graduate degree programs, including behavioral sciences, business, computer science, education, engineering, forensics, health care, humanities, and honors curriculum.

The West Valley campus integrates modern amenities including classrooms, labs, residence halls, dining facilities, and a fitness complex, with the natural beauty of its lush subtropical landscaping, fountains, and outdoor spaces, creating a serene and innovative learning environment blending harmoniously with its surrounding desert landscape. Last month, the campus opened a new 507-bed, 134,000 square feet residence hall. The new on-campus living option provide students with a safe, clean, and affordable environment that offers connections, engagement, and collaboration. Early next year, West Valley campus’ next building opens. This four-story, approximately 55,000 square-foot academic facility includes student gallery space, computer labs, art studios, and faculty offices with room for growth.

To meet demand for workforce needs of one of the fastest-growing areas of the U.S., ASU is bringing new schools, new degree programs, new buildings and more to the West Valley campus. ASU recently launched three new schools on the campus:

– School of Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship

– School of Interdisciplinary Forensics

– School of Integrated Engineering

While the campus is home to thousands of college students, it is also a learning hub for all ages. The campus supports K-12 learners through The Gary K. Herberger Young Scholars Academy, an innovative learning environment designed for highly gifted students, offering advanced, non-traditional, interdisciplinary education. With small class sizes and low student-to-teacher ratios, the academy emphasizes personalized education tailored to each student’s strengths and social-emotional needs. The curriculum, based on the Cambridge International Examinations, prepares students for academic success and global citizenship through a rigorous, flexible program. Students also benefit from ASU resources, gaining unique opportunities in research, mentorship, and experiential learning.

About Phoenix Raceway

Home to NASCAR Championship Weekend since 2020, Phoenix Raceway has been the premier motorsports venue in the Southwest since 1964 and hosts two NASCAR race weekends each year. In 2024, the spring event weekend, March 8-10, kicks off the race season at Phoenix Raceway and features the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series and ARCA Menards Series. Phoenix Raceway will once again host NASCAR Championship Weekend, November 8-10. During the action-packed, three-day event, champions will be crowned in the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series, NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series and ARCA Menards Series West. Phoenix Raceway also hosts a variety of events throughout the year, including concerts, corporate meetings and conferences, charity events, weddings, holiday events, sport and endurance competitions, and driving schools. For more information, visit www.PhoenixRaceway.com and download the new NASCAR Tracks App at www.phoenixraceway.com/nascar-tracks-app/.

About NASCAR

The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States and owner of 14 of the nation’s major motorsports entertainment facilities. NASCAR sanctions races in three national series (NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR Xfinity Series™, and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series™), four international series (NASCAR Brasil Series, NASCAR Mexico Series, NASCAR Canada Series, NASCAR Whelen Euro Series), four regional series (ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East & West and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour) and a local grassroots series (NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series). The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series. NASCAR also owns Motor Racing Network, Racing Electronics, and ONE DAYTONA. Based in Daytona Beach, Florida, with offices in five cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races annually in 12 countries and more than 30 U.S. states.

For more information visit www.NASCAR.com and www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, X and Snapchat.