PROGRAM NEWSLETTER
Volume 1 Issue 1 – Summer 2011
Message from Dr.Teague
Written by Dr.Travis Teague, Program Coordinator
Dr.Teague during the
Mayhem Before The Madhouse Event
I hope that this newsletter finds you doing
are able to participate in are in direct pro-
well! We are grateful for a very busy year
portion to the doorways that our advisory
for the Motorsport Management program
council and other industry professionals
here at WSSU. As the articles and program
have opened for us…and for that we are
highlights within the newsletter will attest,
very grateful!
our program students have been able to
IN THIS ISSUE
All Hands on Deck
2011 MSM Advisory
Council Luncheon
WSSU Night at
Bowman Gray Stadium
Mayhem Before
the Madhouse
2
3
4
5
The Best of Both Worlds:
Graduating with a Job 5
experience opportunities that are second
As you look over these stories and
to none and are no doubt preparing them
photographs, know that we remain as
for the sport. Whether we have been
committed as ever to producing top-rate
working operational-related duties with
employees who are prepared, committed,
track personnel at Martinsville Speedway
and ready to work.
or assisting International Speedway
Corporation or the IZOD Indy Car Series
Again, thanks for all you do! If you are in-
with marketing research, we are confident
terested in beginning or furthering your (or
that our students are gaining first-rate
your company’s) relationship with us and
experiences, along with the accompanying
want to be a part of the WSSU Motorsport
classroom education, that will enable them
Management team, please know that we
to be contributing managers in the near
are ready to partner!
future.
Wishing you much success!
The only way we could achieve such
opportunities is through the generous
support of our industry partners and
2010-2011 Experiential
Learning Opportunities 5
committed individuals who are making a
Dr. Travis Teague
difference for the motorsport profession
Program Coordinator,
of tomorrow. The experiences our students
Motorsport Management
All Hands on Deck:
The Shell Oil Fuel for Success and
Eco-Marathon Experiences
Written by Rebecca Searcy, Freshman
Rebecca and Janelle with their pit tour group
during the Fontana FFS program
It has been a very busy and exciting year
able to take some middle and high school FFS
States focusing on green initiatives, primarily
for the students in the Winston-Salem State
students from the area to the NASCAR Sprint
fuel efficiency. The WSSU MSM students were
University Motorsports Management (MSM)
Cup race at Auto Club Speedway. The FFS kids
able to work as event operations personnel
program. Students have had the opportunity
were able to meet and have their pictures
throughout the week providing event support
to work at Izod Indy Car, NHRA, and NAS-
taken with the driver of the #22 car, Kurt
for the participating teams. Our students
CAR events here in North Carolina as well as
Busch! Kurt then took a few minutes to sign
worked hard for the five days there and as-
in Virginia, California, Indiana, Illinois, Texas and
autographs and speak to the kids one-on-one.
sisted with many duties from hospitality, to
Toronto, Canada.
As part of the FFS program, WSSU students
social media, to facility operations. It was
then split the kids into groups and took them
a busy five days, but the experiences were
Students have been involved with projects
on tours of the garage area and from there to
invaluable for all involved. Looking forward to
that have provided them with real hands-on
the pit road where everyone was able to see
helping again next year!
experience working on marketing, public rela-
the driver introduction ceremony, up close
tions, and sponsorship related projects with
and personal. Needless to say, everyone was
Shell Oil has provided our program with many
Shell Oil.
excited about the experience! The kids were
opportunities to gain experience and knowl-
great and did not hesitate to ask questions.
edge within the industry. We would like to give
Students assisted this Spring with Shell’s
Some of the older kids even expressed an
a special thanks to Heidi Massey-Bong, Senior
Fuel for Success (FFS) program at Auto Club
interest in the motorsports industry and were
Business Advisor at Shell Oil Company, and
Speedway in CA and also with the Shell Eco-
excited to learn about some of the things
her team, from both Shell Oil and Sport Di-
Marathon in Houston, TX. The FFS program
that we as students are able to do as part of
mensions, for being so helpful and invested in
is a pre-college initiative created to enlighten
the Motorsports Management program at
what we are working to accomplish within the
middle and high school students about careers
Winston-Salem State University. Perhaps we
Motorsport Management program. Everyone
and education in the motorsport industry.
will be seeing some of these faces again!
at Shell Oil has been willing and able to share
Six MSM students were able to fly out to
their knowledge and experiences with the
Fontana, California where they worked with
Several MSM students involved were also
students, and we are very grateful. So, in clos-
local police officers and boy’s and girl’s club
privileged to attend and work at the Shell Eco-
ing, we in the WSSU MSM program would like
representatives to share Shell’s FFS pro-
marathon event in Houston, Texas. This event
to say that we are very excited about what we
gram. As part of the weekend program, MSM
is a major competition between engineering
have accomplished this year and are equally
students served as FFS ambassadors and were
students from campuses all over the United
excited about what the future holds!
Winston-Salem State University students and Fuel For Success participants in Fontana, CA
2
WSSU Motorsports Management – Program Newsletter – Volume 1 Issue 1 – Summer 2011
2011
MSM
Advisory
Council
Luncheon
Written by Theo Searcy, Junior
On March 31, 2011 the Winston-Salem
As in previous years, MSM students pre-
State University Motorsports Man-
pared comments to share with the 2011
agement program hosted its annual
luncheon attendees. This year’s speak-
Advisory Council luncheon and business
ers were Rebecca Searcy and Chase
meeting at the Bowman Gray Stadium
Rushing, who both shared their experi-
Field House. Each year, professionals
ences as students in the WSSU Mo-
from the motorsports industry join the
torsports Management program. The
WSSU Motorsports faculty and stu-
luncheon also featured student projects
dents on campus for a formal luncheon.
on display for attendees to view. This
was a great way for council members
The Advisory Council luncheon is a
to see just how much the information
unique and exciting opportunity for
and feedback they provide benefits the
students to meet and gain knowledge
students in the classroom.
from top professionals in the motors-
Chase Rushing, sophomore, speaking about
his experiences during the 2011 MSM
Advisory Council Luncheon
ports industry. It was an honor to share
The students in the Motorsports Man-
a table and discuss motorsports topics
agement program are very fortunate
with Richard Childress and Cliff Pennell,
to have an advisory council composed
two well-known leaders from within the
of such high level business men and
industry. They shared their thoughts
women from the motorsports industry.
with us about what it takes to be suc-
So much of the input they provide helps
cessful in the motorsports business,
to lay the groundwork necessary to
and how important it is that we take
build a successful program. As always,
full advantage of the opportunities that
their invaluable knowledge continues to
the WSSU Motorsports Management
steer us in the right direction, and we
program has to offer.
are very appreciative of their support!
2011 Advisory Council Luncheon and Business Meeting Attendees
Left to right: Dr.Travis Teague,WSSU; Ed Berrier, Cardinal Motorsports;
Missy Dale, Motorsports Authentics; Dawn Harris, NASCAR; Cliff Pennell, Stonebreaker;
Dr. James Hand,WSSU; Gray Garrison,Winston Salem Speedway Inc.;
Heidi Massey-Bong, Shell Oil; Richard Childress, Richard Childress Racing
WSSU Motorsports Management – Program Newsletter – Volume 1 Issue 1 – Summer 2011
3
WSSU
Night
at
Bowman
Gray
Stadium
WSSU MSM sponsored driver, Bryant Robertson, during qualifications at
Bowman Gray Stadium
Written by Zena Conway, Instructor
Each year the Motorsports Management
contributors to our success, acknowledge
race crowd with excitement when he
(MSM) program at WSSU hosts a race
new relationships, and create everlasting
called out the most famous words in mo-
night at the legendary Bowman Gray Sta-
memories for our guests and fans. Our
torsports, “Gentleman, Start Your Engines”
dium. Bowman Gray Stadium is known to
annual race night requires support from
over the public address system. The crowd
host nearly 17,000 fans per race. Naturally,
all MSM students and faculty members in
went wild with his words.
sponsoring a race is a great opportunity
order to produce a successful event.
for the WSSU MSM program because Bow-
The excitement of our special day spread
man Gray Stadium is also the headquarters
This year, our program was fortunate to
from the hospitality suite to the stadium’s
for the University’s one-of-a-kind program.
host WSSU’s own Nigel Alston, Executive
press box, to the stands scattered with
Director for Marketing, Alumni and Com-
WSSU students, faculty and staff members.
WSSU MSM Night at Bowman Gray Sta-
munity Relations, as our Grand Marshal.
WSSU Night at Bowman Gray Stadium
dium consists of several moving parts. This
Mr. Alston led the hospitality suite with
was truly a success.
is a time for our program to highlight key
finesse through his kind welcome and the
Students Jeff Oleen and Marcia
Tealer working the hospitality suite
during our race night
4
WSSU special guests before the race night festivities
WSSU Motorsports Management – Program Newsletter – Volume 1 Issue 1 – Summer 2011
Mayhem Before The Madhouse
Written by Zena Conway, Instructor
Ms. Zena Jackson Signing the “Good Luck”
Banner during the ‘Mayhem Before The
Madhouse’ event
On May 6th, the Hospitality Manage-
racing prizes (hats, hoodies, t-shirts, etc).
ment in Motorsport class executed its
While this event took place during exam
very first student planned and organized
period on campus, the MSM students
event to help publicize WSSU Night at
branded their event as an ‘exam break’
Bowman Gray Stadium. Their event
in order to give their fellow classmates
titled “Mayhem Before The Madhouse,”
a place to relieve their exam stress and
provided WSSU students, faculty and
anxiety. The event was truly a success,
staff the chance to have their pictures
and the hospitality management students
taken with the Bowman Gray Show Car,
did an excellent job in planning and ex-
race remote control cars for prizes,
ecuting this event. Mayhem Before The
play cornhole, sign a ‘good luck’ ban-
Madhouse generated awareness for the
ner to Robertson Racing, compete in a
program as well as for the main event –
design-your-very-own race car contest,
WSSU Motorsport Management Night
and participate in a drawing for various
at Bowman Gray Stadium.
2010 - 2011
The Best of Both
Worlds: Graduating
with a Job
Experiential Learning
Opportunities
IndyCar
Toronto, ON
Chicago, IL
Written by Zena Conway, Instructor
Diversity In Motion Camp (DIMI)
Winston Salem, NC
On May 14, 2011, The Motorsport
Management program at WSSU
NHRA
Concord, NC
Dallas,TX
celebrated the graduation of our very
own Leon Pruitt. Leon has already
landed a career within the motorsport
NASCAR
Charlotte, NC
Martinsville,VA
Fontana, CA
industry with Don Schumacher Racing
(DSR) as the Partnership Marketing
Manager for the US ARMY Top Fuel
NASCAR Track Services &
Security Summit
Concord, NC
PENSKE Racing
Mooresville, NC
Shell Eco-Marathon
Houston,TX
team. He has traveled all across the
United States with the US ARMY’s Top
Leon Pruitt, MSM Senior
Working at the Z-Max 4-Wide
Nationals
Fuel NHRA dragster, driven by Tony ‘The
Sarge’ Schumacher. We are very proud
of Leon and wish him well with his
future endeavors.
Contact Us:
Dr.Travis Teague, Program Coordinator
336.750.3266
teaguetr@wssu.edu
www.wssu.edu/motorsports
WSSU Motorsports Management – Program Newsletter – Volume 1 Issue 1 – Summer 2011
Find us:
WSSU
Motorsport
Management
5