Camp 95- Thrive For The Future

                                                      I'm in the front with the jeans.

Camp 95 In Review from my Point Of View

As I walked into Roush Yates Engines I knew I came a long way for something truly amazing, An Idea that showed kids my age what makes NASCAR the most spectacular sport in the World. On June 16, 2015 Me and 18 other High School Students attended Leavine Family Racings Inaugural Camp 95, Held the day after my birthday, I viewed this as a personal opportunity to learn the different careers and aspects to what makes a NASCAR team tick each and every week, either at the racetrack or at the race shop.  There are thousands of Jobs available in NASCAR, and many of those jobs were highlighted and put into detail for each and every one of us, spanning the US from New Mexico to New York! The Future for NASCAR is looking very good as introductions happened. There were teens interested in the Business side of it and there were some who were interested in the
production side of it. Some of us, including me, are interested in anything possible to get our feet in the door. But we all came with one goal in mind and that was to Learn and Thrive for what could make our dreams a reality.

The information side of Camp 95 began with LFR’s crew chief Wally Rogers who taught us the many technology aspects behind NASCAR. He showed us the many pieces and parts that make a NASCAR. Wally who has been with LFR since 2011 was one of the few people a part of LFR I had not met was very friendly to everyone and even answered questions we had. Next was Michael McDowell and a surprise guest, Trevor Bayne both coming from different backgrounds, had very insightful speeches. Michael who explained how you get a sponsor to like you, well it’s not that easy but, Michael attracts Thrivent Financial and longtime sponsor K-Love Radio, both deep with the Christian Faith. Trevor talked about how you never know who you are talking to so treat everyone as if you were talking to Bob Leavine or Jack Roush and if you do that opportunities will come. Next came representatives from Roush Yates Engines and they told us about their backgrounds and how they got where they are today. Jeremy Lange VP of LFR told us about the business aspect of NASCAR. Corporate Sponsorships, Where Sponsors can and can’t go, and the difference in Primary and Associate Sponsors highlight the things he taught us. He also doesn’t know much about the NASCAR racecars in the mechanics side of it, which rose eyebrows in the crowd from certain people but he does very well with the job and he executes a great race ethic each and every week. He also told us about how sponsor negotiations normally begin and get finalized the season before . Nealie Stufflet who is LFR’s PR representative, Taught us the different ways a PR representative represents the driver and the different ways she communicates with the Media.

Out of all these professions the PR rep. really reached out to me. I love the idea that you get to talk to all these people about one thing. NASCAR. It’s something I absolutely love and want to share with other people and make it a better place for future generations. I am willing to do anything to get to that position and maybe higher positions. Thank you for reading this, I hope it was very insightful on what happened during the Inaugural Camp 95! (Koelle, 2015)