Two South Florida Schools Visit Homestead-Miami Speedway For Testing

David Ragan talks to the students about the sciences of NASCAR

While some of NASCAR’s biggest drivers in the Sprint Cup Series were testing at Homestead-Miami Speedway October 18 and 19, two South Florida middle schools were also visiting the track as part of their ‘NASCAR Pasta Challenge: The Science behind NASCAR Racing’ curriculum. The schools that visited were W.R. Thomas Middle School and Zelda Glazer Middle School from Miami.

A total of 43 seventh grade students gathered at the Pit Box, located in Speedway’s infield, to learn about the different sciences of NASCAR that are specific to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education. As the drivers made their rounds on the Speedway’s oval, the students learned about the key aerodynamic principles of racing, which includes NASCAR’s Three D’s of Speed — drag, downforce and drafting.

In addition, the students brought in their own miniature cars that they built out of pasta, so they could be judged by Homestead-Miami Speedway’s staff. There were 14 teams that were entered in the competition with each team being judged for the car’s functionality and design.

Seventh grade students designed their own race cars out of pasta

After the judging competition was over and a winner was announced, David Ragan, driver of the #23 Toyota Camry for BK Racing, met with the students to talk about how he began his career in motorsports. In addition, Ragan explained how his car performed in the day’s testing sessions and about the importance of having different testing opportunities throughout the year.

The visit from the students for NASCAR Testing comes in advance of Ford Championship Weekend which will be held at Homestead-Miami Speedway November 18-20. Tickets to Ford Championship Weekend can be purchased by calling (866) 409-RACE (7223) or visiting www.HomesteadMiamiSpeedway.com.