HOUSTON (April 11, 2019) - Lone Star College-North Harris (LSC-North Harris) auto technology student Cesar Gonzales is one of 17 specially qualified students attending the National Hot Rod Association SpringNationals on Friday, April 12, in Baytown, TX. The LSC-North Harris students will meet racing industry officials, pit crews and enjoy a special insider’s tour at the NHRA race. The event is part of the Mopar Career Automotive Program (CAP) from Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA).
“This is an amazing opportunity for me and the other students,” Gonzales said. “Before attending Lone Star College, I would have never dreamed of getting a chance like this. Speaking directly to people so far up in their racing careers is super inspirational.
Gonzales also noted the Hot Rod SpringNationals will be a great networking opportunity for students. “This is a chance to rub elbows with people well placed in the industry, and they may provide employment leads,” he said. “And with this visit, getting so close up to the NHRA professionals, I hope to learn and grow my knowledgebase thereby making myself even more attractive to employers.”
Chosen for their skill, knowledge and love of the sport, the LSC-North Harris students will receive a behind-the-scenes tour of the Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) pit paddocks and will have the opportunity to meet Mopar Express Lane Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Driver Matt Hagan, and Mopar Dodge Top Fuel Pilot Leah Pritchett and their crews. Hagan and Pritchett will host pit tours and visit with Mopar CAP students from LSC-North Harris to help kickoff the program’s “Assemble Your Future” initiative.
“We’re excited to launch the Mopar CAP ‘Assemble Your Future’ initiative and host our first group of technician students,” said Steve Beahm, Head of Parts and Service (Mopar) and Passenger Car Brands, FCA - North America. “This outreach will allow the technicians of tomorrow to connect with more than 10 dealerships from the Houston area for potential career opportunities.”
There are an estimated 750,000 working auto technicians according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Across the industry, another 46,000 will need to be hired between 2019 and 2026 to meet increased demand.
Gonzales said, “I’m really looking forward to the whole experience. Getting so close to the actual people and cars is going to be an amazing life experience.”
For more information about Lone Star College-North Harris automotive technology programs, visit www.LoneStar.edu/northharris.htm. For more information on Mopar CAP program, visit www.MoparCap.com
About Lone Star College
Lone Star College offers high-quality, low-cost academic transfer and career training education to 99,000 students each semester. LSC is training tomorrow’s workforce today and redefining the community college experience to support student success. Stephen C. Head, Ph.D., serves as chancellor of LSC, the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area with an annual economic impact of nearly $3 billion. LSC consists of six colleges, 10 centers, two university centers, Lone Star Corporate College and LSC-Online. To learn more, visit LoneStar.edu.
Mopar in NHRA
The Mopar Express Lane NHRA SpringNationals Presented by Pennzoil is one of two events at which the brand will serve as headline sponsor. Later this year, the Mopar Express Lane NHRA Nationals Presented By Pennzoil will roll into Maple Grove Raceway near Reading, Pennsylvania, on September 12-15, 2019.
About Mopar
Mopar (a simple contraction of the words MOtor and PARts) is the service, parts and customer-care brand for FCA vehicles around the globe. Born in 1937 as the name of a line of antifreeze products, the Mopar brand has evolved over more than 80 years to represent both complete care and authentic performance for owners and enthusiasts worldwide.