28-01-2025
Winston-Salem State University looks to the Clash for a unique opportunity to learn
WINSTON-SALEM (WGHP) — Bowman Gray Stadium is in the last stages of getting prepared for the Cook Out Clash. Winston-Salem State University students have been getting an inside look at what it takes to put on a race at this level.
'It's always something that's been exciting. It's rather nostalgic for me. It's loud, it's fun, it's fast,' said Julian Murray, a junior at WSSU.
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It's been a dream for Murray to work in motorsports.
'After seeing Winston, which is my dream school, have this program, it was definitely like, 'Oh yeah, I'm definitely taking part of that,'' said Murray.
She's only three weeks in to the brand new program, NASCAR Campus Lab, where students learn the ins and outs of the industry just in time for the Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium.
Clay Harshaw, associate professor of the program, says this opportunity is truly one of a kind.
'I'm able to bring students up to the track because we're only a couple hundred yards away from the classroom and they can see what's going on,' said Harshaw.
A senior in the program, Devin Versteegen, has even started making connections on his own at the facility.
'I'm up here every day so I've seen them build I guess the safety barriers and everything so I've gotten to meet a lot of them people that I guess are operating on, creating this as a true cup series race,' said Versteegen.
Versteegen is different than most students because he doesn't just want to work for NASCAR, he wants to be on the track.
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'End goal is to be back in a race car at some point in my life,' said Versteegen.
Harshaw is taking his class to the clash to see what they're learning applied in the real world.
'Students are able to see some of the interworkings of what happens behind the scenes during an event,' said Harshaw.
'How can I apply this to my own race team?' said Versteegen.
'It's incredible to see, you know the transformation that this has taken on to get ready for it,' said Murray.
The hope is to bring those students here to Bowman Gray after graduation to work events like this in the future.
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