(TOLEDO, Ohio – January 6, 2014) – Officials from the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) and the University of Northwestern Ohio (UNOH) announced today that the Lima, Ohio-based institute of higher learning has extended its contract as the official and exclusive educational university of the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards. The one-year agreements means the partnership between ARCA and UNOH is extended for the 12th year.
“UNOH is very proud to extend our agreement for the 12th year of our relationship,” said Steve Farmer, Vice President of Corporate Development for UNOH. “We have seen the program grow over the last decade to become the premier student internship in the world of stock car racing.”
UNOH and ARCA have a unique, long-term relationship that ultimately gives students from UNOH a chance to participate in real-world situations as crew members on an ARCA Racing Series team. More than 30 students annually participate in the university’s ARCA Race Club, a student-internship program that puts students on ARCA teams for a full 20-race season.
“Many of the young men and women that have gone through the ARCA program and working with the teams have gone on to fulfill their dreams and aspirations of working in the highest levels of the sport,” Farmer said.
The University of Northwestern Ohio is an entrepreneurial, not-for-profit institution of higher learning, preparing students for careers and productive citizenship that encompass the business, professional, corporate, and technological communities by providing quality education and training in response to the needs and aspirations of our constituents.
Founded in 1920, UNOH is a co-educational institution authorized by the Ohio Board of Regents to grant master’s degrees, baccalaureate degrees, and associate degrees.
In addition to internships and on-the-job training, the partnership between ARCA and UNOH also includes scholarships and other types of training. For example, UNOH has hosted a team of ARCA officials in the past, helping them prepare for duties like technical inspections at the diverse race tracks the series visits. Back in the classroom setting on the UNOH campus – located about 60 miles from ARCA’s home offices – students practice pit stops and receive more in-depth training in the automotive technology field.
“I can’t say enough about the program with ARCA,” said UNOH Automotive Division Head Steven Klausing, an instructor at the college. “We’ve had several students go on to careers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Truck Series.”
In addition, UNOH will continue to offer $10,000 in scholarship funding to eligible ARCA members, or their immediate family members. The offer is open to new students. More information can be found at http://www.unoh.edu.
“The ARCA/UNOH partnership is one of the most gratifying of any I’m involved in,” said Mark Gundrum, Vice President of Business Development and Corporate Partnerships for ARCA. “The program helps the students, it helps the teams, and it helps individuals who seek to continue their education through the scholarship. It’s a great program!”
UNOH has been an official company with ARCA since 2003.
The Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) is among the leading auto racing sanctioning bodies in the country. Founded in 1953 by John and Mildred Marcum, the organization administers more than 100 events each year in multiple racing series, including the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards, the ARCA/CRA Super Series, the ARCA Truck Series and the ARCA Midwest Tour, plus weekly racing at Toledo and Flat Rock Speedways.
