"Year One has been very impressed with the attitude, performance and job commitment of the Interns. I would not hesitate to hire any of them after they graduate from the program". David Alkaire, sales mgr. Year One.

"We have been involved with the internship program for the past four years, and have had very promising results". Steve Makin, Manufacturing Mgr. Elan Motorsports Technologies

"Our Interns have shown a willingness to learn, combined with the right attitude to accomplish the tasks they're given". Gregg Pitts, Warren Johnson Enterprises

"Our participation in the training and curriculum of the Motorsports Vehicle Technology program has yielded interns that can hit the ground running".
Paul Corner, Mechanical operations Mgr. The Richard Petty Driving Experience

BUD HUGHES 

Bud Hughes was the first instructor to join the Motorsports Vehicle Technology program and therefore a vital part of its early development. He continues as lead instructor and curriculum developer for the program. Bud has been teaching automotive technology for 19 years. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism and a Master's degree in Trade and Industrial Education. He has worked as a dealership technician, automotive machinist, engine builder, and race car systems fabricator. Bud is an ASE Certified Automotive Machinist and Technician. His racing background is in WKA sprint kart racing, NHRA drag racing, and stock car short track racing.

JESSE STRAIGHT

Jesse Straight started working with the program in 2005. He has been working in the high end composites industry since 2000. As a daytime technician for Elan Technologies, Jesse has been involved in building cars for the Champ Car Series, and the Star Mazda Series. He has also helped in the construction of several Indy 500 winning IRL cars, and the new Super League racecar chassis and composite components. He has been an important asset in the program's link with the composite industry as it relates to racing and aerospace.

BRITT PONDER

Britt Ponder entered the motor sports industry at age fifteen as a driver/owner and car constructor in drag racing in NHRA and IHRA competition. The result was many class wins semifinal and quarter final appearances that were the beginning of over thirty years experiencn racing which includes Go-karts, Stock Cars, Sprint Cars, Rally Cars, and Sports Cars. He recorded many wins in events such as the Valvoline Runoffs, American Road Race of Champions and the One Lap of America. For almost all his racing experience, Britt built and prepared the car as well as driving it to the finish line. Britt is also experienced as a driving instructor for Road Atlanta Driving School and Jim Russell Racing School in programs from basic corporate programs to race driver training.

In the early nineties he opened Ponder Racing Services to build, prepare and maintain race cars for customers while also advising them on their driving techniques; this business is still in operation today. He has also have served on the Advisiory committee for the MVT program.


JASON BARNES

Jason Barnes became involved with the Motorsports Vehicle Technology program soon after it started, while he was employed with Panoz Auto Development Company as a Vehicle Development Engineer. While working for Panoz he headed up the technical side of building over 100 purpose built race cars used in SCCA, NASA, and IMSA support races. He has a strong hands-on background in both the construction and maintenance of high performance street and race cars, with custom fabrication being his specialty. In 2006 he started Tubular Fabrication, a company that provides mandrel tube bending and custom fabrication primarily for the racing industry. At Tubular builds roll cages, custom headers, and other fabrication work that ends up on tracks in the US and abroad. Jason has an Associate's degree in engineering with 16 years experience in engineering positions. He now has over 20 years experience welding, fabricating, and wrenching on performance automobiles. Jason also worked with fabricator Jesse James on a flying car project. The project became one of the episodes of Monster Garage featured on the Discovery Channel.

BSI Racing - Spec. Miata building and track support

The Richard Petty Driving Experience - Mechanical operations, engine shop, and fab shop

Year One - catalog sales, parts counter, fab and build shop

Barry Grant Technologies - Carburetion manufacturing - machine operators

Ponder Racing Services - SCCA series- race care build and track support personnel

OPM Racing - Spec Miata - build and track support personnel

Kinetic Performance - Porsche race series build and prep. Custom H.P. street type cars

Wood Brothers Racing - Nextel Cup - fabrication shop

Motorwerks - Porsche race car build and track support

The Richard Petty Driving Experience - road crew, fab shop, engine and gear shop

Elan Technologies - Champ Car build facility, Star Mazda build facility

Flashback Motorworks - classic and exotic restorations

Lanier National Speedway - Track personnel

Pedragon Racing - NHRA Funny Car

Hendrick Motorsports - Nextel Cup - fab shop, post race teardown, and pit crew

Robbie Gordon Racing - Nextel Cup - fab shop, pit crew

Warren Johnson Racing - NHRA Pro Stock

Rod Fuller - NHRA Top Fuel

Krohn Racing - Daytona Prototype

SST Motorsports - Racing parts, accessories, and safety equipment

Germaine Racing - Craftsman Truck Series - fab shop and pit crew

PVM Racing - Radical Racecars and open wheel customer race car preparation

Comprent Racing - open wheel and Porsche, customer race car preparation

Robinson Racing Enterprises - Vintage race car and custom car fabrication

Vandergriff Racing - NHRA Top Fuel

Classic Design - custom car fabrication- fabrication shop personnel

Panoz Auto Development - High performance hand built street cars Panoz Esperante

Roush/ Fenway Racing - Nextel Cup, Craftsman Truck and Busch Series

Road Atlanta - Marketing, Pro Shop, corner workers, race day personnel

Port City Racing - circle track chassis, parts, car building and repair facility