Close to 165 students and faculty from Hanahan High School in Charleston, South Carolina gave a warm welcome to reigning NASCAR Cup Series Champion Kyle Larson and his crew chief Cliff Daniels when they arrived on campus early Friday morning.
What they didn’t know was that the duo, along with six general managers from our Charleston dealerships, were there to present their school with a $25,000 grant to broaden student accessibility to STEM-based programs.
The grant initiative – Hendrick, Get Set. Go! – is in its second year of investing in STEM-based educational projects and Friday’s presentation is the second of four stops on the 2022 tour.
Select schools in areas close to a race track and Hendrick Automotive Group dealerships are awarded $25,000 to say “Go!” to an education project that expands access and interest in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math, and future careers to students from all backgrounds. HGSG events use the excitement of racing to engage students, and introduce them to the high-tech side of the sport and even the automotive industry.
Students began their morning by filing in to the school’s theatre where they watched a brief video about Hendrick, Get Set. Go! before the large video screen was lifted to reveal Larson and Daniels, who walked out to a crowd that erupted in cheers.
The driver and crew chief of the No. 5 HendrickCars.com team then entered into an elongated question-and-answer session where they took crafty questions from students, including funny moments the duo have experienced together, requirements for becoming a NASCAR driver and crew chief, how Larson mentally prepares for a race, the differences in pit tools used in NASCAR and racing projects the duo are most proud of.
From there, Larson and Daniels were treated to a tour of Hanahan High School’s automotive technology department by the automotive technology students themselves. In return, the students were delighted to see Larson’s No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet sitting in the middle of the large garage, which happened to be the team’s back-up car they transported to Phoenix Raceway last year when they raced for the championship.
In his element, Daniels spent time with the students showing them around the race car and explaining different technical elements underneath the hood and inside of the car while Larson interviewed with the school’s internal news team -- Hawks Eye News. Four student reps interviewed this year’s two-time race winner and playoffs contender, including one student whose dream is to one day cover NASCAR professionally.
The impact Larson and Daniels had on the students was not only positive but one that will help take the automotive technology students’ learnings to the next level, thanks to the $25,000 Hendrick, Get Set. Go! grant.
“It means a lot because you feel like you are having an impact on the future of these students,” Larson said. “Having us here today might spark their interest a little bit more whether working in the racing industry or becoming a technician at a Hendrick dealership someday.
When asked his thoughts about the automotive technology department, Larson simply stated “awesome.”
“I wish I had something like this in my school growing up where I could learn how to work on things, how to fix things and I truly feel it would have made me a better race car driver today because I would have a better understanding of the cars.”
So far this year, Hendrick, Get Set. Go! has awarded $50,000 in grants on its way to donating $100,000 in total grant money. Harmony Elementary School in Buford, Georgia was the first school in 2022 to receive a $25,000 grant.
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