On Friday, Feb. 28, HendrickCars.com drivers Kyle Larson and Rajah Caruth gathered with students and faculty from Crockett Early College High School in Austin, Texas, to celebrate Hendrick Automotive Group’s first Hendrick, Get Set. Go! grant event of the year.
The event began with an informative Q&A panel featuring Larson, Caruth, and local Hendrick Automotive Group technician Riley Rivera. Speaking with a group of aspiring technicians from the school’s auto technology program, they shared their journeys in the racing and automotive industries while offering advice to help students forge their own career paths.
The festivities continued inside the school’s auto shop with an engine-building demonstration. Students spectated as Hendrick Motorsports engine assemblers Kevin Webber and Joshua Speir constructed a 358-cubic-inch Chevrolet racing engine. The demonstration culminated with students firing up the engine, showcasing its power and craftsmanship to all those in attendance.
To cap off the event, Larson, Caruth, and Hendrick Automotive Group teammates presented a $25,000 check to the auto technology program at Crockett Early College High School. The funds will be used to purchase needed tools and equipment that help enhance the program’s curriculum and provide students with up-to-date training.
“This was impactful for our students for many different reasons,” said Crockett Early College High School Principal Shana King. “We have equipment that needs to be upgraded, and we need to make sure we’re training our students on the work that is actually happening in the real world today. So, having community partners step in and show their support really makes a difference."
When asked what the event meant to the students, King said, “Having Kyle and Rajah out here, no other student in Austin will get to say they had that experience today. Hearing them talk about their experiences and having actual mechanics and technicians demonstrating the skills that our students are learning, I think you saw a lot of light bulbs go off and passion reignited for what’s possible in their futures.”
Hendrick, Get Set. Go! is a grant program that uses the excitement of the HendrickCars.com racing program to spotlight science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education in the automotive industry, placing more students at the starting line of their future careers. Grant presentations bring together the racing program, local Hendrick Automotive Group dealership teammates, students, and faculty to celebrate their school and the high-tech future of the automotive and racing industries.
Since the program’s inception in 2021, Hendrick Automotive Group has announced more than 10 Hendrick, Get Set. Go! grants across the country, with over $280,000 donated.
Larson, driver of the No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet in the NASCAR Cup Series, has been on hand for all these announcements. For Caruth, driver of the No. 71 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Silverado in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, this was his first Hendrick, Get Set. Go! event.
“I place such a big value on being able to talk to kids, especially those in high school,” said Caruth. “Right now, I’m close enough in age to where I can have an impact when I speak to them. Any way we can expose racing to the youth is super important to me, and knowing that the entire Hendrick family has the same mindset is great. It was awesome to be involved, and hopefully it’s not my last because I had a blast.”
Hendrick Automotive Group currently operates two dealerships in the Austin market. Visit Hendrick Careers to learn about available career opportunities, and stay tuned for future Hendrick, Get Set. Go! news and announcements!
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