2013 BioMoto Pit Crew Challenge

2012 Pit Crew Challenge Competitors
Photo: NCBiotech Center/Chad Mitchell Photography

Through a $300,000 grant from the Golden LEAF Foundation, middle school students from Cabarrus County, Kannapolis City, Richmond County, and Rowan-Salisbury Schools are taking part in the BioMoto STEM Challenge. 

The students are getting a chance to look at science through fitness from a pit crew's perspective. The two-semester program is teaching students how to use STEM (science, technology, engineering & mathematics) skills to improve their mental and physical fitness in preparation for their own Pit Crew Challenge at the Rockingham Dragway, otherwise known as "THE ROCK."

Last October, more than 250 students made their way to the North Carolina Research Campus (NCRC), in Kannapolis, to kick off the program’s second season.

The three-year program is a collaborative educational initiative underwritten by Golden LEAF and guided by the North Carolina Biotechnology Center’s Greater Charlotte Office and the North Carolina Motorsports Association. 

More than 1,500 students from at least 12 North Carolina school districts are expected to have participated in the program by this time next year.

Students learn about science behind sports

A comprehensive “body and mind” endeavor, BioMoto is designed to mirror the functions of actual pit crews and teach students the significance of STEM disciplines, nutrition and physical fitness, as well as teamwork and creativity.

These students undergo fitness testing at the Appalachian State University Human Performance Laboratory, where they learn about the importance of nutrition and physical fitness in being a successful athlete.

“In addition to the STEM curriculum taught by BioMoto coaches, students are benefitting immensely from the physical fitness components of the program,” said Corie Curtis, BioMoto program director and executive director NCBiotech’s Greater Charlotte Office. “During year one of the initiative, the average student showed improvement in all fitness areas measured.” 

Fun tours and learning too

Though it’s not directly linked to NASCAR, BioMoto gives students the opportunity to tour local NASCAR landmarks, including Hendrick Motorsports, UNC Charlotte’s Alan D. Kulwicki Motorsports Laboratory and the one-of-a-kind rolling-road wind tunnel at Windshear, Inc. 

The curriculum culminates with students participating in the BioMoto Capstone Competition, featuring a student design challenge and modified pit stops using real stock cars.

Second season a roaring success

Last October, more than 250 students made their way to the North Carolina Research Campus (NCRC), in Kannapolis, to kick off the program’s second season.

The season culminated with the pit crew challenge, held March 2, 2013 at Rockingham Dragway. More than 500 students, educators, supporters and staff were on hand to watch students put what they had learned to the test.

Students from middle schools across the state competed for various awards throughout the season and at the season-ending Pit Crew Challenge. The winners of the BioMoto STEM Challenge 2013 are as follows:

BioMoto Grand Champion (overall winner) 2013

  • Daytona — STEM Coach Mark Burr, Hamlet Middle School, Richmond County Schools.

Pit Crew Challenge 2013

  • 1st Place: Jackety — STEM Coach Milton Matheny, Corriher-Lipe Middle School, Rowan-Salisbury Schools.
  • 2nd Place: Sonic Stingers — STEM Coach Milton Matheny, Corriher-Lipe Middle Schools, Rowan-Salisbury Schools.
  • 3rd Place: Talladega — STEM Coach Mark Burr, Hamlet Middle School, Richmond County Schools.
  • Honorable Mention: Daytona — STEM Coach Mark Burr, Hamlet Middle School, Richmond County Schools.

Invention Showdown 2013

  • 1st Place: Jackety — STEM Coach Milton Matheny, Corriher-Lipe Middle School, Rowan-Salisbury Schools.
  • 2nd Place: Nascar — STEM Coach Christopher Dennis, Rockingham Middle School, Richmond County Schools.
  • 3rd Place: Sonic Stingers — STEM Coach Milton Matheny, Corriher-Lipe Middle Schools, Rowan-Salisbury Schools.
  • Honorable Mention: Titan Terminators — STEM Coach Kurt Lawrence, Northwest Middle School, Cabarrus County Schools.

Peak Body 2013

  • 1st Place: Green Cables — STEM Coach Tiffany Green, Kannapolis Middle School, Kannapolis City Schools.
  • 2nd Place: Team Reach — STEM Coach Tim Downing, Kannapolis Middle School, Kannapolis City Schools.
  • 3rd Place: Pit Warriors — STEM Coach Christopher Dennis, Rockingham Middle School, Richmond County Schools.
  • Honorable Mention: Edward the Unicorn — STEM Coach Rachel Holinsky, C.C. Griffin Middle School, Cabarrus County Schools.

Peak Mind 2013

  • 1st Place: (tie) Daytona & Talladega — STEM Coach Mark Burr, Hamlet Middle School, Richmond County Schools.
  • 3rd Place: MONSTAZ INC. — STEM Coach Benny Leviner, Ellerbe Middle School, Richmond County Schools.
  • Honorable Mention: (tie) EZ Ryderz — STEM Coach Benny Leviner, Ellerbe Middle School, Richmond County Schools & Flaming Dragons — STEM Coach Tracy Lecompte, J.N. Fries Magnet School, Cabarrus County Schools.

Special Awards

  • Team Spirit Award: (tie) Flaming Dragons & Panda-Monium — STEM Coach Tracy LeCompte, J.N. Fries Magnet School, Cabarrus County Schools.
  • Clean Green Machine Award (for design apparatus costing the least - donated/recycled materials encouraged): G-Force — STEM Coach Sheryl Troutman, C.C. Griffin Middle School, Cabarrus County Schools.
  • Watson Vande Garde Award (for design deemed most patentable as judged by two patent attorneys): Daytona — STEM Coach Mark Burr, Hamlet Middle School, Richmond County Schools.
  • The winners of the BioMoto Video Award, which is a competition for student-made videos of their experiences in the BioMoto STEM Challenge, will be announced by the end of April.

 

 

 

Check Out the Action from Last Year's Event 

North Carolina Research Campus: BioMoto 

​NC Biotech Center: First BioMoto STEM Challenge a Winner

NC Biotech Center: STEM Challenge Kicks Off Second Season

NC Biotech Center: BioMoto, NCRC Collaboration Awards

 

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Date
-
Address

Rockingham Dragway
2153 US Hwy 1 North
Rockingham, NC 28379

Map and Directions

Cost
Free
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