Why Universal Motorsports Team (UMT) Is An Exclusive Club
Want to immerse yourself in racing culture and the motorsports industry? Mooresville, North Carolina is the place to be!
After all, Mooresville is widely considered the epicenter of motorsports.
Known as “Race City,” it’s home to more than 60 NASCAR teams and it’s the permanent residence of many professional race car drivers.
It’s also home to the NASCAR Technical Institute (NTI), where people come from all over the country to prepare for a career in the automotive and CNC machining industries.
What is the Universal Motorsports Team?
NTI is more than just a training facility. It’s a place where race fans can work and learn together.
The Universal Motorsports Team (UMT) is a campus club at NTI that provides members with exclusive opportunities to volunteer on racing teams, network with industry professionals, serve the community and attend various club sponsored racing events.
Qualifications for Universal Motor Sports Team
UMT members must be enrolled in the NASCAR Technician Training Program and have completed at least two courses. The objective is to ensure that UMT fulfills its mission to provide a positive club culture that helps members reach career goals.
Why Daniel Rohrer Thinks UMT Helped Him Land a Dream Job
NASCAR Technical Institute graduate, Daniel Rohrer, believes that being a part of UMT helped him land his dream job with Penske Racing.
Of course, simply attending NTI or being a UMT member doesn’t guarantee you a job anywhere. But Rohrer believes it helped him meet the right people.
“After I found out about UMT, I joined right away, because I wanted to be in racing,” said Rohrer. “I volunteered as much as I could through UMT and quickly met people in racing who were willing to employ me.”
Close to a month before graduation, he received a job offer from Penske Racing, which was his goal all along.
Why Volunteering with UMT Was Critical for Rohrer
Sure, Rohrer admits that some volunteer opportunities were more exciting than others. But he emphasized that there is value in volunteering simply through being around industry professionals. That networking is important.
“They gave me several volunteer options and I did as much as I could after work,” Rohrer said. “From going to actual race teams that need help and learning a variety of different things, to going to events to help teen drivers learn how to drive safely.”
“No matter where you go there’s always people in racing!” Rohrer continued. “It gives you an opportunity to go out as a group and meet people in racing, and get your name out there and show that you’re willing to work to gain knowledge.”
Why Rohrer Believes Networking is Important
During his time in UMT, Rohrer also served as club vice president. He went from attending events to planning them for his fellow club members. As he sought out opportunities for the club, Rohrer had the opportunity to network with people in the industry, which expanded his career prospects.
Rohrer’s believes that the combination of his NTI training and UMT experience helped get him to where he is today—in the pits as a Front End Specialist and Front Tire Changer for Penske Racing IndyCar driver, Josef Newgarden.
Are You Interested in NASCAR Tech Training?
There’s only one educational provider in the country that offers NASCAR-endorsed training, and that’s NASCAR Technical Institute.
It’s a 15-week elective at our NTI campus in Mooresville, North Carolina where you can train in everything from fabrication, welding, and engines to pit crew essentials and aerodynamics. In fact, our Spec Engine program gives select students the opportunity to build engines that compete in NASCAR-sanctioned races.
Sound interesting? You can request info about the NASCAR Technician Training Program here.
