In an effort to expose STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) interns to the Motorsports industry and the art of building the 11,000-horsepower engine that powers the NHRA nitro cars, Kalitta Motorsports is partnering with Casey Putsch and Genius Garage at the upcoming U.S. Nationals. The 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Season resumes Aug. 30-Sept. 2, 2024 at the Toyota NHRA U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis – the final race of the regular season.
Three Genius Garage interns joined Mac Tools Team engine builder Brock Owens and the Mac Tools team at the Team Kalitta race shop in Ypsilanti, Mich., on Aug. 6 to build an engine for Doug Kalitta’s Mac Tools Toyota team. The reigning NHRA Top Fuel championship team will run the engine during qualifying for the U.S. Nationals on Labor Day weekend.
Earlier today, Genius Garage posted its story about the interns’ experience at the Kalitta Motorsports shop on YouTube via Casey the Car Guy with 216,000 followers. Putsch will make will post additional content in the days leading up to the U.S. Nationals.
“This relationship developed during Casey’s visit to the race in Norwalk (Ohio) when he joined our team as a social media influencer,” Team Kalitta General Manager Chad Head said. “Bringing Genius Garage STEM interns into our race team and possibly bringing some new talent into NHRA Drag Racing is a big deal for our sport – we can’t have enough talented young people entering NHRA, and if just one of these kids turns into a mechanic or an engineer, that’s big for the future of our sport.”
The Genius Garage mission is to bridge the gap between academia and industry to kickstart bright young minds’ careers. They create hands-on experiences for their students/interns. They are a 501(c)(3) public educational charity that relies on sponsorships and donations to fund its work. More information is here: geniusgarageracing.com.
“I am deeply honored to be working with Kalitta Motorsports and in being able to provide this opportunity to my Genius Garage students,” Putsch said. “This is an excellent opportunity to connect young talent with possible careers in Motorsports and the All-American world of the NHRA.”
At Indianapolis, the students will be on site Saturday, Aug. 31, and one intern will shadow a member of each of the three Kalitta Motorsports entries. The interns enjoyed hands-on NHRA engine-building experience at the shop, but this opportunity will let them see what happens at the race track and then during actual competition at the U.S. Nationals.
The interns taking part in this program are listed below:
- Ishan Allen, Arlington, Texas
- Pursuing Batchelor of Arts degree at Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio
- Background in film and sound design and shifting career towards motorsports.
- Enjoys sailing and rally racing
- Richard Wang, Orangeburg, N.Y.
- Graduated Magna Cum Laude from Manhattan College in Riverdale, N.Y. with a Master’s of Science in Mechanical Engineering
- Car guy who drives an older Nissan GTR
- Shannon Yankowski, Tampa, Fla.
- University of South Florida- Information Studies
- With A.I. taking over information studies, her career path is now her passion for motorsports technology.
- She has a C5 Corvette that she maintains, modifies and tracks
Putsch is a craftsman, artist, engineer and racing driver. As the founder and president of the Genius Garage Racing, Aerospace and Design Programs, he devotes his time to the education and professional growth of creative young minds.
This story was originally published on August 21, 2024. 
