MOORESVILLE, N.C. – North Carolina’s NASCAR Technical Institute is marking its 20th anniversary this year. 

The NASCAR Technical Institute prepares students for careers in a variety of skilled trades, including racing, welding and computerized machining. Campus leadership said it is the only technical school endorsed by NASCAR and has produced about 14,000 skilled trades graduates over the last two decades. 

Instructor Scott Kazura said he was a member of NASCAR Tech’s first graduating class. Coming back to teach is a full-circle moment, and he is proud to be a part of the school’s history. 

“It got me my foot in the door in racing when I graduated in 2003, then it’s been great coming back here now. Being able to pass my knowledge on to the next group of students coming through and the next wave of students getting into the sport,” Kazura said. 

Veteran and student Brady Horton is part of that next wave. He started learning about cars as a young child, thanks to hanging out at his uncle’s garage and growing up around dirt track racing. He works at a dealership and is preparing to take the last class standing between him and graduation.

Horton’s professional dreams include working in drag racing and opening his own transmission shop. He enjoys building upon the education his uncle started when he was a young child. 

“I’ve been able to learn what I’ve learned from him, and apply it here and grow it from here to take back and be able to teach him a little bit,” Horton said. 

The NASCAR Technical Institute continues to grow and will offer a new robotics and automation program starting next year.