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February 25, 2014 - NASCAR Tech Student-Built Spec-Engines Take the Checkered Flag for Racers Competing in NASCAR K&N Pro Series East

NASCAR Technical Institute has been all over the speedways in Daytona this past week as NASCAR Tech student-built Spec-Engines won not one, but two races in a row, including the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East season opener at New-Smyrna Speedway.

Thanks to the handy work of Spec-Engine Instructor, Doug Wolfe, and a group of students from the Mooresville campus who helped build the cars’ engines, NASCAR Tech placed two teams in the top five at the NASCAR K&N Series season opener on February 16, including first-place winner Daniel Suarez in the Rev Racing Toyota and Lee Pulliam, who came in fifth, in the Hattori Racing Toyota.

Sunday’s win marked the second career victory for 22-year-old Suarez, who drove for Rev Racing and NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity. The season opener marked the series’ debut for Pulliam, two-time defending NASCAR Whelen All-American Series champion.

Just two days later, NASCAR Tech Spec-Engines again proved reliable as the student-built engines placed three cars in the top five rankings with three different teams at Daytona’s UNOH Battle at the Beach on the backstretch at Daytona International Speedway.

Daniel Suarez once again dominated the track in his NASCAR Tech Spec-Engine car, capturing his second first-place title in a row. His two-for-two record makes Suarez the first driver since Sean Caisse in 2006 to start a K&N Pro Series East season by winning the first two races on the schedule. 

“The car was really good tonight on the long runs,” said Suarez, referring to the NASCAR Tech Spec-Engine car that led him to victory.

Lee Pulliam also showed off the brains and brawn of NASCAR Tech students when his Spec-Engine car pulled full speed ahead to finish in fifth place.

Students at the Mooresville campus must earn the privilege to participate in NASCAR Tech’s elite Spec Engine Program by maintaining high grades and outstanding attendance and exhibiting professionalism. Once enrolled in the program, students work both in lab and in the classroom to learn the skills necessary to successfully build engines for competition. This unique program allows students to further develop their skills in preparation for entry-level technician jobs within the auto racing industry.

In addition to those engines in Suarez’s and Pulliam’s cars, NASCAR Tech had eight more student-built Spec-Engines entered in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East. Among them is the NASCAR Tech student-built Spec Engine found in the NASCAR Technical Institute Chevrolet, driven by Jesse Little, winner of the NASCAR K&N Series Rookie of the Year Award in 2013.

For more information on UTI’s NASCAR Tech campus in the Charlotte, North Carolina area, visit our website and stay connected on Facebook and Twitter.

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