Milton Hershey School, Hersheypark, and World of Outlaws Collaborate to Enhance Student Experiences

Milton Hershey School and local sprint car teams came together on Thursday, May 11 for a day full of education and fun that culminated with the first-ever Hershey Sprint Car Experience.

The first opportunity began shortly after lunchtime when World of Outlaws professional race car drivers visited Career and Technical Education classes in the school’s Middle and Senior Divisions.

At Catherine Hall, MHS Middle Division students showed Outlaw drivers Brock Zearfoss and Carson Macedo a small lawnmower engine they took apart and reassembled. The students and drivers discussed the similarities and differences between engines found in lawnmowers and those that power mighty sprint cars.

“If we can just get one kid interested in motorsports, that’s one more we haven’t had,” Zearfoss said. “The class really enjoyed learning more about our world.”

Senior Division students learned lessons in history, auto mechanics, physics, and life from Outlaws drivers Gio Scelzi and Logan Schuchart.

The visit began with drivers sharing the story of their professional racing organization and its important role in the racing industry. The class then took a turn and focused on the unique composition of sprint cars compared to other types of race cars. The students knew a car’s wings, chassis, suspension, and engine are key visual components of the sport. Outlaws took time to explain the important role each part plays in making the cars drive around the track at top speeds.

Finally, the special visitors talked to students about life outside of the driver’s seat. They shared lessons on mental preparation and the importance of teamwork, as well as explained about life on the road as a traveling professional.

When class dismissed, hundreds of students headed to Hersheypark Stadium for the Hershey Sprint Car Experience, which celebrated modern-day racing while paying tribute to those who raced here 84 years ago. Hersheypark Stadium was once the home of the Hershey Stadium Speedway, which opened May 18, 1939.

The Hershey Sprint Car Experience featured 11 professional sprint car drivers, midget cars that once raced at Hershey Stadium Speedway, and quarter-midget cars that are used to introduce young children to the sport of racing. The event opened to the public at 4:30 p.m. and exposed race fans to the many educational and employment opportunities available at MHS.

“The partnership between MHS and World of Outlaws is amazing. We have a really unique program at MHS  where we teach our kids all about careers, opportunities, trajectories, and what you need to do to accomplish lifelong dreams,” said Nadine Krempa, MHS Senior Director of Enrollment Management.

Partnerships were a constant theme throughout the Hershey Sprint Car Experience as the use of Hersheypark Stadium was made possible by Hershey Entertainment & Resorts.

“Events like this help our community members understand what the mission of MHS is, which is to help kids lead filling and productive lives,” said Kathleen McGraw, HE&R Managing Director, Corporate Communications & Community Relations.

MHS students are able to gain hands-on experience by working in the pits alongside World of Outlaws drivers and their crews at the Williams Grove Speedway race. MHS encourages students to discover their passions through countless opportunities like our World of Outlaws partnership.