Winners Circle Project

The Winners Circle Project is a year-long, immersive educational competition where high school students build their own racing organization from the ground up. Teams construct a Factory Five race car while developing a business team focused on marketing, branding, and visual communications. The competition measures success across three key areas: 1. Technical and Performance Metrics: Teams are judged on the car’s build quality by a college motorsports team and its performance on a professional race track, tested by real race car drivers. 2. Marketing and Business Acumen: Students execute year-long social media campaigns, design logos, create newsletters, secure sponsorships, produce commercials, and sell their car at the end of the year to fund the following year’s program. These efforts are judged at year-end by business industry professionals on their creativity, strategy, and impact. 3. Virtual Racing Simulator: Each schools car is uploaded into a Trakracer simulator, selecting racers each month to compete in virtual races. Points earned contribute to the overall standings and require strategic planning to maximize performance. The overall champion isn’t just determined by the best-built car. Teams must also demonstrate excellence in marketing and virtual racing to be crowned the winner and hold up the prestigious Michael Spencer Award. Success depends on creating the most well-rounded and effective racing organization, excelling in every aspect of the program. Beyond the competition, the program incorporates a Life Skills class, equipping students with tools to design futures they’re excited about—whether through college, a trade, or entrepreneurship. The Winners Circle Project isn’t just about building cars; it’s about building futures. By fostering technical expertise, entrepreneurial thinking, and holistic growth, we empower students to become tomorrow’s innovators, leaders, and changemakers.