NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Thanks to a collaboration between the Vance Family Foundation and the NHRA, there's never been a better opportunity to find a career in motorsports.

The foundation and NHRA worked together to create NHRA Launch - Motorsports Careers, an online portal that facilitates connections between individuals and companies within the motorsports industries for free.

It presents an abundance of exciting opportunities for job seekers, who now have access to find jobs in every area of the sport, whether it's working on a nitro team, a track, or a company within the industry.

"After looking at the Y.E.S program and seeing the thousands of people who are interested in learning about drag racing and what's going on in motorsports, I thought it would be a good opportunity to talk to NHRA about expanding it into a job portal where people could get placement for jobs if they want to be in motorsports," Terry Vance said. "I hope this gives people an idea of where they can look and isolate the things they're interested in and get a head start. I think it's a really good platform, and I'm excited to be involved in it and what the future holds."

The Vance Family Foundation's $1 million contribution fully funded the program through its startup and rollout, which took place last year. Heading into 2021, NHRA Launch has steadily grown with more than 75 positions from across the country currently listed on the portal. As the country moves out of the COVID-19 pandemic, NHRA Launch will serve as an ideal stop to find and apply for a large number of positions in the industry. 

The Vance Family Foundation's generous contribution gave NHRA the resources to facilitate connections between job seekers and employers within motorsports, opening up a wealth of doors for job seekers. Vance envisions NHRA Launch as an ideal starting point for the next generation of motorsports and automotive professionals, and the possibilities are nearly endless.

While it includes job listings for positions on race teams, NHRA Launch also features a great deal more, including race organizations, tracks across the country, and top manufacturers within the industry, as well as a massive number of career fields. 

"This is next-level stuff," NHRA announcer Alan Reinhart said. "If you're looking for a job on a team, you can go online and see what's there that fits your skill sets or abilities. It's also race tracks looking for personnel, manufacturers looking for personnel. It's not just for someone who wants to work on a race car."

Added Vance, "There's a lot of opportunities in our sport for people that want to be involved in the business of motorsports. It's not just washing clutch plates, it's the business of motorsports."

Vance was inspired to give the next generation of drag racing enthusiasts an abundance of new opportunities, making it far easier than ever to break into the industry.

In the past, he recalled the difficulty for someone to find a spot in motorsports, which is something he was determined to change.

"People don't have to wander the pits and hope someone is looking for their services," Vance said. "It's hard to get a job growing up and hope it turns into a career. The whole concept from the beginning was eliminating the need for having someone you know inside the industry to get placed. The Launch team is there to help answer questions and help direct them. It's a great place for people to end when they're deciding on their career path."

Senior Manager of Marketing and Research Mike Rau and Marketing Manager of NHRA Launch – Motorsports Careers John Baadilla are handling the day-to-day program operations of the program, working with both job seekers and employers.

The exciting part is seeing the strong support the program has received since its launch last year. Top names in the racing world — from teams, tracks, and manufacturers — have job listings on the free portal, and Vance believes that's only going to grow in 2021.

"The beauty of Launch is you can log in and see nationwide what's available to you," Vance said. "Launch is a really good platform at the right time. It gets the manufacturers and employees paired together, and this a place for [job seekers] to get involved in a sport or industry that they will truly enjoy being involved in. I wanted to have something available for people so they don't miss that opportunity.

"Launch is there for them to use for their benefit, and hopefully that gets them in the industry and they end up with a position they love."

Job seekers are welcome to explore the career portal available in the top ribbon, reach out to our dedicated staff via email launch@nhra.com, or call 626-250-2330 to receive résumé advice, interview coaching, and additional information on the program. Employers within the motorsports community looking to fill open opportunities should email launch@nhra.com or call 626-250-2330 to get on board.