Former NASCAR Technical Institute In Mooresville Expands Workforce development Programs
By Collin Huguley – Senior Staff Writer, Charlotte Business Journal
Universal Technical Institute-Mooresville held a ribbon-cutting event January 30 to celebrate its expansion to develop workforce for industries beyond motorsports. The trade school formerly known as NASCAR Technical Institute also honored a key partner that has embodied that evolution.
UTI-Mooresville has added new electrical, welding, and HVACR programs to its offerings. That is in addition to other programs focused on automotive technology, CNC machining, robotics and other skilled trades.
Doug Yates, CEO of Roush Yates Engineers and Roush Yates Manufacturing Solutions, has been a longtime partner of UTI-Mooresville. At today’s ribbon-cutting ceremony, Yates received an award for helping the school’s growth.
Yates in 2004 became the first to hire a student from UTI-Mooresville’s NASCAR program. He went on to hire 10 students that year. Yates was also the first to hire a female graduate of UTI-Mooresville. He has hired over 180 graduates in total.
Yates later partnered with UTI-Mooresville to help establish the CNC machining program offerings.
John Dodson, UTI’s vice president of business alliances and NASCAR, today recognized Yates as a pioneer in the motorsports industry and using its manufacturing capabilities to expand to other sectors.“He broke the mold,” Dodson said of Yates. “He is a world changer. And he is a great partner of ours.”
Roush Yates Manufacturing Solutions, which has significant CNC capabilities, is just a few buildings down from UTI-Mooresville. The company’s facility opened in 2018. Roush Yates is joined by Hendrick Motorsports Technical Solutions, Joe Gibbs Manufacturing Solutions and several other NASCAR-aligned businesses expanding further into advanced manufacturing.
“We needed those graduates,” Yates said. “That is what made our place. It is 189 graduates we have hired and employed and they have helped us build our company.”
UTI-Mooresville opened in 2002. The school’s first class graduated the following year. Nearly 17,000 students have graduated from UTI-Mooresville since its launch.
The 146,000-square-foot school at 220 Byers Creek Road includes 24 classrooms, 12 labs and 15 spaces that combine both functions.
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