Built to Race – Inside UNC Charlotte

UNC Charlotte is the acceleration point of racing innovation. 

This May, UNC Charlotte is putting the pedal down. And the racing world is taking notice.

From the banks of NASCAR’s fiercest tracks to the sharp turns of real-world data analytics, Charlotte students and alumni are proving that the future of racing doesn’t happen by chance. At Charlotte, racing innovation isn’t just studied — it’s built hands-on every day.

Home to the renowned Alan D. Kulwicki Motorsports Laboratory, one of the nation’s top undergraduate Motorsports Engineering programs and a standout Formula SAE team, UNC Charlotte sits at the heart of the racing industry, just five miles from NASCAR’s biggest names.

That’s why when Charlotte students and alumni hit the track, they’re ready to lead the pack.

Here’s how they’re taking the fast lane to the future:

Lane 1: Speed on the track — Riggs’ big moment

This month, UNC Charlotte alum and rising NASCAR Truck Series star Layne Riggs ’24 takes on two of the sport’s biggest stages — with his truck, suit and pit proudly backed by his alma mater.

Riggs, a graduate of Charlotte’s nationally recognized Motorsports Engineering program, will race at North Wilkesboro Speedway May 17 and Charlotte Motor Speedway May 23 as part of Coca-Cola 600 Race Weekend. 

Currently, he sits ninth in the driver standings, with two top-five and three top-10 finishes in the first nine races of the 2025 season. It’s a powerful showcase of how UNC Charlotte’s spirit of innovation fuels success at the highest levels of competition. When Layne hits the track, he carries more than speed … he carries a legacy of excellence built here in Charlotte.

Start your engines – Niner Nation is headed to Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Lane 2: Next generation — Heather Hadley takes national stage

Photo credit: Chris Photography LLC

Speed runs deep at Charlotte, and Riggs isn’t the only Niner making headlines.

UNC Charlotte graduate and rising motorsports driver Heather Hadley is featured in the new Amazon Prime series “First to the Finish,” which spotlights the next generation of racing leaders. Hadley’s journey, from the classroom to the national stage, reflects the University’s growing impact on the future of the sport.

As racing evolves, it’s Charlotte alumni like Hadley who are leading the charge — pushing boundaries, breaking barriers and accelerating the future of motorsports.

Lane 3: Data-driven wins — sports analytics powers the future

At UNC Charlotte, innovation isn’t limited to the driver’s seat; it’s happening in the data streams and strategy rooms, too.

Students from the School of Data Science — the first standalone school of its kind in the Carolinas — recently partnered with 23XI Racing, the NASCAR team co-owned by NBA legend Michael Jordan. Their challenge was to harness real race-day data and sharpen performance on the track.

Through predictive modeling, pit stop analysis and strategy simulations, Charlotte students helped optimize split-second decisions that make or break a race. It’s real-world learning, built at race speed and it’s redefining what it means to win in motorsports today.

Whether it’s engineering race cars or engineering winning strategies, UNC Charlotte students are leading the future of racing innovation.

Full speed ahead

From the roar of the engines to the precision of the data, UNC Charlotte is proving that racing innovation happens at the acceleration point — where preparation, passion and opportunity collide.

Follow along as we cheer on Layne Riggs, celebrate Heather Hadley’s national series and spotlight the game-changing work of our sports analytics students.