NASCAR Cup Series Playoff driver Chase Briscoe joined 30 local fifth graders at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Monday for the fifth annual Paint the Turtles STEAM event, ahead of the Oct. 3-5 Bank of America ROVAL™ 400 weekend.
As part of the speedway’s year-round STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) program, students designed and painted six-inch-high steel rumble strips that will be installed around the road course. The hands-on event has become a yearly tradition, blending classroom lessons with motorsports, while giving students the chance to leave their mark on the track.
This year’s designs highlighted North Carolina landmarks, with each school creating a one-of-a-kind “turtle” for the 17-turn, 2.28-mile ROVAL™:
- Faith Academy Charter School – Kitty Hawk
- Lawrence Orr Elementary – Charlotte Motor Speedway
- Our Lady of Assumption Catholic School – Blue Ridge Parkway
- Rocky River Elementary – Cape Hatteras Lighthouse
- Victory Christian Center School – The Biltmore Estate
“He (Briscoe) was telling us that he was surprised we were drawing the Biltmore house, and getting a photo with him was legendary,” Gabriel Hood, Victory Christian Center School fifth-grade student, said. “We’re painting The Biltmore, and we’re trying to make it as light as we can and make sure everyone can see it from the top seat. You’ll be able to see it (their turtle) from all the way over here, even if it’s all the way over there, because it’s so bright, so be sure to vote for it.”
Briscoe, who pilots the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Camry, helped students bring their artwork to life, while sharing how STEAM plays a vital role in racing at the highest level.
“It’s a really neat thing that Charlotte Motor Speedway does, bringing in local schools and bringing kids to the race track and let them see the race track and be part of the race in a sense,” said Briscoe. “They’re painting these turtles that we’re going to be running around and sometimes even hitting, so for them to be able to tune into TV or even come to the race and see their turtle live in person, it’s a pretty special thing. It was really neat to get to talk to those kids, some of them are obviously race fans, and some of them weren’t, but for them to have all the questions like ‘What even is a turtle?’ It was a lot of fun.”
The “turtles” first gained their name in 2018 when NASCAR on NBC analyst Dale Earnhardt Jr. compared the bright, six-inch-high steel kerbs to turtle shells during the inaugural ROVAL™ race. The 100-pound rumble strips will soon be bolted into place ahead of next month’s pivotal playoff weekend.
Fans can cast their vote for the best turtle design at www.charlottemotorspeedway.com/paint-the-roval-turtles through Oct. 3. The winning school will be announced on social media. As a reward, students will enjoy a special breakfast delivery from Lug Nut and the STEAM Team following this year’s race weekend.
TICKETS:
Bank of America ROVAL™ 400 tickets are available at www.charlottemotorspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-455-FANS (3267). Kids 12 and under get in all weekend for just $10.
MORE INFO:
Fans can connect with Charlotte Motor Speedway and get the latest news by following on X and Instagram, becoming a Facebook fan or downloading the Charlotte Motor Speedway mobile app.
