Building the Future of Motorsports Starts in the Classroom
IMSA and the Collegiate Racing Series are creating a stronger connection between higher education and the professional motorsports industry.
Motorsports is evolving faster than ever.
Technology, engineering, data, manufacturing, safety, business and race operations are all changing the way the sport is built, managed and experienced. With that evolution comes an increasingly important question:
How do we prepare the next generation of people who will drive motorsports forward?
That is where the partnership between the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) and the Collegiate Racing Series (CRS) becomes so important.
In August 2026, IMSA and CRS jointly established the National Advisory Board for Motorsports Education (NABME), bringing together industry and academic leaders to help strengthen the connection between what students learn in the classroom and what the motorsports industry needs in the real world.
For CRS, this partnership represents something much bigger than another industry relationship.
It represents the development of a true pathway into motorsports.
Connecting Education to the Real World
Students pursuing careers in motorsports need more than a degree.
They need opportunities to apply what they learn. They need exposure to real-world racing environments. They need to understand how teams operate, how decisions are made under pressure, how technology is applied at the track and how the many disciplines of motorsports come together to create a competitive organization.
That philosophy is already at the heart of CRS.
With more than 80 colleges and universities participating in the CRS program, students are gaining practical experience through the design, preparation, operation and management of race programs.
NABME builds on that foundation by bringing educators and motorsports professionals together to help ensure academic programs are aligned with the skills, experiences and professional expectations of the modern industry.
A Partnership Built Around Opportunity
One of the most meaningful aspects of the IMSA and CRS partnership is its focus on creating tangible opportunities for students.
As part of the initiative, IMSA will provide internship opportunities in engineering and partnership marketing for qualified students, subject to IMSA business needs and applicable policies.
That creates something incredibly valuable:
A direct connection between collegiate education and professional motorsports.
Students can begin developing professional relationships before they graduate. Universities gain greater insight into the skills the industry is looking for. And motorsports gains access to a new generation of talent that is already developing hands-on experience through collegiate competition.
The Future of Motorsports Needs More Than Drivers
When people think about the future of motorsports, they often think about the next great driver.
But the future of the sport will be shaped by thousands of people beyond the cockpit.
Engineers will develop the next generation of vehicles and systems. Data specialists will transform how teams compete. Technologists will introduce new tools and capabilities. Marketing professionals will build the next generation of fans. Business leaders will create new opportunities. Researchers and entrepreneurs will push the boundaries of what is possible.
NABME brings these disciplines into the conversation.
Its leadership includes representatives across engineering, race operations, manufacturing, safety, marketing and business, with objectives that include curriculum alignment, skills-gap assessments, experiential learning best practices and workforce pathway development.
That breadth matters.
Because building the future of motorsports isn’t about preparing students for one job.
It’s about preparing them to become the people who shape the industry.
Why This Matters to CRS
The Collegiate Racing Series was created around a simple but powerful idea: college students should have the opportunity to compete in motorsports at a national level while gaining meaningful experience that can help prepare them for what comes next.
The partnership with IMSA and the creation of NABME takes that mission to another level.
CRS is no longer simply creating opportunities for students to race.
It is helping create connections between students, universities and the professional motorsports industry.
That is the significance of this partnership.
The college-to-professional pathway that has existed for generations in other major sports has an opportunity to become a reality in motorsports as well.
And that future is being built now.
Read the Official IMSA Announcement
Learn more about the creation of the National Advisory Board for Motorsports Education and the IMSA + CRS partnership in the official announcement from IMSA.