By the time Stephen Coleman was 5, the roar of engines and rush of adrenaline had
him hooked on racing. He started racing go-karts at his local short track, moved into
working on a legend car at 12 and eventually took on the challenge of rebuilding a
NASCAR Modified from the chassis up before being allowed to race it. That early introduction
to motorsports sparked a lasting passion for mechanical design and engineering.
Now a junior at Jacksonville University, Coleman is pursuing his engineering degree as a student in the Cost Honors College. His academic drive matches his competitive spirit on the track. “Stephen is a highly motivated and intellectually curious student, the ultimate definition of an honors student,” said Dr. Lisa Sutherland, executive director of the Honors College and interim dean of the Davis College of Business & Technology. “He constantly seeks out more experience in areas he loves, like automotive engineering and racing and ties it back to his academic studies.”
This summer, Coleman landed a coveted role as an assistant engineer for Alpha Prime Racing, a three-car NASCAR Xfinity Series team. “It’s an opportunity that came through persistence,” Coleman said. “I sent more than 500 emails to race teams, industry professionals and NASCAR headquarters before securing the internship.”
It was an internship experience spent in the fast lane. “There was no set day-to-day,” he said. “One day I was tearing down and rebuilding cars, assisting crew chiefs with setups, working in the simulator with drivers, or designing and fabricating parts. On race days, I set up pit equipment, made adjustments between sessions, caught tires and fuel cans and handled mid-race repairs.”
One highlight came during driver Lavar Scott’s NASCAR Xfinity debut at Dover, where the team posted the third-fastest practice time out of 40 cars. “We beat some of the biggest names in NASCAR, including Connor Zilisch, Matt DiBenedetto, and Ross Chastain,” Coleman said. “That was unforgettable.”
“Stephen doesn’t just lean into opportunities provided to him, he makes opportunities for himself,” said Sutherland. “He’s constantly striving to be the best version of himself while supporting his classmates. I am beyond proud of his achievements.”
Coleman’s long-term goal is clear. “I want to become an innovative motorsport engineer who helps elevate the performance of every team I join,” he said. “This internship affirmed that motorsports is where I want to be. It’s competitive, it’s demanding and I love it.”
