/ Motorsports Management Course

Learn How to Work in Motorsports

In just eight weeks, you will learn marketing and sponsorship, team and driver management, and event and racetrack operations from Al Unser Jr.™ This comprehensive course will set you up for whichever part of racing you want to be involved in, and allow you to tap into an extensive racing network.

Motorsports is a unique part of the sports industry and requires a specialized education to thrive. That's why SMWW partnered with 2-time Indy 500 winner, Al Unser Jr.™ and 35 year motorsports veteran, Gary Ellis to lead this course. In it they will share the first-hand knowledge you need to succeed on-and-off the track.

After completing our Motorsports Management course, you will be ready to take the next step in your motorsports journey. Your knowledge will lap other job candidates and you can lean on our alumni network to secure warm introductions to potential career opportunities. We will also help you redesign your resume to showcase the new skills you learned and highlight that you have been taught & mentored by Al Unser Jr.™. Now that is powerful!

Graduates of this course now work in all levels of Motorsports, including Formula One (F1), INDYCAR, NASCAR, Tudor United SportsCar Championship, Sports Car Club of America (SCCA), Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge, National Hot Rod Association (NHRA), World Rally Championship (WRC) and World of Outlaws.

Plus, when you sign up for this course, you'll get a signed copy of Al Unser Jr.™'s book, "A Checkered Past"!

NEXT START DATE: September 16
Weekly Live Interactive Zoom Chats with Gary Ellis and Al Unser Jr.™

NEXT START DATE:
September 16

Weekly Live Interactive Zoom Chats with Gary Ellis and Al Unser Jr.™

TUESDAYS 6 pm PT 9 pm ET WEDNESDAYS 1 am GMT
8-week online course
Access to SMWW network
Resume enhancement
Ongoing career advice
Class size limited to 25 students

Mentors

Chania

TAKE THE FIRST STEP

Learn More About Becoming a Motorsports Management Student

We want to help you find the right course for your career. Fill out the form below and an SMWW Career Counselor will follow up directly with you.

CONNECT WITH A CAREER COUNSELOR

The SMWW Team will contact you
within two business days.

 

Why You Should Take Our Motorsports Management Course

Motorsports is a global industry growing at a record pace.

According to the Motorsports Industry Association (MIA), the US market is currently worth in excess of $13.5 billion, with over 400,000 participants. In the UK, there are over 4,500 companies directly involved in motorsports.

The Motorsports industry is comprised of powerful business entities, like NASCAR, F1, and INDYCAR, with far-reaching influence and innovation. Our 8-week online course will train students on the business side of racing including:

  • Marketing
  • Sponsorships
  • Client Services
  • Driver Management
  • Support Organizations
  • Speedway and Racetrack operations
  • Venue logistics
  • Race team management
  • Motorsports Media
  • Event Management
  • Public relations
  • Non-profits and foundations
     
   
   
 

Motorsports careers are available at a variety of venues, race teams, sanctioning bodies, and more, students need a specific skill set to be considered for employment or get to the next level.

 

This course has opened so many more doors for me in racing than I could have on my own. Through this course, I've met PR directors, owners, and COOs of racing teams and sanctioning bodies… and I got a job at Dover International Speedway thanks to SMWW!  
- Lynn Sudik, Social Media Coordinator at Dover International Speedway

What You Can Expect From Our Motorsports Management Course

You don't have to turn a wrench to work in motorsports, in fact, there are more jobs available away from the garage than there are under the hood. The goal of our course is to train you for the myriad of opportunities behind the scenes of motorsports, from marketing to logistics to driver management and everything in between.

Our veteran mentors know exactly who is hiring when they are hiring and where they are hiring. That is your core advantage of taking this course, you'll not only learn the industry you'll also become part of our global network of people tied into the world of motorsports.
In the Motorsports Management course you will learn about:

  • Race Team Management
  • Motorsports Sponsorship
  • Race Promotion & Driver Promotion
  • Motorsports Marketing
  • Race Event Management
  • Public Relations & Media
  • Non-profits, Charities, and Foundations in the Racing Industry
  • Community Relations
  • Generating Revenue Through Ticket Sales
  • Client Services for Racetracks, Race Teams, and Sanctioning Bodies
  • Speedway & Race Track Operations
  • Driver Image and Media Relations
  • Legal Aspects and Legislation of Sanctioning Bodies
  • Race Track Management
     

If you are one of the millions of people who get hyped up just watching the exciting action of NASCAR, INDYCAR, F1, and NHRA racing then this is the course for you.

Sports Jobs This Course Will Prepare You For

Motorsports Management requires a versatile skill set, including business intellect, operational efficiency, marketing, and event management.
This cutting-edge course will prepare you to enter the world of motorsports management with a diverse array of skills that will qualify you for any of these roles in NASCAR, Formula One, INDYCAR, Sports Car Club of America (SCCA), Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge, National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) and beyond!

  • Motorsports Marketing
  • Race Management
  • Motorsport Sponsorship
  • Race Operations
  • Racing Team Management
  • Track Operations
  • Motorsports Public Relations &Communications
  • Show Car Coordinator
  • Race Day & Event Management
  • Business Development
  • Administration
  • Account Executive
  • Motorsports Charities and Foundations
  • Driver Management
 

This is a great course for anyone looking to gain a wealth of knowledge. This course provided me with the tools I needed to get my foot in the door of Motorsports. I love waking up and going to work. What they say is true. If you love what you do, you never work a day in your life. I am truly happy and I have this course to thank for.  
- Scott Rogers, Marketing Team, Don Schumacher Racing, NHRA

Meet Your Motorsports Management Course Mentors

Al Unser Jr.™

 Al Unser Jr.™ was born to race. Son of Al Unser Sr. Al Jr.™ knew he had big shoes to fill and he's been nothing short of amazing in doing so. Al Unser Jr.™ debuted as a professional race car driver in 1982 and Al quickly sped off to success by winning the Can-Am Championship in his first season. Al competed in his first Indianapolis 500 in 1983 and finished an impressive 9th for his first-ever start in the event. In the 1985 season of the CART Circut, Al lost the championship by one point to none other than his own father! 

The rest of the 1980s were successful for Al, who became the youngest-ever IROC Championship winner in 1986. Unser also won the 24 Hours of Daytona in 1986 and 1987. In 1989 Al was ready to grasp his first-ever Indianapolis 500 win, but a bump with Emerson Fittipaldi caused Al to spin out and Emerson won the race under a Caution Flag. Al didn't let that deter him though as he won the Indianapolis 500 in 1992 and 1994. Al won ABC's Wide World of Sports Athlete of the Year in 1994 in part due to his Indy 500 win and winning eight of 16 races of the season. 

Al retired from racing in 2009 and was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame in the same year. He was also inducted into the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame in 2007. Al released his memoir "Al Unser Jr.: A Checkered Past" in 2021.  Included with the textbooks for this course you will receive Al's book...autographed!

Gary Ellis

Gary began his career in motorsports broadcasting live radio reports from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.  Memorable interviews include Mario Andretti and IMS President, Tony Hulman.  His work also included sales and parade operations for the 500 Festival Association. Ellis enjoyed a successful career with Kellogg’s product sales, but stayed in motor racing, writing the original marketing brief that launched Kellogg’s 10+ year sponsorship of Hendrick Motorsports in NASCAR.  During this time, Gary developed and launched Kellogg’s first licensed merchandise retail program, providing retailers with NASCAR products and co-sponsorships on the Kellogg’s car. 

After managing several media campaigns for Kellogg’s, Ellis received an offer to join the newly-created CBS Promotions Group in Chicago.  While he managed many programs, the “The Stoli MiGs” jet air show team featuring Soviet-era MiG-17’s, is the most enduring.  Gary managed sponsor relationships with Stoli, later with Smirnoff, and successfully transitioned the jet team into The Patriots L-17’s, which continue to perform before NASCAR and IndyCar races at Sonoma Raceway and other air shows on the West Coast.

In 2010, Ellis launched a consumer products consulting company, guiding fledgling companies into retail distribution.  No longer bound by a corporate schedule, he joined IndyCar, traveling the world with the Timing and Scoring Team.  Along the way, he’s built new relationships with racing teams and renewed old ones.  Downloading transponder data for the Indy Racing Experience allows time for “bench racing” with Arie Luyendyk, Davey Hamilton, and the legendary, Mario Andretti, who now drives the two-seater for IndyCar.  And no, Mario doesn’t remember that first interview with Gary.

Guest speakers:

During our live interactive zoom video chats, you'll get the opportunity to interact with motorsport industry leaders, such as (guest speakers are not guaranteed):

Jon Koskey

  • Director, IndyCar Timing and Innovation
    • Designs electronic systems for capturing speed and performance data for IndyCar
    • Directs a team of people at each race to ensure that timing and scoring data is collected and shared with racing teams and other personnel

Brad Hockaday

  • Owner, Professional Motorsports Solutions
    • Provider of turnkey solutions for racetrack operations,  including deploying personnel and equipment
    • Starter, ARCA, and IndyCar

Michael Kitchens

  • CEO, Build the Track, LLC
    • Circuit Hawaii - the first motorsports track ever built on the island of Oahu
    • FIA Grade 3 motorsports complex
    • Former event manager at Kalaeloa Raceway Park
    • Former Media Director for Drift Session at Hawaii Raceway Park

Sheron Arnold

  • Booth Operator, IndyCar
    • Provides the “voice” of IndyCar Timing and Scoring during on-track operations
    • Monitors all of the cars, speeds, and positions around the track from a central location, and provides information to the T&S Team
    • Announces caution flags, and counts down to the green flag, white flag, and checker via radio to the starters and race operations

Rob McLane

  • Timing and Scoring Tech for NASCAR
    • Setup and operation of timing equipment for Sprint Cup, Xfinity Cup, and other series
    • Also works with Swiss Timing for other sports, such as swimming

Scott Gauger

  • Tire Manager, Meyer Shank Racing
    • Ensures that the proper tire compounds are used and that tires and wheels are properly maintained for MSR’s IMSA sportscar championship
    • A crew member for MSR’s IndyCar team for tire management and other roles

Tim Brown

  • Race Engineer, Juncos Racing
    • Car Management for IndyCar and Mazda Road to Indy Series

 

Course Details

Weekly Interactive Zoom Video Chats: A unique aspect of each 8-week course is the opportunity for students to participate in weekly, live interactive zoom video chats with fellow students, Gary Ellis, Al Unser Jr., and renowned guest speakers. Team executives, public relations directors, media experts, and speedway executives will occasionally participate in the live interactive chats to offer their input and expertise. Course participants will have the opportunity to interact and ask questions. This is a tremendous opportunity to network within the racing industry and gets to know your instructors and fellow students virtually.

Course Includes: All books, software, educational resources, press release samples, and sponsorship samples needed for the course. Included in your course fee is the contact information for over 1300 auto racing facilities, 330 sanctioning bodies, 62 racing publications, and 67 racing museums. We also include schedules for 215 race circuits. Add that to the SMWW Network of faculty and alumni and you’ll have so many in your corner!

Online Education: This innovative academic course is facilitated through a web-based educational delivery system. Students will enjoy the online discussion boards, weekly readings, weekly quizzes, course projects, and interaction amongst fellow motorsports business-minded students and faculty. All training materials needed are included in the course fee and will be shipped to your door.

Global Participation: SMWW students participate from over 163 countries. Courses have an international influence and instructors will cater assignments to specific countries or leagues. Countries with economic challenges are eligible for economic discounts.

University Credit Available: For additional fees to Fort Hays State University in Kansas, you may receive graduate or undergraduate university credit for Sports Management Worldwide's courses. Click here for more information.

Sports Career Conferences: Throughout the year, Sports Management Worldwide hosts Sports Career Conferences at a variety of sporting events. These are fabulous networking events that put SMWW Alumni in the heart of the action. Opportunities to meet and network with executives at levels of racing are facilitated. Visit SMWW Sports Career Conferences to learn more. SMWW Alumni receive discounts.

Advanced Certificates: Want to take your career to the next level? Our Advanced Certificates have been hand-selected by our team of sports industry experts to put you on a path to success. These bundles allow you to take advantage of our biggest discount available, by bundling multiple courses and becoming an expert in that field. Learn more about our Advanced Certificates here.

Military Discount: For those individuals who represent their country in military service, (active, reserve, or retired) we offer a discount. Thank you for serving your country! For more information on the Military Discount please Click Here.

Tax Write Off: (For USA Citizens) SMWW course tuition, books and supplies can be used for education tax credits. Save your receipts and consult with your tax advisor on how this applies to you.

Resume, CV & Cover Letters: SMWW will evaluate your resume and other vitae to create the best possible "first impression". The course's main objective is to develop a new generation of Motorsports executives by teaching skills and strategies that are unique to motorsports and racing industry jobs from business acumen.

Course Certificate & Resume Reference

Successful graduates of the Sports Management Worldwide courses will be sent an SMWW Certificate of Accomplishment. This certificate represents not only your achievements in the course but also demonstrates your personal commitment to self-improvement and the ability to "self-train" yourself for higher positions within the sports business industry.

In addition to your certificate, you will be given the stamp of approval by SMWW.

Resume Redesign Service

Acquiring the skills necessary for your dream sports career is only one part of the employment journey. Even with the required skill set, you still have to market yourself properly to attract the attention of sports industry employers. 

At SMWW, we’ll teach you the skills you need to thrive AND help you redesign your resume for optimal impact in the sports industry. We’ll help you craft a resume to highlight your new skills in Motorsports Management, including a reference from Gary Ellis, Al UnserJr., & Dr. Lynn Lashbrook while optimizing it to reach hiring managers searching online. 

We want you to become the next SMWW success story and will go to great lengths to help you get there!

THREE MONTHLY PAYMENTS OF $399

Or a single payment of $1,195

Includes all course textbooks and access to a web-based classroom. Shipping is additional.

PRICE IN  
APPROXIMATELY $1195

If we offer an economic discount in your country, it is included in the estimate above. Exact pricing including the discount is shown before you complete checkout. Payment plan options are provided during checkout.

PAYMENT METHODS:
Prerequisites: Must be 18 or older to participate and have a passion for sports.
CALL TODAY: 1-877-SMWW-NOW
(In the UK: 087 12884799)

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