Posted on Thursday, June 24, 2021
UNOH Student Mason Bevard (L) interns with Lucas Oil Late Models
Written by Contributing Columnist: Trey Becker
Have you ever thought about pursuing a dream that seemed unachievable? That is exactly what led Mason Bevard from Kendallville, IN to Lima, OH to attend the University of Northwestern Ohio. Although Mason’s passion for Motorsports started at a young age, he chose to pursue his education in the Robotics and Automation industry because he wasn’t sure he could be successful with a career in motorsports.
After completing his Robotics and Automation Technology Associate’s Degree at UNOH he decided he couldn’t ignore his true love of motorsports any longer. Mason enrolled in the High Performance Motorsports Technology program and joined the UNOH Motorsports Team. Mason made many new friends on the team and was able to take full advantage of any opportunity that presented itself.
When UNOH announced its new partnership as the Official Educational Partner of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, many students were excited to learn of the opportunities this would create. Mason was first in line to sign up for the Lucas Oil Late Model Student Intern program. The intern program paired students studying High Performance Motorsports with some of the top teams in the Lucas Oil Late Model Series!
Mason was teamed up with the #71 Lazy Days RV team of Hudson O’Neal at the Buckeye Spring 50 at Atomic Speedway. The night ended with Mason joining Hudson and the rest of his crew in Victory Lane! After making a great first impression on Hudson and team owner Roger Sellers, Mason was invited to travel with the team.
“I’ve heard a lot about the school over the years. Just being in the racing industry, you hear a lot about UNOH and the programs they offer” said Hudson O’Neal when asked about having a UNOH student intern on his team. “The good thing is just how qualified Mason was whenever he came. After he learned how we wanted things done, he fit right in. He is doing really well and picking up on everything really fast.”
We caught up with Hudson and Mason at the Show-Me 100 in Wheatland Missouri. After spending time on the road with a UNOH student we asked Hudson if he had any advice for someone looking to get into Motorsports. “A lot of it is about opportunity and UNOH offers [students] the opportunity to be a part of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series or Monster Jam or drag racing or wherever you want to go. UNOH can offer the opportunity to get inside of a team and be able to show your skills. It’s pretty awesome to be able to see a school prepare people like that!”
Thanks to the hard work and dedication of the entire team, Hudson was crowned Champion of the Show-Me 100. When asked about his experience with O’Neal Mason said, “I love it, this team has taught me so much and they have truly pushed me to the next level. It is unbelievable to travel up and down the road with such an amazing group that is just as passionate about this sport as I am. Winning a race as prestigious as the Show-Me 100 is truly indescribable, the energy and atmosphere of the Lucas Oil Speedway was second to none and made it feel so special.”
Category: Applied Technologies, Campus & Community
Keywords: Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, Mason Bevard