Welding students practice skills on donated race cars

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Welding students on the Davie Campus of Davidson County Community College are perfecting their skills using two donated Richard Childress race car frames.

The cars were driven by Jeff Burton and Clint Bowyer in Busch Series races, and owner Richard Childress donated the car frames to DCCC in November.

Students use the cars to practice various types of welding, giving them real-world experience much like the RCR welders employed at the Childress Racing Shop in Welcome.

So far, students have removed the sheet metal from the cars, stripping each to the roll cage and chassis. Next, they will replace the front and rear portions of the cars.

Job opportunities for skilled welders and fabricators are prevalent in the motorsports industry, with annual salaries beginning at $30,000. For more information on registration for welding and other courses, call the Davie Campus at 336-751-2885.