AYES Automotive Technician student Lucas Munroe is named 2005 Fonda Speedway Rookie Driver of the Year

AYES Automotive Technician student Lucas Munroe of Duanesburg was recently named 2005 Rookie Driver of the Year, Sportsman, by Fonda Speedway. Luke, who is also a junior at Schalmont High School, received his award and an impressive plaque at a recent banquet at Mallozzi's.

Luke races a Teo pro car which his family, all avid NASCAR fans, bought for him 2 years ago. Luke got his start racing go-karts, which he drove for six years before switching to driving Sportsman 2 years ago. His goal is to drive Sportsman for a few more years and then move up to Modifieds.

A first-year/junior in Career & Tech's AYES Automotive Technician program, Luke has an ultimate goal of racing and maintaining NASCAR racers. After completing the AYES program at Career & Tech in 2007, he would like to continue his education at  Universal Technical Institute's NASCAR technician program in North Carolina.

As an AYES student, Luke will work as a paid intern this summer in the service department of one of our area's auto dealerships. Meanwhile, to support his racing and desire to learn, he's worked at Jack Johnson's racing garage and at Hoffman's Car Wash and also learns from his dad, a mechanic with the U.S. Postal Service.

Luke's advice for others considering racing? "Go for it! It may seem impossible but it is not, if you have ambition and are lucky enough to find sponsors. I made it to victory lane after my first full year racing."

[12/05]