Meyer Shank forges unique partnership with St. Thomas University
03/31/2025 11:40 AM
Meyer Shank Racing has created a unique sponsorship and partnership program with Florida's St. Thomas University that will bring students from the Miami-based institution into its IndyCar Series program throughout April and influence a number of areas in support of the two-car team.
MSR will "provide students with unprecedented access to the inner workings of a professional IndyCar team, offering hands-on experience to learn more about the engineering, design and business administration roles of a race team," a team statement announcing the association read. "Throughout the month of April, STU Big Data Analytics students will work hand-in-hand with MSR's IndyCar and IMSA engineering staff, interpreting and learning about the team's data analytics and what goes into the engineering side on a race weekend.
"STU's Fashion Merchandising & Design students will have the opportunity to design and create a special-edition race suit utilizing the team and series guidelines. Students will present their designs to the team for a chance to have Marcus Armstrong — driver of the No. 66 Honda — wear the suit during the Milwaukee Mile race weekend in August."
Armstrong's No. 66 car will carry a STU-themed livery for the Milwaukee race as well.
"STU's Culinary students will work to create a race-specific sports drink, designed with the flavors of tropical Miami in mind. Three flavors will be created, packed with performance nutrition. The inspiration will be the drivers themselves during a race," the team statement continued. "At the end of April, MSR leadership will host a symposium at St. Thomas University which will put an emphasis on Sports Administration, Communications, and Marketing. Students will participate in an interactive assignment, working together to identify and rationalize the best sponsor for a race team."
The arrangement between MSR and STU is unique in its wider-reaching embrace of educational disciplines as mist relationships between racing teams and schools tend to strictly focus on mechanical or engineering curriculums.
"This opportunity to align with St. Thomas University is truly something that I have not seen before," said MSR co-owner Mike Shank. "There are so many areas of motorsports that people can work in and it's really great that St. Thomas University is opening its doors for us to show students what all racing is about. We're very excited for this partnership."
