SPIRE connects with NASCAR, continues expansion

HARPERSFIELD TOWNSHIP — Excitement was evident as SPIRE Academy students leaped for T-shirt and painted their faces as they were introduced to the school's newest partnership.

NASCAR driver A.J. Allmendinger was one of the people on hand to announce the partnership between Kaulig Racing, SPIRE Academy and Vensure Employer Solutions, which will see a SPIRE Academy car race May 31 at the Nashville Superspeedway.

The SPIRE car will appear only in the Nashville race.

"It's the most visible activation of SPIRE's $6 million, five-year partnership with Vensure Employer Solutions, one of the largest corporate deals in youth sports history," SPIRE Academy Chief Executive Officer Steve Sanders said.

A press release from SPIRE states, "NASCAR is a signal of how the institution is operating as a business, with the right partners to scale the brand nationally in the $40 billion youth sports market."

Amy Liles, head of partnerships at SPIRE Academy, was given credit for bring the groups together.

"We are just really excited about the partnership," Sanders said. He said the connection with NASCAR will help get the academy's name out in front of a national audience.

Sanders spoke about the academy's motto of being a "living lab" and how the students' success on the court, in the pool and on the field gives the academy the opportunity to create these partnerships.

Sanders introduced Matt Kaulig, owner of Kaulig Racing, describing him as a fixture in Ohio.

Kaulig said he grew up in the Cincinnati area, and played football, basketball and baseball.

He eventually played quarterback at the University of Akron.

Kaulig said he lives in Hudson, and is excited to have the connection between SPIRE and the race team.

"It's all about high performance and getting better," Kaulig told the students.

He said NASCAR is all about getting the car faster.

There is a long connection between high-performing athletes and the crews that work at NASCAR tracks around the country, he said.

"Almost all of our pit crews come from football and basketball players," Kaulig said.

He said the crews train year-round and work out hard to turn a car around in 12 seconds.

Phil Urso, of Vensure Employer Solutions, said he is excited about the connection between his company, the academy and Kaulig Racing.

"This collaboration is all about maximizing performance, maximizing efficiency and maximizing energy," he said.

Allmendinger urged students not to be afraid of making mistakes, and they are OK if you learn from them.

"I have been a professional for 24 years," he said.

Allmendinger said he started racing when he was five years old. He urged the students to prove doubters wrong.

Sanders said planning of summer camps at SPIRE is going well.

Camps in a variety of sports are scheduled for this summer at SPIRE, he said.

Construction is moving along on turf fields just to the south of the driveway into SPIRE Academy, and is likely to last more than three months, he said.

Sanders said there are also plans to expand the academy's performance center, create a student center for the athletes and build an addition to the academic wing of the school.

Sanders said the goal is to have 250-300 students at the academy next year.