Twenty Four Foundation launches STEM accelerator with NASCAR driver Rajah Caruth

The Twenty Four Foundation has launched Built Different, a STEM and workforce development program using professional motorsports to connect underserved students to careers in engineering, AI, technology and data science. The inaugural rollout begins in Richmond and Atlanta, with expansion planned to new NASCAR communities in 2027.

Why it matters: - Built Different is built to move underserved students from classroom exposure to career pathways in high-demand STEM fields. - The program uses professional motorsports to make engineering, artificial intelligence, technology and data science more tangible for middle school, high school and college students. - The Twenty Four Foundation says the initiative is designed for year-round delivery and national growth, not a one-time event.

What happened: - The Twenty Four Foundation launched Built Different: The STEM Accelerator on July 7, 2026. - The program debuts in Richmond, Virginia, and Atlanta, Georgia, through local nonprofit partners. - NASCAR driver Rajah Caruth serves as the initiative’s proof of concept. - Caruth is an Atlanta native and a product of NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity program. - Caruth learned through iRacing before earning his first real-car opportunity at 17. - Caruth has described Drive for Diversity as his "saving grace" and his "only shot to race." - The Twenty Four Foundation leads program implementation and national expansion.

The details: - Built Different centers on How STEM Leads to Speed: Racing with Rajah, a hands-on curriculum that uses motorsports as a classroom for physics, engineering, AI and data science. - Middle school students will go through four modules. - High school and college students will go through an expanded five-module curriculum. - Working motorsports professionals will teach the modules. - Instructors include engineers from GM’s software and AI teams, a tire specialist from a championship pit crew and a NASCAR graphic designer. - GM Motorsports contributed educational materials and technical perspectives on elite motorsports technology. - Those materials include Pit Rho, GM’s machine-learning race strategy platform, and Race Vehicle Simulation software used by engineers before race day. - Microsoft provided Copilot and Designer for hands-on student experience. - TaiJaune Robinson, Engineering Business Manager at GM Motorsports, said motorsports can help students understand how innovation happens, how teams solve problems under pressure and how STEM skills can open opportunities in motorsports and the automotive industry. - Each nonprofit partner receives a complete STEM toolkit and curriculum for year-round use. - The inaugural Atlanta cohort will be celebrated at EchoPark Speedway during the Quaker State 400 on July 11–12, 2026. - The inaugural Richmond cohort will be celebrated at Richmond Raceway during the Cook Out 400 on August 14–15, 2026. - For more information, organizations can contact team@the24foundation.org or visit the foundation’s website.

Between the lines: - The program pairs a recognizable sports figure with technical curriculum to create a clearer on-ramp for students who may not see themselves in STEM careers. - By using nonprofit partners and a reusable toolkit, The Twenty Four Foundation is building a model that can scale beyond the first two cities. - The involvement of GM Motorsports and Microsoft signals corporate interest in linking workforce development with motorsports branding and technical education.

What's next: - The Twenty Four Foundation plans to expand Built Different into additional NASCAR communities beginning in 2027. - The next phase will add new student cohorts, new nonprofit partners and broader geographic reach. - The foundation is seeking corporations, community organizations and philanthropic partners to back future expansion. - Partnership opportunities include becoming a founding expansion-market partner, sponsoring student cohorts or supporting long-term growth in new cities. - Organizations interested in partnering are invited to connect directly with The Twenty Four Foundation.

The bottom line: - Built Different turns motorsports into a workforce pipeline, with Rajah Caruth as the living example of what the program wants to replicate.