As 2025 comes to a close, we would like to highlight the success of New Ford Tech's sponsorship of the NHRA YES Program this year!
This was New Ford Tech's seventh year participating in the National Hot Rod Association's Youth and Education Services (YES) Program. The program showcases how STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) principles are used in real-world automotive careers.
Over the course of the year, 15 YES events were activated nationwide. That means high school and college students had the opportunity to be brought to the track to connect with local New Ford Tech program schools and Ford | Lincoln dealerships. Additionally, students get to hear from NHRA Funny Car Driver and Ford dealership owner Bob Tasca III about his experience in motorsports and business operations. They also get to connect with attending Ford dealerships and Ford-affiliated technical schools to discuss the available Ford technician training programs and career paths that lead to becoming an automotive service technician.
A YES event that highlights the success of this program is the 2025 event held at the NHRA U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis, Indiana. 1,623 students attended, and 262 spoke with local Ford dealerships and school representatives.
New Ford Tech's goal each year is to help attract the next generation of Ford and Lincoln technicians, and the YES program is a fun and exciting way to achieve that. Check out the 2026 NHRA YES program schedule below!
2026 YES Program Events:
March 6 - NHRA Gatornationals Gainesville, FL
March 20 - NHRA Arizona Nationals Phoenix, AZ
April 10 - Winter Nationals Pomona, CA
April 24 - NHRA Four-Wide Nationals Charlotte, NC />
May 1 - NHRA Southern Nationals Adel, GA
May 14 - Gerber Collision and Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK Joliet, IL
May 29 - NHRA Potomac Nationals Mechanicsville, MA
June 5 - NHRA New England Nationals Epping, NH
Sept. 4 - Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals Indianapolis, Indiana
Sept. 18 - NHRA Keystone Nationals Reading, Pennsylvania
Sept. 25 - TBD
Oct. 2 - NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals, Madison, Illinois
Oct. 29 - NHRA Nevada Nationals, Las Vegas, Nevada (Thursday Program)
Nov. 13 - ln-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals, Pomona, California
Virtual YES Events:
June 12 - Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals Bristol, TN (Virtual Program)
June 26 - Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals Norwalk, OH (Virtual Program)
July 17 - DENSO NHRA Sonoma Nationals Sonoma, CA (Virtual Program)
July 24 - Muckleshoot Casino Resort NHRA Northwest Nationals Seattle, WA (Virtual Program)
August 21 - NHRA Nationals Brainerd, MN (Virtual Program)
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Learn more about New Ford Tech programs HERE.
Learn more about the NHRA YES program HERE.
Students and schools interested in participating in a YES Program event can contact the NHRA. Ford dealerships and technical colleges can contact their local field service engineer for more information. The YES Program does not operate in the summer when school is not in session, however, there is an online YES program that is available.
