Recognizing the opportunity to support young people in their pursuit of an automotive career, WELD has renewed its sponsorship of the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow (HROT) Engine Challenge program. WELD has been a HROT sponsor since 2013.

Hot Rodders of Tomorrow is a nationwide high school engine building competition that engages the next generation to pursue careers in the performance aftermarket and racing. Regional competitions are held across the country where high school teams compete against the clock in a total engine rebuild. The HROT program started in 2008 with five teams competing.

Last year, 153 teams competed in regional competitions for the right to claim a share of the $4.55 million pool of scholarships offered by supporting educational institutions. Each team has a “sponsor” assigned, coming from the pool of HROT supporters that include many major manufacturers in the performance aftermarket along with SEMA and PRI.

In 2015 the WELD-sponsored team from Eastern Oklahoma County Tech Center claimed the HROT national championship in the competition that pits teams from across the country in performance engine rebuilds. To qualify for the HROT dual championships held at the SEMA Show and PRI Trade Show, teams must complete a total engine rebuild in less than 35 minutes. The two top teams from the SEMA Show in November will take on the top two teams from the PRI Trade Show in December in the finale to crown the 2016 Engine Challenge Champion.

“Investing in a program like HROT gives us the chance to provide young people with a path toward joining our industry,” said Norm Young, president and CEO of WELD. “HROT and its Engine Challenge program is a fast-paced and exciting competition that we proudly support.”