BEATRICE, NEB. - Speed, powered by the sun.

“Kinda it gives kids a large design project from beginning to end and they can watch it perform on the road and on the track.”

Schools and programs taking part in American Solar Challenge made a stop at Homestead National Historical Park, part of the 1400 mile competition from Nashville, TN. to Casper, WY.

University of Michigan student Adian Gottsche explains.

“We’re stopped here for a few hours to charge up the car, as well as drive additional loops,” Gottsche said. “The way this race is scored, there’s 1,400 base route from Nashville to Casper and at certain places, like here in Beatrice, we can drive additional loops that will ad 30-40 points to our score."

Vehicles travel on back highways and roads, being led and trailed by pilot cars that contain the groups of participants from each team, planning strategy, collecting data and planning logistics for the rest of the trip.

The whole project is a time commitment.

“The Michigan team has 18 of us who work on this race and have worked on this car full time this summer since May,“ Gottsche said. “For many of us this has really been a dedication.”

Ryan Babaie is an official for American Solar Car and says projects like these help kids figure out their path in engineering.

“One big thing is ‘is this your passion?’” Babaie said. “Getting that experience up front as to what you want to to do as an engineer. This can help kids figure out if they’re into design engineering or systems and planning. Just a good way to figure out what they want to do.”