During the past month, three student teams from The University of Alabama College of Engineering have demonstrated their technical skills and expertise in various engineering and motorsports competitions across the country, earning notable accolades for their work.
EcoCAR
The UA EcoCAR team finished third overall at this year’s competition for the EcoCAR EV Challenge. The four-year challenge, which began in 2022, tasks 15 university teams with engineering a next-generation battery electric vehicle. Teams were provided with a 2023 Cadillac LYRIQ by General Motors and have been working to “utilize automation and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) connectivity to implement energy-efficient, customer-pleasing features and meet the decarbonization needs of the automotive industry,” according to Argonne National Laboratory.
During the first stage of the competition, which took place in Yuma, Arizona, each team was required to successfully pass a complex 300-line-item vehicle technical inspection and low-speed on-road safety evaluation, which involved clearing critical safety and integration standards.
Over the span of a week, UA EcoCAR participated in over 65 distinct vehicle events and secured first place in both the thermal derate event and the CARB dyno testing preparations competition.
The team then traveled to San Diego, California, for the second stage of the competition, where they delivered a presentation to industry judges, outlining their efforts in engineering, project management, communications and mobility challenges.
“EcoCAR is a really fun place to be,” said Elizabeth Grubb, project manager for EcoCAR and a senior mechanical engineering major. “This team is a place where anyone can show up and dive in. We all want to support one another and see each other succeed.”
Crimson Racing
Crimson Racing recently finished eighth overall out of 110 registered teams at the 2025 Formula SAE® International competition at Michigan International Speedway. FSAE, one of the oldest and largest collegiate design competitions, challenges university teams of undergraduate and graduate students to conceive, design, fabricate, develop and compete with small, formula-style vehicles.
The team successfully passed all technical inspections and competed in four dynamic events: acceleration, skidpad, autocross and endurance. For the first time since 2019, Crimson Racing advanced to the design finals, earning seventh place. The team also earned the Cummins Sustainable Power and Performance Excellence Award for their unique vehicle design and commitment to reducing carbon emissions.
“This year’s competition reminded us that success isn’t just about performance—it’s about preparation, execution and how you respond when things don’t go as planned. We faced unexpected challenges, made fast decisions and leaned on each other when it mattered most,” said Katie Nash, team manager of Crimson Racing and a junior mechanical engineering major. “Those are the moments that truly shape us into better engineers, better teammates, and a stronger, more unified team. These are the lessons that will stay with us long after the competition ends.”
Bama Racing
Bama Racing, the College’s Baja SAE team, made an impressive showing in the annual Baja SAE competition in Marana, Arizona, competing in eight events and placing 18th in maneuverability and 19th in the cost event showcase out of 69 registered teams.
Sponsored by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying, Baja SAE consists of competitions that simulate real-world engineering design projects and their related challenges. Engineering students are tasked with designing and building an off-road vehicle that will withstand the severe punishment of rough terrain.
“The competition in Arizona was a great step forward for Bama Racing,” said Scott Pollock, president of Bama Racing and a junior mechanical engineering major. “We had our best performance in recent history and had no major issues. It was a strong validation of the work we’ve put in all year and showed that we’re headed in the right direction.”
Over the past two years, the Bama Racing program has doubled in size and now averages more than 100 active members.
“Serving as president of Bama Racing has been one of the most valuable parts of my experience at Alabama,” Pollock said. “To me, it’s about being reliable. Whether it’s helping solve a technical issue or just making sure people are on the same page, the goal is to keep the team moving forward together.”
Participating in these competitions provided students with invaluable experiential learning and the opportunity to demonstrate the knowledge and skills they have acquired through their engineering coursework at the Capstone. As each team returns home with hard-earned accomplishments, they will continue to push the boundaries of innovation and collaboration as they seek to prepare for the next competition cycle.