Fort Worth students lead charge during solar car race at Texas Motor Speedway

A blur of cars and people fills a garage at Texas Motor Speedway as teams work through their checklists and make quick fixes.

The organized chaos had a reason. Teams of high school students from across the nation prepared their vehicles for the Solar Car Challenge, an annual event held July 17-23 in Fort Worth, which aims to educate participants in science, engineering and alternative energy.

Students spent the past year working on their cars. 

Before race day, the teams’ cars must go through “scrutineering,” a series of six tests that are evaluated by judges and ensure all rules are followed and each vehicle is safe to operate.

Garages are full of people and machines during the Solar Car Challenge on July 17, 2025, at Texas Motor Speedway in north Fort Worth. (Mary Abby Goss | Fort Worth Report)

The Falcon EV team from Fort Worth Country Day toiled away in the garage. Co-captains Jason Pham and Andrew Lobo worked quickly and calmly as they prepared their car.

“Scrutineering is actually way more intense than the race day, or that’s how it felt,” Pham said. “Because right here we have a test to pass to be able to race, and we want to race. This is the most important step for us.”

Falcon EV captains Andrew Lobo, left, and Jason Pham work together to make quick changes during the Solar Car Challenge on July 17, 2025, at Texas Motor Speedway in north Fort Worth. (Mary Abby Goss | Fort Worth Report)

This isn’t the first time Pham and Lobo participated in the challenge. Their team has competed for the past three years, they said. The difference is both students stepped up into team leadership.

“It’s definitely a lot more work, but it’s definitely a lot more rewarding too,” Lobo said.

Solar panels line the top of the Falcon EV during the Solar Car Challenge on July 17, 2025, at Texas Motor Speedway in north Fort Worth. (Mary Abby Goss | Fort Worth Report)

The event is a competition, but teams help each other and foster a collaborative atmosphere, both captains said.

“Everyone plays fair,” Pham said. “Everyone wants the best for each team because we want to compete at each other’s best, not their worst. That’s what the event is about.”

Mary Abby Goss is a multimedia fellow for the Fort Worth Report. Contact her at maryabby.goss@fortworthreport.org

At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.

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Fort Worth students lead charge during solar car race at Texas Motor Speedway

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Great Job Mary Abby Goss & the Team @ Fort Worth Report Source link for sharing this story.

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Felicia Ray Owens
Felicia Ray Owenshttps://feliciarayowens.com
Felicia Ray Owens is a media founder, cultural strategist, and civic advocate who creates platforms where power meets lived truth. As the voice behind C4: Coffee. Cocktails. Culture. Conversation and the founder of FROUSA Media, she uses storytelling, public dialogue, and organizing to spotlight the issues that matter most—locally and nationally. A longtime advocate for community wellness and political engagement, Felicia brings experience as a former Precinct Chair and former Chief Communications Officer of Indivisible Hill Country. Her work bridges culture, activism, and healing through curated spaces designed to inspire real change. Learn more at FROUSA.org

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