UWG
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Contact: University Communications & Marketing
Phone (678) 839-6464, FAX (678) 839-6645
ucm@westga.edu
UWG student filmed for Discovery Channel Documentary
October 15, 2004
CARROLLTON, GA - Many discover passions in life at an early age, but few have the drive and ability to turn that passion into a vocation. The story of University of West Georgia freshman Chris Dilbeck is a passion in progress. And some of that progress will be part of a television series on the Discovery-Health Channel.
Dilbeck’s love of NASCAR racing has him focused on becoming a driver and perhaps one day the opportunity to compete with the likes of Dale Earndardt Jr., Ryan Newnan, Ricky Rudd, Dale Jarrett, Terry Labonte, Bobby Labonte and Jeff Gordon. Growing up in his hometown of Hampton — the home of Atlanta Motor Speedway — Dilbeck would go past on his way to school and hear the motors revving while he was at Little League baseball practice, all the while bugging his father, Brent, to take him to the track. Finally, his dad took him to a race and he discovered his passion.
He began his racing career in the Bandolero Young Guns classes for dirt track racing and developed his skills enough to win the 1999 Georgia Dirt Track Young Guns Championship. In 2002, Dilbeck moved to Legends car racing and won the Georgia State Championship in that classification.
When
the Discovery-Health channel called the Atlanta Motor Speedway looking
for a driver for its “National Body Challenge” television
series for broadcast in January, speedway officials knew whom to call.
“Over the years, racing at Atlanta Motor Speedway, I got to know
all the PR people, so they called me and we’ve been (taping) for
a couple of months,” Dilbeck said. “I’ve been working
out pretty good. It’s a program to inspire their viewers to get
in shape and stay healthy.” Dr. Walter Todd, assistant professor
of physical education and recreation and recreation coordinator of intramurals
and open recreation, has been overseeing Dilbeck’s exercise regimen
and will also be interviewed for the TV show.
In his first year, Dilbeck is getting adjusted to campus life and he says that the atmosphere at UWG is welcoming.
“I like it. Everybody is real friendly,” Dilbeck pointed out. “If you want to get to know someone, you can. I’m enjoying it a good bit. It’s better than a big huge University.”
Besides learning about engineering, Dilbeck is also learning about the business side of NASCAR and hopefully soon he’ll be racing in the ARCA series, which is an offshoot of that racing organization.
“The ARCA is just a ladder,” he explained. “It’s like two steps below Nextel Cup and one step below Busch.”
Dilbeck noted that his involvement in racing is turning into a business as well as a sport.
“I had to get to know the right people. It’s tough not being named Petty or Earnhardt, but I finally got to know the right people,” he said. “We just have to get put a sponsor together.”
Dilbeck is part of UWG’s RETP (Regents Engineering Transfer Program) or 2+2 with Georgia Tech. This plan allows students to spend two years at UWG in a specially designed engineering track before transferring to Georgia Tech. Basic math, science and engineering courses plus core curriculum courses are taken at UWG and then the student transfers to Georgia Tech for the remaining two years. Dilbeck is majoring in pre-engineering and mechanical engineering.
“There’s no way that my mom (Deborah) would let me go into something without having an education to fall back on. I want to do this for myself, too,” he said. “I’m doing mechanical engineering because I think that’s where (racing) is going. It’s getting more into technology and you have to know your stuff. I think that what I learn here will benefit me. (Professor Emeritus) Dr (Ben) DeMayo is the engineering person helping me. He’s really given me a lot of tips and stuff. He’s talked to us about a (work) co-op program. I’m hoping to get on with a race team this summer and getting that counted as a credit.”
For more information about the REPT program contact the UWG Physics Department at 770-836-4316 and after Oct. 23, 678-839-4749. For information on the Department of Physical Education or Recreation and Intramurals and Open Recreation call 678-839-6530.
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