As a teenager, John Cummiskey attended Indy car races as a “casual fan.” For most fans, casual interest doesn’t translate into volunteering two years, obtaining full-time employment with Penske Racing and ultimately becoming a Verizon IndyCar Series chief mechanic.
Now the owner of a Cooper Tires USF2000 Powered By Mazda race team, Cummiskey says, “I just started off as a truck driver/mechanic and here we are.”
Finishing third overall at the Cooper Tires Winterfest mini-series at NOLA Motorsports Park and Barber Motorsports Park last month, John Cummiskey Racing established itself as a legitimate contender in the Cooper Tires USF2000 Powered By Mazda Championship that opens its season on the streets of St. Petersburg, Fla., as part of the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.
Two team members contributed to this success – aside from drivers Jordan Lloyd and Anthony Martin, who both achieved podium finishes in their respective debuts. Dan Kennedy and Dan Spoeth, motorsports engineering students, sought out their internships on pure initiative, not unlike Cummiskey did some 20 years ago.
“I was just hitting up every team I could think of. I got a couple of 'no thank yous.' And finally John came through," Kennedy said.
Spoeth later inquired based on a tip from Kennedy. Both are seniors in the Motorsports Engineering program at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. Both travel with the team and are treated as full-fledged crew members.
“We try to run our team as much like the IndyCar teams as we can ... just kind of in a miniature version,” said Cummiskey.
As a data acquisition engineer, Kennedy tracks telemetry data associated with the cars. He assists engineers and performs basic electrical maintenance. As a mechanic, Spoeth assists with the cars' set-up, fuel and repairs in the event of contact. In addition to their individual responsibilities, Spoeth and Kennedy have gained CAD experience (computer-aided design) to include designing and assisting with the fabrication of key race car components.
While no formal partnership exists between IUPUI and the Mazda Road to Indy, systems exist to help with placement. The school posts openings through an employment-listing interface. Students apply and coordinate interviews.
Cummiskey prefers this model as opposed to direct placement.
“The kids have to have the initiative to reach out and go after it. It can’t all be spoon-fed,” he said.
Dr. Terri Talbert-Hatch agrees: “What we’re trying to teach our students is the importance of networking.”
Talbert-Hatch, assistant dean of student services at IUPUI’s School of Engineering and Technology, works closely with the IUPUI Motorsports Engineering program. Her husband, Bob Hatch, works as a sub-assembly mechanic for Verizon IndyCar Series team CFH Racing. She lauds ambitious students, singling out Kennedy and Spoeth.
“They’re both motivated high-achieving young men. In addition to being good in the classroom, they know what it takes. They know they have to get their hands dirty, even if they want to be an engineer,” she said. “They both sought this opportunity with John by themselves. It’s not a position we posted on our website.”
Though other institutions offer engineering with motorsports concentrations, no other school offers a bachelor’s of science degree with motorsports engineering on a diploma. Talbert-Hatch sees the program existing in a symbiotic relationship with both the Verizon IndyCar Series and Mazda Road to Indy. Teams get skilled, free labor; students get once-in-a-lifetime opportunities that could lead to full-time employment in the industry.
“What I’m excited about, being a longtime Indy 500 fan, it’s getting us new young people interested in the sport,” said Talbert-Hatch.
Initially, Talbert-Hatch found most applicants had karting backgrounds. Now she sees engineering students, with little or no motorsports background, gravitating toward open-wheel racing. Since its inception in 2008, the program has graduated 26 students. In May, several students will have an opportunity to participate in Indianapolis 500 technical inspection. This recurring interactive learning experience includes an all-access credential.
Meanwhile, Spoeth and Kennedy help John Cummiskey Racing prepare for the doubleheader race weekend on the streets of St. Petersburg. Cummiskey views the Mazda Road to Indy as an “entry point,” an opportunity for young people to pursue their career goals, as he once did.
“I got extremely lucky by the fact that my entry point was at Penske Racing, which is at the top of the game. I worked very hard to make that happen and not everybody can have that luck," he said. "Part of the reason I wanted to do this was to be able to work with some of the young people. I know that in a year or two they’re going to move on ... and that’s fine. That makes me happy to see them go and grow.”