Oxford native Justin Corbin is living life in the fast lane.
The 2003 Oxford High School graduate is currently studying at the NASCAR Technical Institute (NTI) in Mooresville, North Carolina, and he will soon have the opportunity to work in NASCAR itself.
At NTI, Corbin is enrolled in a 69 week program that teaches students every in and out imaginable for automobiles. Each of the program’s 27 phases focuses on a new topic. Corbin, who is currently in Phase Eleven, is preparing to work in NASCAR in about two months.
‘They’ll give us an engine and tell us how fast it can go, and then tell us to make it go faster,? he explained. ‘It’s going to be very exciting.?
Corbin has always placed academic achievement high on his priority list. During his senior year at OHS, he was selected as the school’s representative for the AAA/Ford Student Auto Skills Competition, one of the highest honors in the auto department. He also completed all of the auto tech courses at OHS, thereby earning his state certifications.
At NTI, he has carried that standard through.
During his first week of school, Corbin was nominated for ‘Crew Chief? of the course, a rare title that is slowly being phased out of the program. The ‘Crew Chief? assists teachers and students with trouble shooting problems during the course. Corbin explained that while studying brakes, his teacher wanted to give him the honor because he taught almost half the class.
In addition, Corbin has been named ‘Student of the Course? three times. The ‘Student of the Course? maintains the highest lab grade for the phase as well as a high overall GPA. Corbin currently carries a perfect 4.0 and has 100 percent attendance.
‘Even if you are a little bit late, it hurts,? he explained. ‘If you are 15 seconds late, it counts as 15 minutes. And that adds up to one-sixth of your grade.?
Corbin will graduate from NTI in January of 2005. He said that instead of continuing NASCAR, he plans on returning to Michigan where he already has a job with Ford awaiting him.
‘I’ve got a guaranteed job here to work in a dealership,? Corbin explained. ‘I can almost pick whatever dealership I want.?
In addition, the Oxford native is trying to get his own business, ‘Corbin’s Customs,? off the ground. Corbin said he enjoys creating custom engines and custom details to trucks and automobiles, and hopes to incorporate the company when he returns to Michigan.
As for the future, Corbin said he’s taking it slow, but does hope to return to school to earn an associate’s degree (he will be only 10 credit hours away after graduating from NTI). He also would like to focus more on the ‘brains of the cars? and study electronics.
‘I’d like to be able to build my own computer components and be able to hook up right to my laptop,? explained Corbin. ‘Cars are becoming more and more electronic, and I want to be right there.?
‘If there’s one thing I’d tell everyone still at the autoshop it’s to further their education,? said Corbin. ‘Do something after high school. You definitely need a college degree or something similar to get anywhere.?