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2023 Racing the Sun Winning Teams and Honorees

Wednesday May 3, 2023

Congratulations to all the teams who participated in this year’s Racing the Sun (RTS). Racing the Sun is a hands-on, innovative engineering program that challenges high school students to design, build, and race electric and solar-powered go-karts. Racing the Sun is a college preparatory program available to any Arizona high school.  

Working with teachers, mentors and industry professional advisors, students spend nine months preparing for Race Day. Along the way, they apply the principles of physics, engineering, and energy. Through collaborative efforts with school sites and educators, race teams solve real-world problems, using mathematical, analytical, and critical thinking skills. Students work in teams and are challenged to translate their ideas into a working prototype and build leadership excellence skills.

Click here to view the 2023 Race Day Photo Album

Participating High Schools and Team Names:

  • Center for Academic Success Sierra Vista: CAS Maker and Standard (Sierra Vista, Arizona)
  • Desert Vista High School: Low Riders (Phoenix, Arizona)
  • Empire High School: The Raven Conspiracy (Tucson, Arizona)
  • McClintock High School : Solar Chargers (Tempe, Arizona)
  • Mica Mountain High School: The Thunder Sisters and Solar Storm (Tucson, Arizona)
  • Rio Rico High School: Los Engineers (Rio Rico, Arizona)
  • Salpointe Catholic High School: Salpointe Maker and Lancers (Tucson, Arizona)
  • San Miguel High School – Tucson: Viper Racing (Tucson, Arizona)
  • Shadow Ridge High School (Arizona): Ridge Racers (Surprise, Arizona)
  • Sonoran Science Academy – Davis Monthan: Axle-Auto (Tucson, Arizona)
  • Tanque Verde High School: TVHS Solar Flares (Tucson, Arizona)
  • Willcox High School: Willcox Gearheads (Willcox, Arizona)
  • Williams Field High School: Eclipse of the Hawks (Gilbert, Arizona)

Racing the Sun Results

Honor to Advisors: John Sepp and Jay West

Division Award Winners:

  • Standard: Empire High School- The Raven Conspiracy (Tucson, Arizona)
  • Legacy: Salpointe Catholic High School- Lancers (Tucson, Arizona)
  • Maker: Shadow Ridge High School- Ridge Racers (Surprise, Arizona)

Endurance Awards:

  • Standard: Mica Mountain High School- The Thunder Sisters (Tucson, Arizona)
  • Legacy: Rio Rico High School- Los Engineers (Rio Rico, Arizona)
  • Maker: Shadow Ridge High School- Ridge Racers (Surprise, Arizona)

Speed Award Winners:

  • Standard: San Miguel High School- Viper Racing (Tucson, Arizona)
  • Legacy: Salpointe Catholic High School- Lancers (Tucson, Arizona)
  • Maker: Shadow Ridge High School- Ridge Racers (Surprise, Arizona)

Best Verbal Presentation: Sonoran Science Academy- Davis Monthan- Axle-Auto (Tucson, Arizona)

Spirit Award: Rio Rico High School- Los Engineers (Rio Rico, Arizona)

Best Appearing Team and Kart: Rio Rico High School- Los Engineers (Rio Rico, Arizona)

Innovator Award: Desert Vista High School- Low Riders (Phoenix, Arizona)

Newcomer of the Year: San Miguel High School- Viper Racing (Tucson, Arizona)

Grand Champion: Shadow Ridge High School- Ridge Racers (Surprise, Arizona)

Coach of the Year: Derek Langley with Mica Mountain High School (Tucson, Arizona) and Cecilia Gossler with Salpointe Catholic High School (Tucson, Arizona)

If you would like to know more about SARSEF and how you can become engaged in STEM, volunteer for our organization, or donate, visit us at (https://sarsef.org/)