NORTH CAROLINA MOTORSPORTS PLAYING A LARGE ROLE IN DEFENSE SUSTAINMENT INITIATIVES
The upcoming Defense Industrial Sustainment for Combat Systems (DISC) Summit will feature a focused session on Sustaining Ground Vehicle Capabilities on March 19 from 10:45 to 11:45 a.m. (EST) at The Friday Center at the University of North Carolina. The panel will explore procurement pathways, lifecycle sustainment strategies, and partnership opportunities that strengthen U.S. combat vehicle readiness.
Among the featured panelists is Mike Brown, President of Richard Childress Racing Manufacturing Solutions (RCRMS). Brown will bring a motorsports-driven manufacturing perspective to the discussion, highlighting how NASCAR race teams are leveraging advanced engineering, precision fabrication, rapid prototyping, and agile supply chains to support defense sustainment initiatives.
Recently, RCRMS’ manufacturing, machining, and engineering capabilities have served as a catalyst to position the organization as a trusted integrator, especially in areas of ground mobility and defense, as evidenced through a recent collaboration with American defense and aerospace manufacturer Lockheed Martin, which recently conducted a 90-degree launch of a Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM) utilizing a special 6×6 military vehicle purpose-built by RCRMS.
This session underscores an important industry evolution: defense manufacturing and engineering solutions are emerging sectors within NASCAR race teams’ expanding business operations. What begins as performance innovation on race day is increasingly translating into scalable, mission-critical solutions beyond the track.
For North Carolina’s motorsports industry, it’s another clear example of how world-class competition engineering continues to open doors in adjacent markets, including the national defense sector. Hendrick Motorsports Technical Solutions, SRI Performance, and other North Carolina-based motorsports entities will also attend the summit.
DISC is presented by the offices of United States Senators from North Carolina, Thom Tillis and Ted Budd, as well as the North Carolina Military Business Center.
Who should participate in the DISC Summit:
Current OEMs, prime contractors, suppliers, and service providers in the defense aerospace, ground vehicle, maritime, and armaments markets.
Businesses considering engaging as an OEM, prime contractor, supplier, and/or service provider within these markets.
Industry- and academia-based entities conducting R&D and new product development for aerospace, vehicle, maritime, and armaments systems.
Federal and Defense agencies engaged in requirements generation, acquisition, sustainment and R&D within these markets.
To learn more about the 2026 DISC or to register to attend, click here.