CSUN Success Story: Speed, Precision and an Engineering Degree – Cole Wakim’s Formula for Success
For Cole Wakim, 23, speed isn’t just about racing—it’s about engineering. Wakim ’24 (Mechanical Engineering) mastered precision, problem-solving, and teamwork both in the classroom and on the racetrack. Now, the Matador is chasing his professional racing dream, fueled by the skills CSUN gave him to think like an engineer and compete like a champion.
Wakim recently raced in his sprint car at the Turkey Night Grand Prix in Ventura, Calif., which debuted in Los Angeles in 1934, and is one of the longest-running races in the country. The CSUN alumnus took part in a support race and the night’s main event featured NASCAR stars Kurt Busch, Kyle Larson and Ty Gibbs. Wakim’s sprint car is smaller and more lightweight than a traditional race car but packed with high horsepower. He previously told The Wall Street Journal, “[Sprint car racing] is something you don’t see on TV, but practically every weekend, all over the country, thousands and thousands of people are going to their local tracks to race or watch sprint cars. It is grassroots motor sports.”
The CSUN alumnus, who lives in Simi Valley, began his higher education journey at nearby Moorpark College. While there, Wakim’s professors—many of whom also taught at CSUN—praised the university’s hands-on engineering program. When it came time to transfer, the choice was easy.
“With everything I had heard, and the great teaching I had already received from CSUN professors at Moorpark, it was a logical choice to attend CSUN,” Wakim, who has loved racing since he was five years old and began competing in sprint car racing two years ago, said. “The engineering program at CSUN was very hands-on, teaching me things that were applicable not only in the real world, but in my racing career as well.”
At CSUN, Wakim found the perfect intersection between engineering and racing, gaining the knowledge that improved his performance on the track and in the classroom.
“Car setup is essentially a combination of multiple mechanical systems working together to give a driver a best shot at winning, and the CSUN engineering program gave me better insight into these mechanical systems. This insight not only made me a better student, but a better driver,” he explained.
CSUN’s engineering program also taught Wakim precision and organization—skills he now relies on when maintaining his sprint car.
“Sprint car racing is no different from engineering. While the theory may not be quite as complex as some engineering topics, how a sprint car works is intricate and requires hundreds of moving parts to function seamlessly,” the Matador explained. “Being organized while getting your maintenance done at home is essential to allow you to go on to the track and focus solely on the driving aspect of the sport.”
His senior design project, In-Space Servicing, Assembly & Manufacturing (ISAM), overseen by mechanical engineering professor Christoph Schaal, became a defining experience—one that challenged his ability to apply everything he had learned at CSUN in a real-world setting.
“This project was the first time I was tested to use all my engineering knowledge to achieve a goal,” Wakim said. “It shaped the way I approach problems not only in engineering situations, but in my racing career and life in general.”
The project also taught him how to work within a team, a skill just as critical on the track as it is in engineering.
“Being a team project, ISAM taught me how to function cohesively with not only my peers, but with mentors and project managers much more advanced than myself,” he shared. “This teamwork is also very important in racing as a driver must be able to communicate with their crew chief and crew members.”
Currently, Wakim is all-in on racing and has his sights set on an engineering future connected to his CSUN degree.
“I am currently working a job for a construction company that allows me the flexibility I need to pursue my racing this upcoming season,” he said. “Racing is my focus right now as I plan to chase my dream as far as I can. Down the line I hope to enter an engineering position related to the racing industry.”
Wakim is just one of countless Matadors turning their passions into a profession. Where will your drive take you? Apply today!
The post CSUN Success Story: Speed, Precision and an Engineering Degree – Cole Wakim’s Formula for Success first appeared on CSUN Newsroom.
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