cougar strong racing #000
​7th grade team

Coaches: Matthew Graham & Chris Morris
Cougar Strong Racing 000 Team Photo
2023-2024

curtis andrews
​​team position:
​pit crew chief

Hi, my name is Curtis Andrews. I am going into the 7th grade. I joined the team because I was on the team last year and loved it. This will be my second year on Cougar Strong Racing and my third year in GreenpowerUSA. The position I am most interested in is pit crew chief. 

FUN FACT: I love fixing things.


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eli  brown
​team position:
​f24 pusher

My name is Eli Brown and I'm going into the seventh grade. I joined Cougar Strong Racing because I was on the Greenpower team last year and I enjoyed it. This will be my second year on the team. I also joined because I like to fix things and work with tools. The position I'm most interested in is driving.

FUN FACT: I like to hunt.

tucker cooley
​team position:
​driver & safety manager

My name is Tucker Cooley, I am currently in 7th grade. This is my second year here on the Cougar Strong Racing team. I decided to join again because I loved being a part of the team last year. Being on the Cougar Strong Racing team the previous year taught me teamwork, responsibility, and skills behind the steering wheel of an F24 Greenpower car. I am interested in becoming a driver again this year because I thoroughly enjoyed it last year.

FUN FACT: I love playing soccer and I am a big fan of UGA football.





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david gibson
​team position:
​pit manager & assistant pit crew chief

My name is David Gibson. I am in the seventh grade at LCMS. This is my Second year on the Cougar Strong Racing team. I joined Greenpower because I really like to build things, and I want to be an engineer when I grow up. The positions I am interested in are pit crew and team manager.

FUN FACT: I hiked in nine National Parks this summer, and I love to go fishing.

joshua grant
​team position:
​pit crew

Hi, my name is Joshua Grant and I am in the 7th grade and on the 000 team. This is my first year apart of cougar strong racing. I wanted to join the team because it would be a challenge for me and give me an understanding of basic engineering. I also felt that this would be something that I would enjoy and help my teamwork skills and enhance friendships. The spot I hope to get is the driver because I like the adrenaline rush of being on the track with the other cars. If I cannot be a driver I would like to be a part of the pit crew because I would like to work on the car and get it on and off the track. 
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FUN FACT: I play the drums.

chloe kim
​team position:
​driver & media team

My name is Chloe Kim and I’m in 7th grade. I wanted to join Cougar Strong Racing because I was on the team last year and it was so much fun! This is my 2nd year with CSR. The positions I’m interested in are, driver, pit crew, and social media crew.

FUN FACT: I’m on the LCMS volleyball team.

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elsie lassetter
​team position:
​trailer manager & media team

My name is Elsie Lassetter. I am in the 7th grade. This will be my second year competing with the Cougar Strong Racing team. I am interested in Greenpower because it will provide me with skills I can utilize for the rest of my life, I was on the Greenpower last year and really enjoyed it. Last year, I enjoyed learning about the electric car and I hope to learn even more this year. I am interested in driver, social media manager, and presentation team positions.

FUN FACT: I have traveled out of the country.



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zoey maurer
​team position:
​marketing manager

Hi, my name is Zoey Maurer I am in the 7th grade. I have been a part of Green Power for 3 years. However, this will be my second year on the Cougar Strong Racing Greenpower Team. I wanted to join the team because I knew learning to race cars would be exciting. The job I am interested in is Social Media Manager. I would like to do this job again because I had so much fun last year and I have so many new ideas.
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FUN FACT: I am an excellent swimmer and love making my mom buy exotic food. 

isabella mcmickin
​team position:
​media team

Hi, my name is Isabella McMickin, but you can call me Izzy. I am in 7th grade this year and I wanted to join CSR because it has taught me so much and one of those things is how to work with others better. This will be my second year on the team. A position I'm interested in is social media team. 

FUN FACT: I like to travel so I go to lots of different places.​

nicholas shelton
​team position:
​gopro manager

Hello my name is Nicholas Shelton and I'm going to 7th grade. I wanted to join greenpower so I could make new friends, learn more about stem,  and have an overall good time in the program. This is my first year on the team and I would like to be a driver. But if I'm not chosen as a driver  I would like to be part of the pit crew. 
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FUN FACT: I play A LOT of soccer.

carmin smith
​team position:
driver & tool manager

Hi, my name is Carmin Smith. I am going to the 7th grade this year. The reason I want to join CSR is because I have done greenpower for the past 2 years going on 3 and I really enjoy it. I just feel so happy around my friends and teammates, how we work together to build and race the cars. I would really want the job as driver. When I was on the goblin team I was a driver, sadly this past year I was not. But this year I am determined to get the job. If I don't get that, I'd love to be the pitcrew chief and or pitcrew. 

​FUN FACT: I like to hunt and ride horses. ​



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bentley tittle
​team position:
team manager & alternate driver

Hi, my name is Bentley Tittle and I will be in the 7th grade at LCMS this year. I wanted to join Cougar Strong Racing because I like learning new things and having fun at the same time! I also enjoy driving and being a part of a team! This will be my 2nd year at CSR. I am interested in being a driver and a pit crew chief this year. I was on the pit crew, presentation team, and was a driver for 555 last year. I am excited to join CSR 000 this racing season!

FUN FACT: I am on the football team at LCMS and love Auburn🦅🐅. 

emily umfress
​team position:
​media team

My name is Emily Umfress and I'm in 7th grade. I joined the Cougar Strong Racing Team because I learned new skills and had fun with my friends in 6th grade. This will be my second year on the team. I'm interested on the social media crew because it is fun editing pictures and videos. 

FUN FACT: I've played cello for 4 years

joey whiddon
​team position:
​data manager & battery manager

I’m Joey Whiddon and I served as the 555 team’s Data Manager last year and I hope to either serve in that role again or perhaps drive for the team. In either case, I wish to become the biggest asset to our team because I like winning and hope to make myself a big part of why our teams wins at the races. 

FUN FACT: I like fishing and built an Aston Martin car out of Legos and go Dawgs.

 Team coach / teacher - Matthew graham

Mr. Graham created the very first Greenpower Tech class and GreenpowerUSA team in Troup County in the fall of 2017. Over the last 7 seasons the program has grown to 3 teams and emerged as the most dominant middle school GreenpowerUSA program in the United States. His teams have earned the following honors...

999 Team - Started Fall 2019
National Champions: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023 - Intermediate Modified Division
Season Points Champion 2022, 2023 - Int. Mod. Div.
​2nd place national finish 2022 - Int. Mod. Div.
000 Team - Started Fall of 2017
National Runner up 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023 - Int. Modified Div.
National Champions 2022 - Int. Mod. Div.
555 Team: - Started Fall of 2020
National Champion 2021 - Intermediate Stock Div.
3rd place National Finish & Season Points Champion 2022,
​Season Points Champion 2023 - Intermediate. Stock Div.

Mr. Graham's goal is to serve as an ambassador for GreenpowerUSA in Troup County and the surrounding areas to increase awareness & participation in this exciting and engaging STEM program for elementary, middle, & high school students. He looks forward to building on last year's success to achieve even greater goals for year 7 of this program at LCMS!
​Mr. Graham holds a Specialist Degree in Middle Grades Education from the University of West Georgia, and is certified in Math, Language Arts, Social Studies, Special Education, and Gifted Education. He has been teaching at Long Cane Middle School for 20 years. ​

 assistant coach - chris morris

Chris Morris got involved with Greenpower in the fall of 2017 when his daughter Chloe joined the team as a 6th grade student. He began volunteering in various capacities and quickly became an integral part of the team. His contributions have made a tremendous impact on the success of our program across the three years in which his daughter Chloe was a member. After she moved up to the high school Chris decided to continue serving as an assistant coach with Cougar Strong Racing because he believed in the value of the experience for our students. He is solely responsible for all the modifications and upgrades found on the inside of our race trailer, and he has been a great mentor to our team members. The 2023-2024 season will be the seventh season for our program and he has been there every step of the way, having never missed a race event in 7 years. We are thankful for the time he has invested in our program and hope he stays with us for many years to come.