THE BEGINNING
Founded in the fall of 2017, Cougar Strong Racing is the GreenpowerUSA F24 Racing Team at Long Cane Middle School in LaGrange, Georgia. During our first season we built our first Formula 24 race car and competed twice. At our first race, the Chambers County Grand Prix, we finished 2nd overall. Our second race was the season finale Grissom Grand Prix May 5, 2018. We finished 1st in the endurance race and 2nd overall out of 28 middle school teams. Although we only competed in 2 of 4 events for the 2017-2018 season we finished 8th nationally among middle schools. We were very proud of the results for our inaugural season and set very ambitious goals for year 2.
Founded in the fall of 2017, Cougar Strong Racing is the GreenpowerUSA F24 Racing Team at Long Cane Middle School in LaGrange, Georgia. During our first season we built our first Formula 24 race car and competed twice. At our first race, the Chambers County Grand Prix, we finished 2nd overall. Our second race was the season finale Grissom Grand Prix May 5, 2018. We finished 1st in the endurance race and 2nd overall out of 28 middle school teams. Although we only competed in 2 of 4 events for the 2017-2018 season we finished 8th nationally among middle schools. We were very proud of the results for our inaugural season and set very ambitious goals for year 2.
SEASON 2
For the 2018-2019 season we added a second team of students and a second Formula 24 race car, intent on making a run for the season points title! Our two teams competed in 7 races, and we also hosted the first-ever GreenpowerUSA race in the state of Georgia - the Diverse Power Grand Prix at LaGrange College on February 28, 2019. We won the top 2 spots at several races across the season, with our new #999 team winning the National Championship, and our #000 team winning 2nd in the nation among middle school teams.
For the 2018-2019 season we added a second team of students and a second Formula 24 race car, intent on making a run for the season points title! Our two teams competed in 7 races, and we also hosted the first-ever GreenpowerUSA race in the state of Georgia - the Diverse Power Grand Prix at LaGrange College on February 28, 2019. We won the top 2 spots at several races across the season, with our new #999 team winning the National Championship, and our #000 team winning 2nd in the nation among middle school teams.
SEASON 3
The 2019-2020 season was our 3rd and half of both teams were brand new. Our goals didn't change...we focused on continuous improvement and continuing our winning tradition. We started with a commitment to 9 races for the season - four of which would have been semi-local and five that would be held in Huntsville, AL. We got off to a strong start securing the top two spots among middle school teams and we held on to that lead through our last race of the season, which was the 2020 Diverse Power Grand Prix on Leap Day. One final race was held at Hazel Green HS in Hazel Green, AL but we weren't allowed to travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Even though we skipped the last race of the season we were still far ahead of all other teams. Our #999 team won their second consecutive National Championship and our #000 team again finished 2nd in the nation for the middle school division. We were so proud of our students!
The 2019-2020 season was our 3rd and half of both teams were brand new. Our goals didn't change...we focused on continuous improvement and continuing our winning tradition. We started with a commitment to 9 races for the season - four of which would have been semi-local and five that would be held in Huntsville, AL. We got off to a strong start securing the top two spots among middle school teams and we held on to that lead through our last race of the season, which was the 2020 Diverse Power Grand Prix on Leap Day. One final race was held at Hazel Green HS in Hazel Green, AL but we weren't allowed to travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Even though we skipped the last race of the season we were still far ahead of all other teams. Our #999 team won their second consecutive National Championship and our #000 team again finished 2nd in the nation for the middle school division. We were so proud of our students!
SEASON 4
For the 2020-2021 season we had some big changes. Our teams moved to grade level specific teams - the #999 team became our 8th grade team and the #000 team became our 7th grade team. We also created a 3rd team that will be our 6th grade team so Cougar Strong Racing was 45 students strong. Additionally we created 2 new 9-week STEM classes to allow an additional 240 students a year to get an introductory experience to GreenpowerUSA.
The CV-19 pandemic eliminated the first half of our season, but we got started racing in January and participated in all 4 race events held in the southeast. Our 999 team won 1st place overall in the intermediate modified division at all 4 race events. Our 000 team finished 2nd overall in the intermediate modified division at 3 of the 4 race events. And our brand new 555 team placed 1st overall in the intermediate stock division at all 4 race events of the season. All total our 3 teams brought 25 banners back to hang in the race lab this season.
During those 4 race events our teams accumulated an amazing amount of miles during race heats. Our 999 team had the most with a total of 273 miles. Our 000 team was right behind them with 264 miles, and our 555 team accumulated 227 miles during race heats. That made our program total 764 miles logged during race heats in just 4 events - more than any other program in the United States...wow! This was not an easy task and required a well tuned & maintained race car by our build teams & pit crews, and consistently good decisions by our drivers on the race track.
Officially GreenpowerUSA chose not to name a 2021 national champion due to the travel restrictions placed on some teams by their local boards of education. But our season performance was unmatched, so we are going to consider ourselves the unofficial national champions of both the intermediate modified division and the intermediate stock division. Congratulations to Cougar Strong Racing #999 & #000 - #1 & #2 in the Nation for the third consecutive year, and to #555 for taking the top spot in the stock division in their inaugural season!
For the 2020-2021 season we had some big changes. Our teams moved to grade level specific teams - the #999 team became our 8th grade team and the #000 team became our 7th grade team. We also created a 3rd team that will be our 6th grade team so Cougar Strong Racing was 45 students strong. Additionally we created 2 new 9-week STEM classes to allow an additional 240 students a year to get an introductory experience to GreenpowerUSA.
The CV-19 pandemic eliminated the first half of our season, but we got started racing in January and participated in all 4 race events held in the southeast. Our 999 team won 1st place overall in the intermediate modified division at all 4 race events. Our 000 team finished 2nd overall in the intermediate modified division at 3 of the 4 race events. And our brand new 555 team placed 1st overall in the intermediate stock division at all 4 race events of the season. All total our 3 teams brought 25 banners back to hang in the race lab this season.
During those 4 race events our teams accumulated an amazing amount of miles during race heats. Our 999 team had the most with a total of 273 miles. Our 000 team was right behind them with 264 miles, and our 555 team accumulated 227 miles during race heats. That made our program total 764 miles logged during race heats in just 4 events - more than any other program in the United States...wow! This was not an easy task and required a well tuned & maintained race car by our build teams & pit crews, and consistently good decisions by our drivers on the race track.
Officially GreenpowerUSA chose not to name a 2021 national champion due to the travel restrictions placed on some teams by their local boards of education. But our season performance was unmatched, so we are going to consider ourselves the unofficial national champions of both the intermediate modified division and the intermediate stock division. Congratulations to Cougar Strong Racing #999 & #000 - #1 & #2 in the Nation for the third consecutive year, and to #555 for taking the top spot in the stock division in their inaugural season!
SEASON 5
For our 5th season of GreenpowerUSA competition Cougar Strong Racing is back with lots of new team members. The race season started with a bang at the Inspire Academy 400 where we took the top 2 spots in the modified division and the top spot in the stock division. We have a total of 9 race events on the calendar this year and are glad to be back to a full racing schedule. We will see you at the finishline!
For our 5th season of GreenpowerUSA competition Cougar Strong Racing is back with lots of new team members. The race season started with a bang at the Inspire Academy 400 where we took the top 2 spots in the modified division and the top spot in the stock division. We have a total of 9 race events on the calendar this year and are glad to be back to a full racing schedule. We will see you at the finishline!
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Pictured above is the original Cougar Strong Racing team started at the beginning of the 2017-2018 school year.
A tour of our racing lab early in our first season