INDIANAPOLIS – Overcoming obstacles from outdated parts to spring tornados, Trine University's 2025 Shell Eco-marathon team became the first team to pass technical inspection in the Urban Electric category.
The team took part in the regional competition held at Indianapolis Motor Speedway from April 2-6.
The Shell Eco-marathon is described as one of the world's leading energy-efficiency engineering programs.
Encompassing high school and college teams, the annual competition challenges students to build their own ultra-energy-efficient cars and take them out on the track in competition.
Trine's entry was the university's first in the Urban Electric category since 2022.
Trine competed with other battery-powered vehicles.
In addition to Straske, Trine's team was made up of mechanical engineering majors Jonathan Sheets, Fort Wayne; Hunter Burke, Edgerton, Ohio; Andrew Mackey, Rittman, Ohio; Drew Marry, Hudson, Mich.; and Joshua Metcalf, Leesburg.
Metcalf had participated in the Eco-marathon in high school, but the competition was canceled both years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Those experiences were incredibly positive and left a lasting impression on me," he said. "In fact, they played a major role in my decision to pursue engineering as a career. Coming back to the project now feels like a second chance to finish what I started - and to apply everything I've learned since then."
Other team members were attracted by the opportunity to apply their skills to a real-world challenge, build a car from the ground up and compete on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.