La Vergne, TN - On Tuesday (9/23/2025) students at La Vergne High School were met with an unexpected challenge that would push their skills and creativity to the limit: build a race-ready flat track motorcycle in just 174 school days. The surprise was unveiled in dramatic fashion when American Flat Track legend Scott Parker rode into the Murfreesboro Northern Tool + Equipment store on an XR750, revealing the task ahead to 14 stunned students and their instructor from the school’s career and technical education (CTE) program.
The challenge is part of the Northern Tool + Equipment Legends Build, a nationwide initiative that celebrates the grit and craftsmanship behind American motorsports. With support from racing icons like Parker, Chris Carr, Kenny Coolbeth, and Billy Lane of Choppers Inc., the students will design and construct a motorcycle destined for an exhibition race. NASCAR’s Kyle Petty will host monthly updates, tracking the team’s progress as they transform raw parts into a roaring machine.
Once completed, the bike will hit the track in an American Flat Track Legends race before being auctioned off. Proceeds will benefit Northern Tool’s Tools for the Trades™ program, Petty’s Victory Junction nonprofit, and the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame.
This hands-on project complements La Vergne High’s robust Mechatronics program, which partners with industry leaders like Nissan North America and Motlow State Community College. Students can earn Siemens Level I certification and even graduate high school with an associate degree through dual enrollment opportunities.
For Rutherford County Schools, it’s another bold step in preparing students for leadership and innovation in the trades and beyond. And for these teens, it’s a chance to leave their mark on one of America’s most thrilling motorsports—one wrench turn at a time.
