From NASCAR to the Frontlines of CTE: Keith Benson on Shaping the Future Workforce
This story is part of our Skilled AF podcast series, spotlighting diverse and inspiring voices connected to the skilled trades & construction community.
Keith Benson is the Automotive and Manufacturing Instructor and Engineering Department Chair at Petaluma High School in Sonoma County, California. A former NASCAR technician and Ferrari mechanic, Keith left industry in 2019 to take over and build the very program that shaped his own career. Today, he’s preparing his high school students for in-demand careers by offering a world-class, hands-on education that fuses traditional trades with cutting-edge technology. Under his leadership, his programs have become national standouts — proving what’s possible when students gain confidence early and the power of Career and Technical Education (CTE) opening doors of opportunity for young people.
In this interview we cover:
Keith’s Career Path: From high school shop student to NASCAR and Ferrari tech, and back to Petaluma High
Program Revival & Expansion: How Keith helped save and scale the auto and manufacturing programs, doubling class offerings
Real-World Skills & Industry Connections: Students are graduating with job offers, internships, and experience making NASA parts and earning NIMS certifications
The Truth About Technician Pay: We revisit Keith’s viral quote about mechanics earning up to $250K/year, and break down how pay scales, specialization, and hustle impact earnings
Confidence Before Competence: Why exposure, mentorship, and early wins are key to unlocking student potential
AI, Automation & Future Workforce: The coming wave of robotics and how Keith’s preparing students to build, program, and work alongside machines – not be replaced by them
Industry Evolving: Keith’s take on the future of transportation (Electric vs. Hydrogen-powered vehicles)
Work-Based Learning & Equity: Expanding access, bridging the experience gap, and how community and public-private partnerships make it all possible
A special thank you to Petaluma High School and their incredible Media & Broadcast CTE program – Trojan Broadcast – for helping produce this episode.
