From the classroom to the racetrack, Eastland-Fairfield Career and Technical Schools alumni Aidan Malone has taken his welding skills to the fast lane. Today, Aidan works as an Interior Mechanic/Interior Specialist for the Viking Motorsports Team in Mooresville, North Carolina, known to many as Race City USA.
Aidan’s father, Sean Malone, recalls that his son always excelled with hands-on work.
“We knew early on that Aidan was not going to be a college kid,” Sean said. “But we could tell he was good with his hands, and we wanted him to find something he truly enjoyed.”
That is when the Malones discovered Eastland-Fairfield Career and Technical Schools. After enrolling in the Welding program, Aidan’s motivation and grades improved significantly.
“From a parent’s perspective, he went from being an average student to making the honor roll once he started at the career center,” Sean shared.
While still in high school, Aidan worked for a sheet metal company in Columbus, helping build HVAC systems for hospitals. The experience gave him valuable industry knowledge and a strong work ethic.
After graduating from Eastland-Fairfield, Aidan decided to continue his training by enrolling at the Universal Technical Institute in Mooresville, North Carolina. There, he immersed himself in the motorsports community, taking on shop jobs that eventually led him to his current position with Viking Motorsports, part of the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
Sean remembers one moment in particular that showed his son’s determination and composure under pressure.
“He was working in Michigan when the car he had been working on blew up during a practice lap,” Sean said. “They brought it back to the pit, and within 45 minutes, Aiden and his team had replaced the motor. He is a pretty reserved guy, but in that moment, he took action and got it done.”
Now with Viking Motorsports, Aidan is part of a new team that recently celebrated a fifth place finish at Talladega. Team owners have praised Aidan for his positive attitude and work ethic, saying he is always willing to learn something new and continue growing with the team.
For Sean, watching his son’s success has been extremely rewarding.
“Career tech was the right path for Aidan,” he said. “I have always told my kids to figure out what they want by the end of their sophomore year, whether that is college, employment, or the military. For Aidan, Eastland-Fairfield gave him the chance to turn his skills into a career.”
Although Aidan did not grow up working on cars, the influence of family friends and mentors, along with the opportunities he gained through Eastland-Fairfield, helped guide him toward a career that combines craftsmanship, precision, and passion.
From the welding lab to the NASCAR pits, Aidan Malone’s path with Viking Motorsports shows how career-technical education can lead to incredible opportunities.