UNE associate professor conducts research with NASCAR driver

Lara Carlson at the Bristol Motor Speedway
Lara Carlson at the Bristol Motor Speedway

Lara Carlson, DPE., F.A.C.S.M., C.S.C.S., associate professor in the Department of Physical Therapy and the Center for Excellence in the Neurosciences, is conducting her groundbreaking research into the physiological challenges of race car driving with one of the elite drivers in the sport.

Carlson is working with NASCAR driver Josh Wise of the #30 Sprint Cup Series team for The Motorsports Group. Carlson recently traveled to Tennessee to collect data at the Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race at the Bristol Motor Speedway. She pioneered the first stock car driver physiology publication of its kind in 2014, and continues to work on this topic to improve driver performance and safety. “This is very exciting because it has taken over ten years to get this research and collaboration to where it is,” said Carlson. “As an exercise physiologist, it is thrilling to be working at the highest level with professional athletes in the largest spectator sport in the world."

Mike Lawrence, M.S., Motion Analysis Laboratory Manager in the Department of Physical Therapy, accompanied Carlson to Tennessee to assist with data collection.

To learn more about the University of New England’s Westbrook College of Health Professions visit www.une.edu/wchp

To apply, visit www.une.edu/admissions

Lara Carlson and NASCAR driver Josh Wise
Lara Carlson and NASCAR driver Josh Wise

About the University of New England

The University of New England is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible, accredited online degrees. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.