Tools for the Trades

March 2025The students received an incredible visit from Monster Jam® drivers, technicians, and leadership who worked alongside them for a full day of intense progress as they build a one-third scale Monster Jam truck powered by a NorthStar 740cc EFI engine. Watch as Monster Jam® experts including El Toro Loco Driver Armando Castro, ThundeROARus driver Colt Stephens, Monster Mutt Crew Chief Matt Del Santor, and Bill Easterly mentor the students through crucial build milestones. By the end of this action-packed day, the team achieved an amazing feat - getting their chassis rolling!

February 2025In the third monthly update of the Tools for the Trades™ Monster Jam® Mini Build, host Dylan McCool takes us through the progress made by the Bryan High School CTE students as they work to build a one-third scale Monster Jam® truck powered by a NorthStar 740cc EFI engine. Let’s check in with the students and instructor to see how their build is progressing as they narrow in on the engine mount and axle work. Plus, tune in to see what the Monster Jam® Race Garage crew has to say about their progress, including technical insights and feedback from Monster Jam® truck drivers Armando Castro and Colt Stephens.

January 2025In the second monthly update of the Tools for the Trades™ Monster Jam® Mini Build, host Dylan McCool takes us through the progress made by the Bryan High School CTE students as they work to build a one-third scale Monster Jam® truck powered by a NorthStar 740cc EFI engine. Watch as we check in with the students and instructor to see how their chassis and frame are coming along and how they communicate as a team across two different class periods to make progress! Plus, find out what the Monster Jam® Race Garage crew has to say about their progress.

December 2024It seems like yesterday when we kicked off the Rat Rod Build Off and here we are with the second build from Tools for the Trades™. This time around, Bryan High School CTE students in Bryan, Texas have enrolled in a monster-sized task. They’ll be building a one-third scale Monster Jam® truck powered by a NorthStar 740cc EFI engine for the Tools for the Trades™ Monster Jam® Mini Build, with support from DEWALT, Ingersoll Rand, and Milwaukee Tool. Watch as we check in with the students and instructor in month one to see how their initial plans and sketches are coming along.

October 2024We are thrilled to become the official hardware retailer of tools and related equipment for Monster Jam®! Our partnership also includes the newly named Monster Jam® Garage Outfitted by Northern Tool + Equipment which ensures that Monster Jam drivers and crews have the right tools and related equipment to keep their trucks performance-ready. Plus, the CTE students at Bryan High School in Bryan, Texas will get hands-on experience with the Tools for the Trades™ Monster Jam® Mini Build - supported by DEWALT, Ingersoll Rand, and Milwaukee Tool.

June 2024Minneapolis Public and Lakeville North schools captivated crowds and celebrity mentors when their Rat Rod Build Karts were revealed for the first time Friday, June 21st. It was impressive to see the level of craftsmanship and skill that was applied to the kart builds. Watch the finale reel to see Richard Petty and Billy Lane's first look at the karts, the standing ovation the students received, and the karts' maiden voyage on the fairgrounds.

May 2024After months of dedicated work and hands-on learning, the students are nearing the finish line. In this update, we check in with both school teams as the karts get pinstriped by Cliff Anderson, a true master of the craft. From initial design to the final touches, these students have worked tirelessly to build these karts from the ground up. As we approach the big reveal at the 50th anniversary of MSRA’s Back to the 50’s at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds on June 21st, the 30-day countdown is officially on!

April 2024 The high school students of Minneapolis Public Schools and Lakeville North High School are getting closer to completing their Rat Rod Karts for the big reveal on June 21st at the MSRA Back to the 50's weekend. As they continue to build their karts from the ground up, their grades depend on the successful completion and safe operation of their karts. With the guidance of their instructors and the expertise of mentors Greg Steadman and Thad Moffitt of Petty's Garage, they are well on their way.

March 2024 Teams are under pressure and time is of the essence at this stage of the build. Last month, their mentors, including Billy Lane and the team from Petty's Garage, offered their expertise in person. Now, we're witnessing the incredible results of their support, with the Lakeville North team starting their engine for the first time and the Minneapolis Public Schools team making significant progress on their Rat Rod. Will they get them done in time for the MSRA Back to the 50's show in June?

February 2024 The students at Lakeville North and Minneapolis Public Schools had the incredible opportunity to work with their mentors in person. These mentors included celebrity bike builder Billy Lane, COO of Petty’s Garage Greg Steadman, and Thad Moffitt, a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Driver and grandson of Richard Petty. With the guidance, expertise, and hands-on support of these mentors, the students worked to reach a critical moment in their build off journey: starting their NorthStar 740cc EFI engines.

December 2023 From bending frames to mounting NorthStar 740cc EFI engines, these high schoolers are working hard to bring their rat rod go karts to life. With guidance from mentors Greg Steadman, COO of Petty’s Garage, and celebrity bike builder Billy Lane of Choppers Inc., the teams are facing tough questions that challenge their earlier plans. Despite limited time and upcoming breaks, these students remain focused and motivated to cross the finish line, solving challenges and working together as a team. It’s amazing to see how much progress they’ve made.

November 2023 Join our host Dylan McCool as he checks in on the students' progress. Both high schools are working hard to design a functioning chassis, drive train and much more. The goal? To build a running Rat Rod Kart powered by a NorthStar 740cc engine. By providing both technical and creative challenges, the build off teaches the class how to function as a team and be self-directed. Lakeville North High School and Minneapolis Public Schools are working with their mentors Richard Petty and Billy Lane to get these karts on the road!

October 2023 We’ve invited two high schools to step into the ring for an exciting build-off to take place during the 2023-2024 school year. This assignment provides a challenge – both technically and creatively – and an opportunity for Lakeville North High School and Minneapolis Public Schools students to roll up their sleeves, work with their hands, and develop valuable skills. Check out the first monthly update and watch the students receive their engines!

July 2023 We’re thrilled to announce a first-of-its-kind build-off between two Minnesota high schools: Minneapolis Public Schools and Lakeville North. Both schools will spend the next year building rat rod go-karts using a 740cc NorthStar engine from our upcoming line, with the guidance of celebrity mentors NASCAR legend Richard Petty and celebrity bike builder Billy Lane. The participating schools will receive a donation of Professional Grade tools and equipment, including equipment from Ingersoll Rand to complete the build!

April 2023 Our Tools for the Trades™ program teamed up with Ronnie Renner and ESAB to make a tools donation and surprise delivery to Lecanto High School’s Career and Technical Education program. It was a day to remember and we’re so proud to invest in today’s students to help fill the skilled trades pipeline of tomorrow.

March 2023 We partnered up with Billy Lane and Kyle Petty to power Sons of Speed racing! We welcomed three students from nearby Deltona’s Pine Ridge High School in the pit at Sons of Speed to learn from Billy Lane and work with racers on their bikes as a part of our Tools for the Trades™ program.

December 2022 What an honor to partner with NASCAR legend Richard Petty and Lincoln Electric for our Tools for the Trades™ program to donate new supplies and tools to his former high school in Randleman, North Carolina. We want to ignite the student's passion and curiosity for the trades and provide the proper tools to get started.

September 2022 Like our customers, our Tools for the Trades program is working hard — working hard to put professional-grade tools in the hands of future skilled trades professionals. Last year, Northern Tool + Equipment went across the country to power up classrooms with truckloads of tools to help students take their passion for the trades to the next level.

JUNE 2022 School's out for summer and there's no doubt these graduates from Marion E. Barnes Career Center are on their way to a bright future in the skilled trades. Northern's “Tools for the Trades” program paid these students a visit to power up their classrooms with some new pro-grade tools to help get them started.

JUNE 2022 The Career & Technical Education Academy (CTE) in Sioux Falls, SD is not only raising the bar, but teaching kids to raise the roof on a possible career opportunity. Find out how a $5,000 donation in pro-grade tools from Northern Tool + Equipment's "Tools for the Trades" program is lending a hand to help build some promising futures.

MAY 2022 From a container that measures food freshness, to self-made depth finders, shoe dryers, and more, the creativity and innovative skill of Blaine's students is thriving in a variety of ways. Watch to find out how a $5,000 donation from Northern's Tools for the Trades program is helping to bring these brilliant projects to life.

MAY 2022 With an auto repair industry employee shortfall projected within the next two years, how can you give students the drive to fill those gaps and send them into the workforce fully prepared? Mentorship plus a $5,000 donation of tools and gear from Northern Tool's "Tools for the Trades" program is a great way to start!

APRIL 2022 Learning can be fun! From building robots – and crushing them up – to making high-mileage vehicles, students are getting hands-on experience with a variety of tools. Find out how these Hersey High School students in Illinois put a $5,000 donation in pro-grade tools to work learning lifelong skills.

APRIL 2022 Sometimes a friendly competition sponsored by a local retailer and a popular area trade school can help spark new career aspirations — even among females interested in a traditionally male-dominated industry. Find out how Northern Tool and Sun City Welding Academy teamed up to do just that.

SPRING 2022 Touching young lives with awareness and hands-on opportunities at the proper moment can make the difference between finding a passion or missing out on a promising future. Watch this video to meet high school student, Kayla, and hear about her journey into our next generation of inspired welders.

1/14/22 Every school visit is filled with valuable teaching moments! How is one local tool retailer positively affecting our young students and their aspirations for a promising future in the skilled trades industry? Watch this video to find out.

Fall 2021 When southern high school students are looking for an opportunity to develop and demonstrate their skills and techniques in an environment that simulates the real world of professional welding, they look no further than these Texas Welding Series events, made available by sponsors like Northern Tool.