Detroit's Michigan Central Station transforms into the ultimate racing headquarters this January - full of racing-inspired experiences, events and vehicle displays.

Building off the much-anticipated season launch for the 2026 Ford Racing season, Michigan Central Race Days is a two-week event from Jan. 18 to 30 where Detroit’s deep roots in motorsport intersects with cutting-edge technology.

As part of Race Days, from Jan. 23-25, Michigan State University's College of Engineering and the Spartan Motorsport Performance Lab led by David Ferguson, associate professor in the Department of Kinesiology, College of Education, will be on full display.

The display will highlight how vehicles are engineered through the Indy Autonomous Challenge car and SAE Formula 1 cars, as well as how drivers are prepared using tools that support performance on and off the track. 

Additional Race Days events to gear up for:

  • Jan. 21 at 4:30 p.m.: Join for exclusive after-hours networking event featuring a panel discussion on trends and tech in motorsports with leaders from Ford Racing, Oracle and Red Bull Racing who are shaping what’s next on and off the track. There's also a chance to learn more about the latest career opportunities in Ford Racing with the Ford Careers team to match the continued growth of global motorsports. Registration required here by Jan. 19.
  • Jan. 24 at 1 p.m., Engineering the Driver at high speed: The science behind modern racing safety. Aidan Davis, a second-year medical student at MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine and researcher in the Spartan Motorsport Performance Lab under David Ferguson, will host a conversation with Trifun Dimitrijevski, a.k.a. “Dr. D," a Wayne State University physician, chief medical officer of the Detroit Grand Prix, and emergency medicine physician at DMC Detroit Receiving Hospital, on what it takes to keep drivers safe.

Michigan Central Race Days will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day between Jan. 18 and 30. Michigan Central is located at 2001 15th St. in Detroit.

Story written by Kim Ward, courtesy of  MSUToday.

MSU College of Engineering Media and Public Relations page