Ball State Details Esports Partnership with INDYCAR Team
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Ball State University is partnering with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing with the goal of benefitting students in the school’s esports program. The university says the deal includes scholarships for members of its varsity esports team.
RLL, which is co-owned by Ball State alumnus David Letterman, will provide $5,000 scholarships to two esports team members annually from the 2022-23 through 2025-26 academic years.
Additionally, esports student-athletes at Ball State will participate in community events to promote the e-racing series in conjunction with RLL.
“Esports is an emerging and highly competitive field. Investing in the future expertise in this area is of great importance to our team and particularly our engineers,” Tom Knox, senior vice president of sales and marketing for RLL, said in a news release. “This partnership with Ball State connects on many levels including the ability to tap into the bright minds that make up the faculty, students, and alumni.”
RLL formed its esports team in January 2021, around the same time that Ball State began its varsity esports program. The university currently has more than 50 student-athletes on its varsity esports team.
The partners are celebrating the deal by having RLL drivers Jack Harvey and Christian Lundgaard participate in the INDYCAR-Motorsport Games Pro Challenge from Ball State’s Esports Center using racing simulator equipment used by students.