OXFORD, AL — Choccolocco Park welcomed more than 600 middle and high school students on Friday, November 7, for the first of its two Greenpower USA Green Prix races scheduled for the 2025–2026 season. The day-long event drew 62 registered teams—an increase from the 48 participating teams last fall—transforming portions of the park into a competitive racing circuit focused on electric vehicle engineering and performance.
The Greenpower USA program challenges students in grades 6–12 to design, build, and race electric cars. Friday’s competition featured heats in the F24 Intermediate, Advanced, F24+, and Advanced Custom categories, as well as technical inspections and a closing awards ceremony.
Teams from the CREATE Innovation and Technology Center, which now hosts the region’s Greenpower USA program, had a strong showing. Formerly known as Oxford High School’s “Big O Racing,” the group competed this year under its new CREATE Racing branding, reflecting the center’s expanded role in providing career technical programs to students across multiple school districts.
CREATE Racing brought home the F24 Advanced Stock championship banner, a second-place finish in the F24 Advanced Modified category, and second- and third-place awards in the F24 Advanced Custom division. Three teams from Oxford Middle School were also among the 62 participating groups.
Mayor Alton Craft opened the event by waving the ceremonial green flag.
“Hosting these races brings a positive impact to our city by bringing all of the young folks here and shows we are working to enter the next century by supporting the education of these students who will continue to develop these new technologies,” Craft said. He added that the work of Greenpower USA organizers and city departments “has been fantastic” and praised the growth of student interest in the program.
The Choccolocco Green Prix has become the largest regular-season race on the Greenpower USA circuit. Student teams spent the day competing in multiple heats beginning at 9 a.m. and concluding with the awards presentation at 5:15 p.m.
Friday also marked the first major local appearance of CREATE Racing’s new color scheme and team branding. Team member Ben Brady said competing at home following their fourth National Title win was an exciting milestone for the program.
Coach Britton Young added that students “were excited to show off their skill here in front of a home crowd.”
The second Choccolocco Park Greenpower USA Green Prix of the 2025–2026 season is scheduled for Friday, January 16, 2026.
