OREGON, Wis. -- Students are getting a firsthand lesson in auto mechanics right in the middle of the action at the Madison International Speedway.

Learning auto mechanics in the classroom is one thing, but the students said learning on the race track is a completely different experience.

Every Friday night, instead of going to the movies or hanging out with friends, a group of teens are going to class.

"It's awesome. It's kind of a whole family setting here," said New Glarus High School senior Dan Herried.

Six students, 13 years old through seniors in high school, are an integral part of the Urban Force Racing Team, WISC-TV reported.

The students do just about everything but get behind the wheel.

"I help with the jack stands underneath and then I go underneath and check the ride height indicators to see how close the car is getting to the track," said Herried.

"You get out here and the motor is a lot bigger; it's a lot different, different people, different environment, people rushing everywhere, but it's fun. It's a rush, you know? It really gets you going," said Gavin Klosterman, also a senior at New Glarus.

The Hendricks family of Beloit has carried on what has become a tradition of education. It was a concept brought to life by the late Ken Hendricks of ABC Supply Co. five years ago.

"When I came to Wisconsin, I said, 'How can we get our kids excited about education?'" said Pete Roskovic, an automotive technologies teacher in the Beloit School District and Urban Force Racing team manager. "I said, 'We've got our automotive program.' (Ken Hendricks) said, 'No, I want something to really get them fired up.'"

Roskovic said the idea of taking the classroom trackside is paying off.

Students who were once a part of the team have finished college, starting careers in the automotive industry. This year's students said they hope the summer's experience helps them follow that path.

"It's real. I mean, they change stuff up and you have to work on the car a lot more to keep it moving, keep it getting faster, and stay ahead in the race," said Klosterman.

"After college, I definitely want to be working on a race car," said Herried.

Urban Force Racing already has a win under its belt this summer and students are hoping for a few more.