Carvana has teamed up with the Jimmie Johnson Foundation to help fast track the career development of aspiring automotive professionals.

The online used-car retailer and seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion have debuted Driving Brighter Futures, a grant program that aims to foster and improve career and technical education (CTE) in automotive and engineering programs at grades K-12 public schools throughout the U.S.

“I grew up around cars, and I know firsthand how transformative it is when a young person finds their passion in a shop,” Johnson said in a news release. “The educators running these CTE programs are doing incredible work, often with very little.

“Driving Brighter Futures is about making sure they have what they need to keep inspiring the next generation — because the industry needs these students, and these students deserve the opportunity.”

The grant program will award a public school’s automotive or engineering CTE program with a grant to invest in what their program needs most — for example, new tools to work with or vehicles to work on.

Nominations are open through Aug. 28. More information can be found here: Driving Brighter Futures | Jimmie Johnson Foundation

“At Carvana, we’re deeply committed to building the workforce that keeps the automotive industry moving forward. Driving Brighter Futures is an investment in the students who will one day design, build, and repair the vehicles of tomorrow,” Carvana co-founder and chief brand officer Ryan Keeton said in a news release.

“We’re honored to team up with Jimmie Johnson Foundation on a program that puts real resources where they matter most.”