Allyson Castillo, a senior at UCF studying broadcast journalism in the Nicholson School of Communication and Media (NSCM), spent ten weeks this summer as an intern for NASCAR’s content team, where she’s working on influencer relations, trend analysis and digital storytelling that brings the energy of the race track to its audiences.
Castillo was only one of 40 students selected from more than 4,000 applicants for the NASCAR Next Internship Program. Interns from various academic backgrounds in the program are placed with teams and departments that stretch across the NASCAR industry, including 23XI Racing, Hendrick Motorsports, Daytona International Speedway and more.
“It absolutely means the world to me to be chosen out of 4,000 applicants,” she says. “It’s truly incredible to work alongside professionals and see the reality of what it’s like to actually be working in this exciting industry.”
Castillo’s role within the content team gives her insight into the digital side of motorsports, where she helps the brand connect with new and existing fans.
“My department specifically works with influencers, inviting them to a track to spread awareness and create content that shares the love of the sport,” she says. “It’s been a great experience connecting and working with these influencers.”
Having this internship opened new doors for Castillo and provided her with the opportunity to travel to Chicago and see her work come to life.
“Traveling to Chicago for the first time and having the chance to work alongside talented professionals and help grow the sport through influencer outreach is fulfilling to see,” she says. “It showed me how hard work pays off.”
Castillo says she’s always been a fan of motorsports, which encouraged her to apply when she made connections in the industry though UCF student organizations and opportunities such as the National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) and NSCM’s Intern Pursuit.
“One of the people I met through networking opportunities on campus works in communications for NASCAR in Daytona,” Catillo says. “I connected with her to learn how to start in the industry. She was kind enough to share information about the NASCAR Next Internship Program.”
As a first-generation college student, Castillo says her goals have been shaped by the hard work and devotedness she grew up surrounded by.
“My parents were very young when they moved to the United States and seeing their dedication has always inspired me to earn a degree,” she said. “It’s so important to provide a space for communities to share their voice and be heard — and journalism has helped provide that pathway for me.”
Castillo says she credits networking events and UCF’s student organizations for this incredible opportunity.
“If I didn’t go to these networking events or if I wasn’t part of student organizations here at UCF, I wouldn’t have made those important connections or even know that this internship exists,” she says.
As an engaged journalism student, Castillo shares that she has earned priceless professional experience in many areas of media, including NPR’s Are We There Yet? podcast, reporting on UCF Athletics with ESPN+, partaking in Spanish spoken news broadcasts with NAHJ, and contributing to The Charge, UCF’s student-run news organization.
“The journalism program does a fantastic job in helping students connect with professionals,” she says. “Those opportunities really prepared me for the real world and taught me how to communicate effectively, meet deadlines, and thrive in a fast-paced environment.”
