Former NASCAR Pit Crewman Making an Impact in Solar Industry

SAN DIEGO, Feb. 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Life in the world of motorsports and top level racing relies on split second decisions, mechanical prowess, teamwork, extreme organization and keeping up on constantly changing technology. Walt Virack has changed tires in the pits at the Indy 500 and rebuilt transmissions in 30 minutes in the desert at major off-road races and spent thousands of hours prepping for some of the world's most elite races.

Since joining Stellar Solar in November of 2010, Virack's motorsports experience has been a huge asset at Stellar, launching several high-profile commercial projects, including those at Salk Institute and US Foodservice while still managing a heavy schedule of residential installations.

Virack 's addition to the team could not have come at a better time for Stellar Solar. "Our first quarter has been our busiest ever with a 2.5 Megawatt backlog. The preparation and preparedness that it takes to run a NASCAR race in a different city every weekend, or the skills to prepare 3 race trucks and full support crews to run a 16-day, 5000-mile race in South America are amazing. These same skills are necessary to and helpful in planning a successful Solar Installation that is completed on time, on budget, without extra trips to the supplier. Walt's ability to manage several large projects simultaneously and all the moving parts involved is as good as I've seen," said Kent Harle, President of Stellar Solar. He added, "This is a prime example of a highly skilled worker from a traditional industry like motorsports making an immediate impact after transitioning to the renewable energy sector."

While the solar industry does not quite provide the rush of a NASCAR pit-stop, it has given Virack a different type of job satisfaction. "Stellar Solar takes great pride in the design and installation of their projects, be it a San Diego residential solar installation or a multi-megawatt commercial solar system," he explained. "There is a lot of attention to detail needed and planning the right parts and equipment for the job is very similar to preparing for different race tracks around the country. The planning we do before a major installation can be just as intense as planning for a major race in my former profession," he added.

Virack said he even convinced his co-workers at Stellar Solar to power a model slot-car track at public events using the firm's Mobile Solar Station. "It's a great way to demonstrate solar electricity in a hands-on way."

Photo:

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About Stellar Solar

Stellar Solar is a leading San Diego County-based residential and commercial PV solar design and installation company since 1998 with 500+ installations, ranging in size from 2kW to 1MW, throughout California. Their Mobile Solar Station is available to power events free of charge. Learn more at http://www.stellarsolar.net.

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SOURCE Stellar Solar