It started with a phone call.
After spending four-and-a-half years at Northern Michigan University wrestling for the United States Olympic Education Center, I was looking for my next calling in life. In those years, I met many of the goals I set out to accomplish. I had wrestled in the U.S. Open four times, placing fourth my last year in the tournament. I finally defeated one competitor who I consistently lost to in the New York Athletic International to close out my wrestling career. Most importantly, I became the first person in my family to attend and graduate from college when I obtained a degree in criminal justice.
But what was my next step?
My initial plan was to join the Marine Corps. I had always wanted to be a part of that group and seeing my brother graduate in San Diego, California, solidified my decision. Now that I had a college degree, I thought I would go to Officer Candidate School in hopes of becoming an officer in the Corps.
One phone call prompted me to reconsider.
My wrestling coach received a call from someone in the racing industry in Charlotte, North Carolina; he was looking for athletes to join NASCAR pit crews. I didn't know much about the sport, but decided to give it a shot.
In the beginning of February 2014, I packed up my entire life in a trailer, hitched it to my truck and drove from Michigan to North Carolina, never looking back. Not to say the journey was easy – I was battling the first winter storm, a depleting bank account from 16-hour-drive gas expenses and anxiety that my plan wouldn't work out.
When I finally arrived at Hendrick Motorsports, I headed to the gym for an individual test with Coach Keith Flynn. Flynn, along with the strength and conditioning coaches, put me through a series of drills that tested my athletic abilities. Seeing the Hendrick Motorsports campus and getting a taste of what it would be like to work in NASCAR made me even more excited for my potential future. I just remember hoping that my results made the cut – I was ready to hear the sound of the air guns and smell the fuel on pit road.
Less than a week later, I got a call from Flynn asking if I was ready to work at Hendrick Motorsports.
I said "Yes," and, like with everything else in my life, never looked back.
