For Texas native Jesse Iwuji, racing is not just a passion, but a platform to help him inspire others to strive for their dreams each and every day. I had the pleasure of chatting with Jesse Iwuji today, who was kind enough to take a break from his hectic schedule between being both a professional driver and an active duty member of the Navy. Iwuji grew up in Texas where he was a stellar athlete in both football and track and field. He went on to do both in college at the Naval Academy, where he was a safety for the Navy Midshipmen. How did this talented athlete get so invested into racing? It all started with passion.
For the #36 Patriot Motorsports K&N West driver, his NASCAR dreams started with his love for cars. Jesse noted that he has always liked cars and has been interested in racing. While at the Naval Academy, Jesse says he did a lot of research. He purchased a Dodge Challenger for drag racing and also used a Corvette for road racing. This is when he realized his dream –he wanted to be a professional race car driver. His career in racing got its start in 2015. He finished out his rookie season in the K&N West Series in the top ten in points in 2016, finishing tenth. Although he experienced a solid rookie year, Jesse’s ultimate goal for the 2017 season is to become more competitive and improve in the points standings. He also noted that finishing every race couldn’t hurt, which any competitor can wholeheartedly agree with. For Jesse Iwuji, his 2017 season has already started out on a wonderful note.
Prior to the start of the 2017 season, it was announced that Jesse had teamed up with former NFL linebacker Shawne Merriman, who most notably played for the Chargers and the Bills, at Patriot Motorsports Group. When asked about how it all came about, Jesse shared with me that he met Shawne at a fashion show. Shawne was there representing his “Lights Out” clothing brand and the two got to talking. Jesse wanted to help Shawne get his brand out there yet also get his foot in the door in the racing world. Shawne is now working with Jesse as a car owner, earning owner points as the season continues. This partnership has brought momentum to the #36 team for the 2017 season, and Iwuji plans on continuing this momentum by not only performing well on the track, but by helping others along the way.
As a driver, Jesse strives to use his platform for the greater good. He wants to be a competitive and successful driver, but he wants to help others and inspire others that are out there chasing their own dreams. Jesse partners with both the Patriot Phoenix Foundation (http://phoenixpatriotfoundation.org/) and 208 Cares (http://www.208cares.org/). The Patriot Phoenix Foundation provides a number of different services for veterans and their families, including assisted living programs and family events. Meanwhile, the 208 cares program plans to build a home for a disabled veteran in Idaho each year. Jesse says that using his platform to help others feels good. He noted that one of the most rewarding moments he’s experienced is when he and his team teamed up to help a boy that has childhood cancer live out his dream become a racecar driver. A 2 seater racecar was built so that the boy could take a few laps around a track and experience the thrill of being behind the wheel. The viral success of the story (which you can find here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ib5m2flsxRE) surprised Iwuji but made him feel good to know that he made the difference in the lives of both the little boy and his family. In addition to his charity efforts, Jesse likes going out to new places and promoting the sport of NASCAR and his brand. He notes that he likes to travel to places where NASCAR isn’t exactly well-known or popular, encouraging others to check out the sport. He also spoke about how autograph signings are a great way to interact with the fans and network with new people. Jesse manages to maintain his racing career all while being an active duty member of the Navy. How does he manage this?
When asked about how crazy life can get, Jesse just laughed and said that he leads a hectic yet rewarding life. He says that time management is crucial and that he has to manage to use every minute to his advantage. Jesse says that there’s not a lot of time in his schedule to really go out and have fun — he’s not the partying type. He spends his free time reaching out to sponsors, practicing on his racing simulator and connecting with different people via social media. His days usually begin around 7:30 am and he doesn’t stop going until 1:30 am — always running like the Energizer Bunny. It takes a special kind of person to be able to accomplish these many things but remain so level headed.
When it comes to accomplishing your dreams, Jesse says that it’s a process.The first step in the process is making a decision about where you want to go in your life. He says that you must come to terms with your goal yourself and ensure that you let the world know about it. He suggests writing it down and looking at it every day so that goal is always in the back of your mind. Once you set a goal, you should never look back. Secondly, you need to take a step in the right direction. Every day, you must accomplish at least one thing that helps you get toward that goal. — this gets you progressing step by step. Third, you must develop a pattern. There are going to be bumps in the road, but you can never look back. He notes that there will always be people out there that support you and those that don’t support you. No matter what people say, you should never allow anyone else to drag you down. He also advises to never let other people’s opinions of you become a reality — you know your own truth. Lastly, Jesse says that you need to make sure that you always keep pushing and that you should always remain level headed and possess good character. If your character is off, you will be left exposed for the entire world to tear up. He notes that your talent will open up the door for you, but your character is what will help that door stay open. If you fall, it will dig you into a deeper hole than where you started. He also states that having faith is also important and that saying a little prayer every night helps. From these wise words alone, it is unquestionable that Jesse’s mindset and character is right where it needs to be to accomplish great things. He’s always striving for greatness and dreaming about the bigger picture.
When asked what active or former driver he would like to race against, Jesse answered with Dale Earnhardt Jr. He noted that Earnhardt is a down to Earth guy and a respectful, clean driver. While he’s imagining racing alongside the greats in the sport, he’s still managing to keep his eyes on the prize. Jesse has entered the 2017 Champion Spark Plugs “Search for a Champion” contest, where the winning driver will land a $50,000 sponsorship deal. He is one of the top 25 finalists in the competition and one more month of voting remains — ending on March 23rd. You can vote for Jesse once per day here: http://sfac.championautoparts.com/entry/1184/. Jesse is a wonderful person both on and off the track. He continues to work his hardest every day and encourages others to follow their dreams and do the same. We are wishing Jesse and his team the best of luck in 2017 — We’ll be rooting for you!
Follow Jesse on social media here:
Website: http://www.jesseiwujiracing.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/jesse_iwuji
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/jesse_iwuji
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jesseiwujiracing
