NASCAR has been a passion of mine for as long as I can remember and Michigan International Speedway (MIS) in particular has a special place in my heart. Like anything else, it is easy to develop a passion and love for something that you are born into. 
Ever since the early 2000’s, I have been attending races at Michigan International Speedway in large part due to my grandfather working the first-ever race at MIS in 1968 and my father and uncle working on the fire crew since the mid-1970’s. I attended my first NASCAR race in 1999 when I was four years old and have been hooked ever since. My parents have told me countless stories about my early days at MIS and learning how to do math based on the car numbers (whatever works, right?).
Visiting Jackson County as an out-of-towner every year, we were always greatly pleased with the hospitality and passion that the community brought to the races. The great atmosphere made it hard to leave after each race.
So as you can imagine, I always wanted to be a race-car driver but I knew I would have to find another way into the sport.
In the summer of 2015 I watched my dreams turn into reality. I took a season employee position in the Event Operations department that eventually lead me to an internship in the Corporate Partnerships department in the summer of 2017 and 2018. 
After spending three summers working at MIS, I knew I was getting closer and closer to my goal. This past spring, it felt as if everything had come full circle as I was hired on full-time at MIS as the Multimedia Coordinator with my first day being Monday leading up to the June race weekend.
As we come closer to the end of a great year, I am excited for what next year will bring not only for Michigan International Speedway but the surrounding cities as well.
Photo Credits: Jonathan Knight Photography
Author: Trevor Travis, Multimedia Coordinator at Michigan International Speedway.
Published 8/6/2019.