My name is Justin Swilling. I’m a 30-year-old native of Dalton, Georgia, who’s spent the past 12 years of his life here in the beautiful Queen City of Charlotte. I came to the region to pursue a career in the motorsports industry. Motorsports is – and has always been – a deep passion of mine. More than 90% of the NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) industry is based within a few hundred miles of Charlotte. I’m incredibly blessed and fortunate for the opportunities presented, relationships cultivated, and hard work put forth over the years to make my dreams of working in this industry become a reality. I’m currently the director of marketing services at NASCAR, where I work with some of the best colleagues in the business to maintain front office relationships with our drivers and teams, while also aiding in our corporate events, hosting, and hospitality efforts.
Who you are and where you’re at is so often shaped by those that raised you and where you’ve been previously. I’m incredibly grateful to my parents, who taught me at an early age that success in life shouldn’t be defined by a fancy title or your level of compensation. It should be defined by your happiness. What makes you happy, and is that what you’re doing with your life that goes beyond just yourself? My dad was an incredible provider for our family. He owned his own small business. As great as it was for my father and our family, he personally didn’t find fulfillment in the work. He – nor my mother – wanted that for me, and they vocalized that to me at an early age. So, I set off on a journey to find what I loved and wanted to do for the rest of my life. And thankfully, I found it – motorsports. I absolutely love it, and my family was incredibly supportive and encouraging of me finding a way to make that my life.
I graduated high school in Georgia and moved to Charlotte to attend Belmont Abbey College just south of Charlotte in Belmont. While it may seem odd, it turns out that Belmont Abbey College has a Motorsports Manager Program. I was fortunate enough to be accepted into the program and took full advantage of the curriculum, opportunities, and network. Everything from class projects, volunteer gigs, internship programs, networking engagements, etc. – I did absolutely anything I could to gain experience, relevancy, and reputation. I met so many great people along the way that wanted to help. They wanted to give back to the future generation as past generations had given back to them. I’m forever grateful for that time at Belmont Abbey because it positioned me perfectly for my post-graduation move to NASCAR.
I’ve been with NASCAR for just over eight years now, and I absolutely love the work we’re doing here. Our leadership is motivated, innovative, and inspiring. Our product is gaining momentum in fan relevance and engagement. Our industry is unwavering in their efforts to attract new, young, dynamic, and diverse fans. There’s a lot to be excited about here, and I’m thankful for the opportunity to come to work every day and be part of their movement towards a bright future for our sport. The first 75 years of NASCAR (1948-2023) have been incredible, but I can’t wait to see what the next 75 years hold.
So why do I tell you all this? It’s because I feel strongly that my story resembles the Charlotte Region, and so many others that live in this community. We came to this city looking for more than just a job, more than just money, more than just new friends, etc. We came here looking for a way of life to fall in love with, and to be part of something more than just ourselves. I truly feel that Charlotte offers that to anyone who is looking for more in life than just what’s in front of them. This city cares for those who live in it, and we care for it. We get up every day inspired by our community’s direction, and motivated to see what’s next. The opportunities are vast, and they’re endless for the Queen City. We don’t know what’s next, but we do know that we’re in it together, and it’s our future to shape.
