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Shawn Hawkins ’12 is quite literally living life in the fast lane in Mooresville, North Carolina. As the gas man for Joe Gibbs Racing’s NASCAR pit crew, Shawn plays a crucial role in one of the most high-pressure jobs in motorsports. Each week, his team trains rigorously to prepare for every nuance of the upcoming race track, fine-tuning every move to near perfection.
“When a team has spent over $100,000 to race that weekend and they’re relying on you and your team to be on it—and you get it right—it’s pretty fun,” Shawn says. That sense of accountability and excitement is what fuels him. His passion, precision, and dedication have propelled him to the top of his field.
In addition to his work on the Joe Gibbs Racing team, Shawn also serves as a pit crew coach and instructor at PIT Instruction and Training. There, he guides students through classroom sessions, hands-on training on a stationary car, and eventually live pit stops. Once students complete the initial training, Shawn transitions into a coaching role—running drills and overseeing practice pit stops, much like a traditional sports coach. His goal? To help students develop the skills and discipline needed to land full-time positions in the NASCAR pit crew industry.
Shawn’s journey to racing wasn’t a straight path. After graduating from Concordia, he spent a year at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Though college life didn’t ultimately suit him, he discovered an interest in motorsports through a club on campus. In 2014, he made the move to North Carolina to attend the NASCAR Technical Institute and pursue a career as a race team mechanic.
Reflecting on his time at Concordia, Shawn fondly remembers the camaraderie and chaos of class activities—especially the annual Pumpkin’ Chuckin’ contest. “My class got along really well,” he says. “Anytime we had to work together on something, I remember it being well organized at some point… and chaotic the rest of the time. It was awesome!”
Those early experiences taught him how to collaborate with others of different personalities and skill sets—something he draws on daily in the fast-paced, team-driven world of NASCAR. He credits Mr. Senechal as a standout teacher, noting that he’s grown to appreciate the honest and straightforward approach Mr. Senechal brought to the classroom.
For Shawn, the strength of Concordia lies in its community. “Having that community around me helped make it easier and more comfortable to explore my faith more deeply,” he shares.
As for what comes after NASCAR? Shawn isn’t quite sure yet. Maybe another kind of racing. Maybe launching a business. For now, he’s pouring his energy into what he loves and trusting the journey.
And one last fun fact? “I’m one of the few people who has been on a pit crew for both the Indy 500 and the Daytona 500,” he says.
Shawn Hawkins is a testament to where hard work, bold moves, and faith can take you—even at 200 miles per hour.
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