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Jesse Iwuji
Jesse Iwuji
00:29

Jesse Iwuji

Las Vegas, NV USA

"When you become that person who’s going up against the odds, a lot of people are going to be looking up to you. You can’t let them down."

Career Roadmap

Jesse's work combines: Action Sports, Armed Services, and Accomplishing Goals

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Day In The Life

NASCAR Driver

I promote diversity, mentorship for youth and representing our nation’s Veteran community through my passion for racing.

Skills & Education

Here's the path I took:

  • High School

  • Bachelor's Degree

    United States Naval Academy

Life & Career Milestones

My path in life has been direct

  • 1.

    Growing up in Texas, he loved motorsports and cars, but as a first-generation Nigerian immigrant, racing was not a part of his family’s culture.

  • 2.

    He originally pursued football instead; he was good enough to earn a scholarship to play at the Naval Academy.

  • 3.

    However, from the moment he drove in his first drag race, he knew that was what he wanted to do with the rest of his life.

  • 4.

    After graduating from the Naval Academy, he used the money he’d saved from his two deployments to build a streetcar and race it at drag strips.

  • 5.

    He broke a few records with that car, which earned him some publicity and opened up the opportunity for him to drive stock cars.

  • 6.

    His aspiration is to become the first African-American male veteran to compete in top-level professional NASCAR races.

  • 7.

    He’s currently racing in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series, and is a candidate for the Sunoco Rookie of the Year award.

  • 8.

    Believes that every person has a vision of their best self, and it’s our duty to live that vision out, even in the face of negativity or discouragement from others.