Virginia Tech sophomore, Trisha Westfall, has been working in NASCAR since age fifteen. With experience in social media, journalism, public relations and more, Westfall is making a name for herself in the racing industry. Read more about her success below.
What made you want to work in NASCAR?
Trisha Westfall: Growing up, I was at the NASCAR races at Richmond International Raceway twice a year. It was something I always looked forward to with my family. I adored the atmosphere, the smell, the people-watching, all of it. As I continued to grow, I was really focused on the performing arts – I wanted to perform on Broadway – but extenuating circumstances forced me out of it, and racing is what I fell back on. My grandfather used to be a part of NASCAR back in the 80’s and 90’s while he worked for a sponsor called Lawson that was very active in the sport. My dad grew up racing dirt bikes and going to NASCAR races as a teen. I kind of inherited the love for the sport. It skipped my brothers and went right to me. Also, when my grandmother passed – the wife of the grandfather that I previously discussed – I learned that she was a really, really big NASCAR fan. I had no idea until my grandfather sent me all of her old collectibles and memorabilia which sparked a passion in my soul to collect vintage NASCAR items. Not knowing how big of a Bill Elliott and NASCAR fan that she was is probably one of my biggest regrets, but it only pushes me to want to work in the sport even more. I want to make her proud.
Who is the coolest person you’ve met so far? Or worked with?
TW: Gracious, I’ve met so many people throughout the years between drivers, crew members, and more. The coolest people I’ve met within the sport are two of my favorite people on this planet: Mike Lepp and Bryan Cook. Mike is the pit crew/athletic coach at Joe Gibbs Racing. He’s like a father figure to me. We met at Texas Motor Speedway in 2012 when I was visiting my best friend Alanis, and Mike and I have been close ever since. He’s constantly looking out for me and offering career advice. Every time we are at the track, we spend hours chatting and touring the pit boxes and team haulers. He even takes my friends that I bring to the track on VIP tours! He always includes me in the team and introduces me to everyone. It’s something so special, and it means the world to me. Bryan – AKA Boris, because he looks like racecar driver Boris Said – also works for Joe Gibbs Racing. He’s such a cool guy. He’s an artist, but he’s also amazing at social media, so he incorporates the two and does amazing work on Snapchat. Seriously, check it out @joegibbsracing. Anyway, I look up to him so much when it comes to social media work. He kills it every race weekend. He’s the most active social media person that I know, and he produces incredible content, especially on Twitter and Snapchat.
The coolest person I have worked with. . . that’s difficult to just to choose one; however, it probably has to be Tyler McQuarrie. When I worked in the ARCA Racing Series with Lira Motorsports, Tyler was one of our drivers at the Salem Speedway race. It was so cool working with him because he was making his first stock-car race start in a really long time. It was really cool to announce that he was moving back to stock cars, but also he’s just a really cool guy in general. He has a really stout background in almost every kind of motorsport there is. He is a Formula Drift champion, drives in IMSA, dabbles in stock car racing, and races Stadium Super Trucks. It was just so cool working with somebody that has that type of background. I respect it a lot.
What’s your favorite NASCAR memory?
My favorite NASCAR memory is going to Texas Motor Speedway with my best friend in the entire world. That whole weekend was something I will never forget, from the bacon-infused cotton candy to the tour of the garage, where I met Mike and later nearly got locked inside the garage. Stay with the tour guide, y’all.
Do you prefer public relations to journalism?
TW: I prefer public relations. I used to work in journalism, but it just turned out that it wasn’t my thing. I struggled really bad with social anxiety for a long time, and I found it incredibly difficult to interview drivers that didn’t know who I was. It got to the point that I would get sick every time I had to cover a race because I knew that it meant talking to people; however, I was treated for it and now it really isn’t a bother at all. I really enjoy the team aspect of public relations that you have in this industry. I don’t really know why PR is so appealing to me, but I truly love social media, video, photography, and writing, and I feel like it is a great mix of all of that. I didn’t want to just write for the rest of my life. I know journalism is more than just writing, but I don’t truly enjoy it like I do PR.
Why did you decide to study at Virginia Tech?
TW: I chose VT because I’ve dreamed of going here since I was little. When my brother was accepted here and began his college career here, I knew for a fact that this is where I belonged. Whenever I came up to Blacksburg to visit my brother, I never wanted to leave. I looked forward to every roadtrip to Hokie Nation. The culture here is amazing, as is the food, and I love the fact that every person here takes a part in Ut Prosim. This is home. Every time I visited before I was accepted here, I felt a grand sense of belonging, and I knew that this beautiful place was going to be my future home.
Tell me about the new club you’ve joined. How will it help you in the career you’re pursuing?
TW: I joined EcoCar3 team, also known as HEVT (Hybrid Electric Vehicle Team), as part of their Communication team. It’s not racing, but I love cars, so I’m excited to be a part of it. HEVT is a group of engineering students that transform a car that GM supplies – this year it’s a 2016 Chevy Camaro – into a hybrid electric vehicle. It’s a huge competition between various schools throughout the nation, and the Communication team has their own competition within it. We have our own guidelines and rules that we have to fulfill as a team, and then we are judged during the big competition just after spring semester ends. We also do normal PR and marketing things like writing press releases and doing social media. This club is a huge resume builder for my career. There are so many big brands in this competition that either sponsor or take part in this competition that take a really big notice in students within this club in the various schools across the nation. There is a 99.9% hiring rate out of this club by big brands in this competition. It’s very encouraging. I can’t wait for things to truly get underway for this year’s competition.
Where do you hope to be in your career after graduation?
TW: My biggest goal is to work for Joe Gibbs Racing after I graduate. Coach Joe Gibbs is somebody that I have looked up to my entire life, from being an NFL football coach to becoming a NASCAR Sprint Cup championship winning team owner. I admire his strong walk in his faith that he puts first before all, and he incorporates that in his business. It’s a huge family-like environment, and it always feels like home being around the JGR team. However, I’m not picky. I’ll take whatever job comes at me. All I want in life is to be at the track every weekend doing what I love to do.